tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3821074911613023410.post2327503232494906130..comments2023-06-08T08:42:03.491-07:00Comments on Final Girl: Leggo my EgoLeetalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189408309649591845noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3821074911613023410.post-73463553435164717662009-03-17T11:13:00.000-07:002009-03-17T11:13:00.000-07:00I so, so agree with this (obviously, since you rea...I so, so agree with this (obviously, since you read my post on the same subject). <BR/><BR/>First of all, yeah, at one point do people morph from being an abused assistant to feeling entitled to demand the ridiculous? Very likely, it's when they get power, and their every ridiculous whim is fulfilled just because they have that power (as you say, sometimes we have to pick out the green M&Ms just because we get a paycheck; we don't say, "Excuse me, but that's ridiculous."). Some psychologist actually made up a diagnosis for this that he called Acquired Situational Narcissism, which is basically indistinguishable from Narcissistic Personality Disorder except for the fact that they weren't born with it; it was induced by having been in that kingly position for so long. And although, as you say, actors are the ones we hear about in the tabloids, producers and agents aren't immune from it.<BR/><BR/>But my theory is that it's a cycle of abuse just like any other: 99% of parents who abuse their children were abused as children themselves. So if people come up through the ranks getting abused, even if they swear they'll never do it to others, by the time they get into the top position, it feels like the normal thing to do is lash out at others.<BR/><BR/>As for the boundaries, I hate them, too. And sometimes I wonder if it's the people who ignore them who become successful. I once didn't even ask to attend a premiere my boss was going to because I was afraid of offending, but then my replacement asked, and he got to go! On the other hand, I knew a girl who added her boss as a friend on Facebook, and got fired just for that. I mean, I see the difference between those two situations--the Facebook girl was clearly an idiot--but I guess it's just annoying that your radar has to be SOOO finely tuned to what you can push for and what you can't, and it means the difference between getting a huge opportunity and getting fired! Maybe the rule is just that it never hurts to ask politely and respectfully.<BR/><BR/>I think you're 100% about being sorry about the quality of work on the upper tiers. I happened to notice that in development, it was the one who just yes-manned the boss on stupid opinions about projects was the one who got the brownie points--NOT the one who rightfully said that a project was not worth pursuing. The system of rewards is totally fucked, just like the health care system as Michael Moore explains in Sicko: in the for-profit system of America, doctors are rewarded for keeping people sick!! While in state-run medical facilities, doctors are rewarded for making people better. Likewise, in development (and probably every other aspect of the film industry) you're rewarded for agreeing with whatever your boss wants rather than creating the best project you possibly can. Taking this into consideration, it's really not surprising that there are so many shitty movies. <BR/><BR/>What to do? I guess just try to hold on to your perspective, as you mention. Just as keeping a coffee pot filled really isn't important in the grand scheme of things, so isn't a tyrant mouthing off about it. :)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03467509141931354333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3821074911613023410.post-15677584085970997312009-02-27T08:53:00.000-08:002009-02-27T08:53:00.000-08:00I just want to say, great post! It really sucks wi...I just want to say, great post! It really sucks with how it is in the industry but it's difficult to get around it. I'm not sure the best way to get around that kind of stuff. Maybe it's just the fact that you have to try and keep working on your own stuff and hopefully break through that way.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08048968258057592918noreply@blogger.com