Mamet on the Free Market Film Industry

Stephen Carson on the problems with the central planning of culture:

A fascinating interview with playwright/screenwriter/director David Mamet by Charlie Rose (jump to 29:00) features his comments on economics and Hollywood (jump to 36:00). The interview is about his book Bambi Vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business. He says that he has been studying economics and has been fascinated with the film industry as an exemplar of the free market. He explicitly rejects central planning of culture, "the commissar of culture" (state theaters, etc.) and celebrates the entrepreneur who he says must have "arrogance or, to put it differently, self-assurance" as they push for their vision while always keeping an eye on the audience. See Theatre and the State by Hans Frank for a brief overview of central planning of culture in the U.S.

Here is a short interview with Mamet from Kris Warner of Bloomberg News on screenwriters, producers who produce nothing, Curtis vs. Olivier, and a Greek god...