Ageism in Hollywood

by Christina Hazelwood
Why is there so much ageism in Hollywood when the country’s population gets older by the minute?

In spite of the fact that, one in eight, or 12.4 percent of the U.S. population is over age 65, Hollywood continues to cater, almost exclusively, to the youth market. Consider the fact that baby boomers, the largest population block in America, are now qualified to join AARP. Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, from whom Hollywood received literally billions of dollars, are now being largely ignored.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, those 65 years and older are growing by leaps and bounds, in spite of Hollywood's insistence that "the elderly" don't exist. The Bureau expects that population block to increase by 80 percent by the year 2025. While only a 15 percent increase is expect in children under age 15, and the same amount for work-age adults. Of the more than 280 million Americans living in the U.S. in the year 2000, 35.3 percent were age 24 or below, while a whopping 65 percent were age 25 and older, representing more than 182 million potential viewers. So why does Hollywood focus so much of its attention on the young?

Hollywood enjoys perpetuating the myth that people over 50 don't go to the movies. But what we may have here is the old chicken and egg story. The reason older Americans go to the movies less than their youthful counterparts, may be because there's nothing playing that interests them. The fact is, older Americans have more money and time on their hands than frenzied working adults, especially those with children.

So why doesn't Hollywood take advantage of this? It all boils down to Hollywood's insatiable demand for ever-greater profits. Hollywood financiers are not satisfied with making a reasonable profit, but rather seek mega-hit, box office blockbusters like “Titanic” and “Blairwitch,” both of whom made their bucks catering to youngsters, many of whom saw the same film over and over again.

Essentially the problem with mature adults is that they have more discriminating tastes. Unlike teenagers, they don't see films in packs and have memories that go back farther than six months ago. Films that contain whirling, spinning colors and loud noises don't give mature Americans the same thrill they do pre-pubescent teens. Displays of bodily functions just aren't that funny to an adult who's already been there and done that.

With a bit of hype, a few crazy antics and an occasional digital effect thrown in, Hollywood can get America’s youth flocking to movie theaters in droves, which means big bucks and high-flying profits. So why should they waste their money on the rest of us when the young are an easy mark? And in defense of Hollywood, they need those blockbuster hits to make up for the money they lose producing films that no one, not even the gullible young, can find any entertainment value in.

So don't hold your breath waiting for Hollywood to see the light. They already have, and it's got lots of big green dollar bills floating around in it. Can we really blame them? After all, Hollywood executives are in business to make money. They just happen to entertain us while they're doing it.

Every good Hollywood executive knows that all money-making stories must have a happy ending. So don't worry, I've managed to come up with one. As an independent filmmaker this situation isn't as bad as it seems. The good news is, when we need a Hollywood financier, we know exactly where to find him, in the kid section. But that leaves 65 percent of America’s eyeballs to the rest of us. Now get out there and make some films for us mature folks (over age 24) to watch. I need something to do in my spare time.