Hollywood has changed dramatically, in obvious ways to those old enough to remember the old system. Stars used to be marketed as gods, their words uniquely valuable, their images curated completely. Now it’s different. The internet makes controlling an image impossible, competition from social media, news, and unlimited streaming means only a handful of stars can be marketed to everyone, and even then, they remain stars that started out before the era of fragmentation. Conspiracy theories nip at the margins — what was all that marketing covering up, exactly? And we’ve started to question the overarching narratives that we absorbed.
“Forever Young” (YouTube) – I’ve watched this video many times; it feels like lifetimes ago. Yet the people are still stars today. It’s because all the money spent branding these actors can’t be replicated in a fragmented ecosystem, so they’re still marketable.
George Clooney on Hollywood “elites” (X) – Plenty of conspiracy theories exist; here’s a grounded take.
We’ve all been raised by evil love stories – Be careful what you consume.
Basement Whatever 
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