Hollywood Producers Say 'Intrusive' Apple Executives and 'Lack of Clarity' Impeding Original Content Efforts

[dragje]

Some people considering Tim Cook to be a Messiah, and others as the right man for ’every’ type of job.

In reality though, he’s a great manager and knows his stuff about his company. But he’s not the Messiah and certainly not a director nor an editor.

I think it’s sad that Apple is so deeply involved with what seems to be ok for broadcasting and what’s not, and doesn’t let the creatives do what they do best; being creative.

 

[lazard]

More power to Apple. If they actually get us another "Breaking Bad", then do whatever it takes. If, on the other hand, they deliver us some whitewashed edgeless ********, i will do a 180 on this one.

Bottom line: Let's wait and see.

You're not getting another Breaking Bad if Tim Cook is sending notes to the writers to "not be so mean".

 

[Ubele]

Really, no kidding, Timmy should hire you. You’ve a talent . For me you’re the next Bambi writer without killing or using guns or showing the reason how the parents of Bambi made Bambi.

Chapeau

Why, thank you! My talent works in both directions, though. For AMC, I could write Zambi, about a mutant virus that turns cute animals into zombies. It starts with Pet Zero, a cute baby deer, and rapidly spreads. Before long, Persian cats, labradoodles, and goldfish are devouring their owners, and society collapses. The only way to sneak past a zombie animal is to remove one's clothes, which will ensure that the frequent nudity won't be considered gratuitous. That's as far as I've gotten with the concept. There probably needs to be a hot guy or gal with a crossbow.

 

[routine_analyst]

Ah yes, the "inclusive" elite censoring those they disagree with by controlling all messaging and limiting creative freedom.

One part of me wants more of this stuff to happen to illustrate my point about Apple being a ship without proper guidance, but I know it will ultimately destroy the company I am also deeply obsessed with. I know the only way for Apple to exist in 20 years is to dump Cook but in order for that to happen more failures need to occur to demonstrate that he's simply floating in the tailwind of his successor - floating at a different speed - and eventually that tailwind will fade causing his demise. Such irony.

 

[9081094]

Why, thank you! My talent works in both directions, though. For AMC, I could write Zambi, about a mutant virus that turns cute animals into zombies. It starts with Pet Zero, a cute baby deer, and rapidly spreads. Before long, Persian cats, labradoodles, and goldfish are devouring their owners, and society collapses. The only way to sneak past a zombie animal is to remove one's clothes, which will ensure that the frequent nudity won't be considered gratuitous. That's as far as I've gotten with the concept. There probably needs to be a hot guy or gal with a crossbow.

As I said, you’ve a talent and your creativity proved it again. Go exploit that talent. I really see a bright future for you ahead

 

[Tozovac]

Why, thank you! My talent works in both directions, though. For AMC, I could write Zambi, about a mutant virus that turns cute animals into zombies. It starts with Pet Zero, a cute baby deer, and rapidly spreads. Before long, Persian cats, labradoodles, and goldfish are devouring their owners, and society collapses. The only way to sneak past a zombie animal is to remove one's clothes, which will ensure that the frequent nudity won't be considered gratuitous. That's as far as I've gotten with the concept. There probably needs to be a hot guy or gal with a crossbow.

Tim: Why not “Zombi?”

Jony: Why such distracting verbal clutter. How about “Z?”

 

[Ubele]

As I said, you’ve a talent and your creativity proved it again. Go exploit that talent. I really see a bright future for you ahead

Again, thank you. I actually spent the '90s writing screenplays for an aspiring-director friend in Hollywood. We got a few nibbles and had plenty of fun, but nothing came of it. He got into the union and became a grip, and I became a writer and editor in the leadership-consulting field. I write creatively now to amuse myself and others. I promise I'll never respond to a thread with some variation of "You're holding it wrong" or "We removed that feature because we wanted to show courage."
[doublepost=1551740157][/doublepost]

Tim: Why not “Zombi?”

Jony: Why such distracting verbal clutter. How about “Z?”

Me: Okay, Jony, I can do that, but I confess I don't understand what you meant when you said, "Make the show thinner."

 

[CordovaLark]

More power to Apple. If they actually get us another "Breaking Bad", then do whatever it takes. If, on the other hand, they deliver us some whitewashed edgeless ********, i will do a 180 on this one.

Bottom line: Let's wait and see.

Find that hard to believe as Apple has told them to avoid non family friendly content.

 

[Since1987]

No surprise there, Apple has never played nice with others. Usually it is we know best and play by our rules or go home.

here's a statement that is also true:

Hollywood has never played nice with others. Usually it is we know best and play by our rules or go home.

Hollywood has been around much longer than Apple. And i would bet on Hollywood outliving Apple. Especially with the current crop of clowns running Apple.

This is like if Aaron Sorkin went to Apple and said "hey, why is Mail code like this? Code it like this!! Use this font, bring back skuemorphism and rehire Forstall "

You guys can mock it all you like, but there is a reason Hollywood types hate "Notes". It's not their precious egos, it is because it results in crap product. What is Amazon known for? They 100% stay out of the process. So guess who the big talents will choose? Apple ignorance/arrogance is sabotaging their own chances before they are even in the game.

Another example of Apple wasting stockholders money. Why are they even in this business? To create content for AppleTV?, that's moronic and misguided on so many levels.

 

[jeremiah256]

I don’t buy this NY Post article for a second.

“Don’t be so mean”? That literally sounds like a made up quote in a made for clickbait story. The idea that Cook is sending notes on an episode by episode basis and firing/hiring writers is less than believable.

They’ve hired top execs who know what they’re doing and put them in charge. If Cook or Cue did provide any notes, they’d be smart enough to throw them away.

The Apple-hate crowd here at MR is going to have a field day with this one lol. 300 comments by noon easy.

I 100% believe it and I'm not a hater.

Just look at how Apple swapped user owned content uploaded via Music Match to non-explicit versions and their aggressive monitoring of nudity in the App Store. Last year, they asked artist Lana Del Rey to censor her lyrics during an Apple event. Lana. Del. Rey.

Apple wants their brand to be Disney-ish. Fine. I completely understand (even if I don't completely agree). But, if it's important for Apple to get into streaming services (and it is), and they feel they need to have their own content to stream (which is probably correct), they need to understand that whether it's Breaking Bad or 30 Rock, their historical need to micro-manage and keep things squeaky-clean is going to present serious challenges for today's creators and with today's audiences.

 

[Vjosullivan]

Oops, you’re right. Bambi is out of the race RIP Bambi and all light a candle

Put those candles out! Haven’t you heard of global warming?

 

[4487549]

“It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” - Steve Jobs

 

[Scooz]

“It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” - Steve Jobs

So to the point. Great Jobs words.

If you hire writers you do so because they know what works right now and what doesn’t. They’re in the process of testing and knowing. It’s all about state of art in its best sense.

Then again, Apple tends to hire startups and tell them where to go next with their tech and skills all the time. So you know where the current behavior might come from.

Still, the process is different here, as
the writers tend to be non-Apple as well as the whole production. So Apple in
the producer role will have to control the ongoing production. The question would be if that’s really a job for the CEO...

 

[Kal-037]

Apple wants clean family content, but also want it be high-end quality too. The current trend for the past 20 years of Hollywood and TV is allowing/writing shows with explicit content to get more viewers... what Apple is trying to do is reverse a way of thinking which won't happen (especially overnight).
As a writer I get not wanting constant notes or execs breathing down your neck... but welcome to Hollywood folks. What do you think WB does with all their content, (why do you think Ben Affleck quit, and dozens of directors have quit The Flash or Batman feature films. Fox, Universal, Disney, and WB are notoriously bad with NOT letting writers or directors do their thing (though Disney is the more lenient and open company of that group.)
That's my issue with trying to get my work off the ground, besides my horror and comedies my other ideas are family friendly action, adventure, with minor violence and some scary images, but WB wants more sex, LGBTQ characters, "minority" characters, pushed agendas, etc, etc... They are trying to be a wannabe Disney... so they suck at allowing any ideas to flow unless it's the "hive-mind's" preferred content.

Apple was very upfront (at least) before they even started this, they said they don't want overly inappropriate or vulgar humor, or gore-fests. They have a very conservative idea on what kind of swearing, sex, violence can be in their shows. The content is meant to fit their brand name, so them aiming for what they are is not bad to me. Of course I think Apple is being more strict/ridiculous than they need to be, so its all about talking things out and finding a balanced relationship between content creators and Apple Execs.
At the end of the day though... if you don't like the job... quit, thats how Apple will learn unfortunately.

I understand what Apple is trying to do, but Artists (filmmakers, writers, and producers) in Hollywood and society in general, are fixated on putting out more gore, sex, agendas, and swearing as it: "expresses their vision better."
I meet these writers all the time where many haven't even gotten a script or screenplay through because they come in with an attitude of "I am a writer or director, my vision must come to fruition, despite the content."
But yeah IMO, both sides have some growing and compromising to do... not JUST Apple.


K.

 

[jeremiah256]

Apple wants clean family content, but also want it be high-end quality too. The current trend for the past 20 years of Hollywood and TV is allowing/writing shows with explicit content to get more viewers... what Apple is trying to do is reverse a way of thinking which won't happen (especially overnight).
As a writer I get not wanting constant notes or execs breathing down your neck... but welcome to Hollywood folks. What do you think WB does with all their content, (why do you think Ben Affleck quit, and dozens of directors have quit The Flash or Batman feature films. Fox, Universal, Disney, and WB are notoriously bad with NOT letting writers or directors do their thing (though Disney is the more lenient and open company of that group.)
That's my issue with trying to get my work off the ground, besides my horror and comedies my other ideas are family friendly action, adventure, with minor violence and some scary images, but WB wants more sex, LGBTQ characters, "minority" characters, pushed agendas, etc, etc... They are trying to be a wannabe Disney... so they suck at allowing any ideas to flow unless it's the "hive-mind's" preferred content.

Apple was very upfront (at least) before they even started this, they said they don't want overly inappropriate or vulgar humor, or gore-fests. They have a very conservative idea on what kind of swearing, sex, violence can be in their shows. The content is meant to fit their brand name, so them aiming for what they are is not bad to me. Of course I think Apple is being more strict/ridiculous than they need to be, so its all about talking things out and finding a balanced relationship between content creators and Apple Execs.
At the end of the day though... if you don't like the job... quit, thats how Apple will learn unfortunately.

I understand what Apple is trying to do, but Artists (filmmakers, writers, and producers) in Hollywood and society in general, are fixated on putting out more gore, sex, agendas, and swearing as it: "expresses their vision better."
I meet these writers all the time where many haven't even gotten a script or screenplay through because they come in with an attitude of "I am a writer or director, my vision must come to fruition, despite the content."
But yeah IMO, both sides have some growing and compromising to do... not JUST Apple.


K.

Two questions:

As someone who works in the industry, do you think Apple really has a chance with Disney's app coming on line soon?

Two, and I'm not sure you have any experience globally, but there are tons of international soap operas and dramas that, while I wouldn't watch them, are extremely popular, and cheap to buy/produce. Can you hazard a guess as to why Apple is concentrating so much on American/Western properties, when the developing world is where the growth is?

 

[jlseattle]

Too much prying by Tim could desaturate content of its originality, creativity and inspiration. You’ll convert gourmet food into moms mashed potatoes. Be careful apple!

 

[HiRez]

I didn't expect Apple's "tv" offering to be great, but it's looking more like a flaming dumpster fire by the day. In the same way the the best car companies frequently struggle to make even mediocre software, Apple appears to not understand content (and we've seen the same from them in the past with failed web services and social network initiatives). Maybe they'll get better at it over time, but initial indications are not looking good.

 

[jimstead]

No surprise there, Apple has never played nice with others. Usually it is we know best and play by our rules or go home.

[doublepost=1551750878][/doublepost]Aren’t they the buyer? Why shouldn’t they be involved?

 

[0947347]

Yep, but it's a product they want to re-sell to the public, so they better be careful about their requirements.

If they try to resell, they want to reassure that the content meets their requirements, therefore being PITA

 

[PickUrPoison]

I 100% believe it and I'm not a hater.

Just look at how Apple swapped user owned content uploaded via Music Match to non-explicit versions and their aggressive monitoring of nudity in the App Store. Last year, they asked artist Lana Del Rey to censor her lyrics during an Apple event. Lana. Del. Rey.

Apple wants their brand to be Disney-ish. Fine. I completely understand (even if I don't completely agree). But, if it's important for Apple to get into streaming services (and it is), and they feel they need to have their own content to stream (which is probably correct), they need to understand that whether it's Breaking Bad or 30 Rock, their historical need to micro-manage and keep things squeaky-clean is going to present serious challenges for today's creators and with today's audiences.

There’s all kinds of nudity, drug use, graphic sex, sexual assault, murder and other offensive content etc. that is currently streaming through iTunes, right? And “being mean” is several steps down from that, so that supposed quote doesn’t wash.

Others can believe whatever they want, but my BS detector is going full tilt. Most of the posters here are only too willing to believe anything negative about Apple. If it gives them happiness, it’s worth using time out of their life on it, I guess.

 

[hipnetic]

Jony Ive: You need to cast thinner actresses.

 

[jeremiah256]

There’s all kinds of nudity, drug use, graphic sex, sexual assault, murder and other offensive content etc. that is currently streaming through iTunes, right? And “being mean” is several steps down from that, so that supposed quote doesn’t wash.

Others can believe whatever they want, but my BS detector is going full tilt. Most of the posters here are only too willing to believe anything negative about Apple. If it gives them happiness, it’s worth using time out of their life on it, I guess.

Big difference from, say, 7-11 selling nude magazines behind the counter, and setting up a studio to produce their own. Apple is hesitant about having their global brand associated with something that may offend someone, somewhere. Let's be honest: any mistake Apple makes out the gate that can be blown out of proportion, will be. As of right now, they're going to be extra, extra conservative with their programming.

 

[ipponrg]

Two questions:

As someone who works in the industry, do you think Apple really has a chance with Disney's app coming on line soon?

Two, and I'm not sure you have any experience globally, but there are tons of international soap operas and dramas that, while I wouldn't watch them, are extremely popular, and cheap to buy/produce. Can you hazard a guess as to why Apple is concentrating so much on American/Western properties, when the developing world is where the growth is?

As you probably know, Apple has always been a Silicon Valley / Bay Area company first, then spread outwards to the rest of the US from SV/Bay, and then finally spread to the rest of the world (if they ever do).

I work in the industry from the streaming side, and I feel that that in addition to content, Apple must release their streaming service across all platforms including Android, Roku, Smart Tvs, consoles, you name it. If they are focused solely on Apple devices, they will plateau fast.

 

[jeremiah256]

As you probably know, Apple has always been a Silicon Valley / Bay Area company first, then spread outwards to the rest of the US from SV/Bay, and then finally spread to the rest of the world (if they ever do).

I work in the industry from the streaming side, and I feel that that in addition to content, Apple must release their streaming service across all platforms including Android, Roku, Smart Tvs, consoles, you name it. If they are focused solely on Apple devices, they will plateau fast.

Thank you.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Big difference from, say, 7-11 selling nude magazines behind the counter, and setting up a studio to produce their own. Apple is hesitant about having their global brand associated with something that may offend someone, somewhere. Let's be honest: any mistake Apple makes out the gate that can be blown out of proportion, will be. As of right now, they're going to be extra, extra conservative with their programming.

You brought up the App Store and ITunes Match as examples of Apple not wanting their brand to be associated with third party offensive content. I brought up iTunes video streaming as a counter example: Apple doesn’t necessarily have an issue with distributing the offensive content of others on their platform.

Of course, Apple may very well want their own content—and for that matter, any third party content they may license—that streams on “AppleFlix” to uphold certain standards, such as no NC-17 or even no rated R, or TV-MA. But that has little to do with a National Enquirer New York Post story about tyrannical Tim sending micro-managing notes saying “Don’t be so mean!”.