And while Donald Trump surely never took a screenwriting class, he instinctively understands this — and many other axioms — of Hollywood storytelling.
Whatever you think of him, Trump’s appropriation of Hollywood techniques is a fresh notch on the political belt.
But Trump’s Hollywood gambits well surpass that obvious bit of abracadabra.
Much of Trump’s detestation of the Hollywood establishment is obviously performative, one more nemesis to cast in his Sorkinian screenplay.
Meanwhile, the intended box office depression when Trump denounces a star was hard to prove in his first White House stay.
In the words of Robert McKee, a protagonist can only be as compelling as the forces of antagonism. And despite the fact that he undoubtedly never attended a screenwriting course, Donald Trump is naturally aware of this and many other Hollywood storytelling tenets.
The new president, who took office on a chilly Washington day, more than any other national politician in history. Since he consistently casts Hollywood as the antagonist, Monday afternoon has depended on the workings of contemporary entertainment. Although he keeps coming up with new ways to combine backroom politics and backlot note-giving, Trump’s second term will likely involve a more complicated relationship with the entertainment industry than with nearly any other, putting its interests in a precarious financial and legislative situation.
Whether you agree with him or not, Trump’s use of Hollywood methods is a new development in the political landscape. A primetime magician in the network-television era, Ronald Reagan, who was actually from Hollywood, used some of the techniques developed in this town, such as the art of the Oval Office speech. He frequently chose statesmanship over showmanship, however, and transcended its manipulations. Trump has never been unimpressed by a TV trick.
His abilities as a reality TV host are well-known. Even though it wasn’t always obvious that he knew what he was doing, we watched to see what he would do during the first White House run, where they let him turn chaos into a virtue. Just ratings are required; you don’t need to be here to make friends.
Trump’s Hollywood ploys, however, far outweigh that blatant act of deception. In fact, they sometimes get so ingrained in his MO that we fail to notice them.
There were similarities between his escape from death on that Butler, Pennsylvania, field and John Wick repeatedly avoiding certain threats to his life. In order to make his boasts seem more impressive than Paul Atreides riding a sandworm, he has adopted the more-is-more mentality of contemporary tentpoles. Can you believe who just showed up at Alan Cumming’s Highlands castle? (Of course, the formula will be extended and reversed when many of those choices are inevitably eliminated in the months to come, with the Front Man deciding which green tracksuit-wearer’s time is up.) His naming of outrageous Cabinet characters, seemingly every few hours over a weeklong period in November, was straight out of the reality-TV premiere-episode playbook. ().
Trump’s choice of Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as “special envoys” to bring Hollywood business back from “foreign countries” last week was a production-related ploy. These were not just the fan preferences of a man who was stuck in 1985. (If the trio’s goal is to make it more difficult for businesses abroad, it didn’t matter that this is the exact opposite of what the industry needs to boost faltering box office receipts overseas. Putting the stars of First Blood, Runaway Train, and Lethal Weapon on the call sheet was nothing less than rewriting American history as another Expendables film. Trump’s choice of these Social Security-eligible swashbucklers was an attempt to capitalize on our love of the just outlaw.
Soon after the election, Rambo himself gave a speech to a Trump gala audience at Mar-a-Lago that contained the tell. “George Washington had no idea that he would change the world when he defended his nation.”. Because you can imagine what the world would be like without him,” Stallone remarked. “We got the second George Washington,” he added, maintaining a straight face. Actually, he said this. As Barney Ross summons Lee Christmas, Yin Yang, and the rest of the group out of retirement for a final mission, get pumped. Until they run out of sequels, we’ll continue to watch.
Yes, one of Trump’s greatest accomplishments is his ability to create content that even the most ardent haters can’t stop clicking on. He is the elected official representation of the Netflix algorithm.
Additionally, McKee’s strategy of fabricating antagonists to further engross us in his protagonism involves making enemies out of everyone, from world leaders to network anchors. “Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently demonstrated by the wonderful people of North Carolina being treated so badly…or more recently, Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burned from weeks ago without even a token of defense,” he said on Monday, seemingly turning FEMA and other emergency responders into enemies. “.”.
All of this would seem to give Trump a soft spot for Hollywood and a deep respect for the people who write the playbook he reads (figuratively, of course). However, it goes without saying that Trump’s most ardent opponents are frequently celebrities. Jay-Z, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, and numerous other well-known entertainers are constantly the target of jokes, such as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog getting bitten by a radioactive spider. He hasn’t yet pursued Timothée Chalamet. ().
It’s clear that a large portion of Trump’s animosity toward the Hollywood establishment is performative; it’s just another enemy to include in his Sorkinian screenplay. But some of it is sincere, driven by his bitterness about The Apprentice’s lack of Emmys—the TV Academy “rigged” them, he has frequently claimed—and his ongoing (one-sided) feud with Debra Messing. It doesn’t matter that Trump has longstanding relationships with major media outlets like Mark Burnett, NBC, and Fox News.
His dislike has undoubtedly only grown as a result of the numerous celebrities who have opposed him during the last six months. A cappella performances by Carrie Underwood and a surprise appearance by Snoop Dogg at the inauguration on Monday only served to highlight the absence of A-list celebrities, in stark contrast to the tech CEOs who were present.
As Trump assumes office, what will these grievances bring? What can he do to a sector of the economy that isn’t particularly dependent on government generosity? More than we may have imagined.
Restricting websites that contain pirated content is at the top of the list. The Stop Online Piracy Act is a restrictive law that would block entire websites that display even small amounts of copyrighted content. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) spent years working to pass it. A variety of First Amendment organizations criticized the bill and united to oppose it.
However, in recent months, the MPA has brought these efforts back to life — Charles Rivkin spoke about them at CinemaCon in April — and Trump and a Republican Congress that is frequently far more concerned with snatching up progressives than defending free speech could be recruited. Shortly after Election Day, the MPA jumped to congratulate Trump and the GOP Congressional majority, which scarcely seemed like a coincidence. Citing all the jobs Hollywood created, it stated, “We look forward to working with them on a wide range of important issues for the film, TV, and streaming industry.” This reference coincided well with a favorite Republican talking point.
Back in Los Angeles, celebrities were condemning Trump’s election. LeBron James told his daughter, “I promise to protect you with everything I have. We don’t need their help.” Jamie Lee Curtis was concerned about a “certain return to a more restrictive, some fear draconian time.”. However, in Washington, DC, the MPA was attempting to project a Mark Zuckerberg persona on behalf of its seven studios.
Keeping Trump in the spotlight is in the best interests of the National Association of Broadcasters. In addition to fighting a number of issues, such as closing the loophole that permits terrestrial radio to fail to pay performers royalties, the trade group spent more money on lobbying last summer than it has in years. Trump might support that push because defeating it would benefit iHeartMedia, Audacy, and the country’s other major radio conglomerates (while screwing artists). This is also the reason why NAB released a statement after November 5 congratulating President-elect Trump and the new and returning members of Congress. “.”.
The 200,000 entertainment workers in Southern California now desperately need federal assistance from Trump. Even though a wildfire aid package might be passed as early as March, congressional Republicans have already stated that they would prefer to impose restrictions on the bill before it is passed. Speaking last week, Speaker Mike Johnson stated that “there are things that have to be factored in with regard to the level of aid and whether there are conditions upon that.”. The Democratic Congressman from New York, Dan Goldman, retorted that the GOP “will be held accountable if partisanship dictates disaster aid.”. ”).
Previously, Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom had a falling out over aid. Trump attempted to link it to his desire to move water from Northern California to the central region of the state, while Newsom disagreed on environmental grounds and even sued the Trump administration over the matter.
Given this, Trump’s anticipated trip to the wildfire site at the end of the week is less a sign of concern than a strict father’s bedroom-barge. “There will be repercussions if I don’t hear homework being completed.”. He gave no indication that he would prioritize the needs of common people over those of politicians when he said during the inauguration that the fires had impacted “some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country, some of whom are sitting here right now.”.
All of this could also result in collateral damage, as Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods may cause the nation to limit the number of Hollywood productions that are permitted to screen in its enormous market.
During his first term in office, Trump struggled to demonstrate the anticipated drop in box office revenue that occurs when he criticizes a celebrity. This time, however, the impact will be at least as great, if not more so. He received 22% more votes this time, which is partly to blame. But in reality, that’s where those gains originated. A record 42 percent of Latino voters cast ballots for Trump, setting a new record. The film industry also desperately needs Latinos, who, despite declining box office receipts, watch more films per capita than any other major group, at a rate that is 50% higher than that of white Americans. American entertainment consumers are increasingly influenced by Trump at the same time that the film industry’s hold on them is eroding.
Trump will probably target media companies in other cases. For example, he recently sued CBS for editing an interview with Kamala Harris, and he settled a $15 million defamation lawsuit against ABC for George Stephanopoulos’ portrayal of his trial. Or attempt to stop the mergers of businesses he dislikes, as he allegedly tried to do with Time Warner, the owner of CNN, and AT&T. The FCC is currently considering a merger between Paramount and CBS called Skydance, and it’s unclear how Trump’s ongoing animosity toward the company’s news division may influence that.
On the first day of production, the administration will make a big splash because the anti-immigrant raids in Chicago are designed to have the biggest impact on generations of Americans who grew up watching Miami Vice and Children of Men. This will undoubtedly be the first of many Hollywood buttons being pushed. in multiple ways.
Jan. was the original publication date of this story. 20 minutes before 3:55 a.m. m. and was updated following the inauguration of Trump.