Scott Rudin takedown — Page 18

HogansHero said: "Re important voices: It is inconceivable to me that anyone thinks that any "voice" is more important that Rudin's. How could it be?It is the sine qua non of the entire narrative. (It is also a voice that no one was expecting to hear. Recall that folks were saying he would never admit anything, never step away, etc. Did everyone's pivot blank out that memory?) If Rudin had not made his statement (without regard to whether he meant any of it), where would we be right now? My guess is we would have a bunch of unemployed actors. The other important voices are the ones we never heard. And never would. They are the voices that told Rudin that that gig was up. Let me ask: if not Rudin, what important voice would you nominate? (I understand of course about the voices of the victims, but those voices antedated this entire narrative. Cause and effect. We are on effect now."

That was an excellent way to put it! 

If people right now are not so sensitive about this debacle, this whole unravelling of the Rudin myth would be excellent material for a gripping and intense dramatic story. Play or movie. Who are going to play the roles?

 

 

Updated On: 4/21/21 at 08:44 PM

jo said: "If people right now are not so sensitive about this debacle, this whole unravelling of the Rudin myth would be excellent material for a gripping and intensedramatic story. Play or movie.Who aregoing to play the roles?"

This makes me wonder if a film could properly dramatize Rudin's abuse. I feel like abusive bosses, in the way Rudin is described, usually don't come off as monsters in movies. Ari Gold in Entourage was definitely abusive towards Lloyd, but he was one of the heroes of the show. Even something like Full Meta Jacket, where R. Lee Ermey's drill sergeant was such an abusive hard-a*s that he drove the lead to suicide - that whole portion of the film is beloved and people have canonized Ermey's character.

Take this anecdote, for example:

“I went into the kitchen, and I was like, ‘Hey, Scott, A24 is on the way up. I’m not sure what it’s concerning,'” the former assistant told THR. “And he flipped out, like, ‘Nobody told me A24 was on my schedule.’ He threw [the baked potato] at me, and I dodged a big potato. He was like, ‘Well, find out, and get me a new potato.'”

If that was dramatized, I honestly think there is no way it could realistically be played except for laughs. If you don't feel the acute fear of getting yelled at, the idea of seeing someone dodge a baked potato is objectively funny.

This tangent also makes me think Anna Wintour, model for Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, might be on the shortlist to be cancelled.

Updated On: 4/21/21 at 09:06 PM

ctorres23 said: "jo said: "If people right now are not so sensitive about this debacle, this whole unravelling of the Rudin myth would be excellent material for a gripping and intensedramatic story. Play or movie.Who aregoing to play the roles?"

This makes me wonder if a film could properly dramatize Rudin's abuse. I feel like abusive bosses, in the way Rudin is described, usually don't come off as monsters in movies. Ari Gold in Entourage was definitely abusive towards Lloyd, but he was one of the heroes of the show. Even something like Full Meta Jacket, where R. Lee Ermey's drill sergeant was such an abusive hard-a*s that he drove the lead to suicide - that whole portion of the film is beloved and people have canonized Ermey's character.

Take this anecdote, for example:

“I went into the kitchen, and I was like, ‘Hey, Scott, A24 is on the way up. I’m not sure what it’s concerning,'” the former assistant told THR. “And he flipped out, like, ‘Nobody told me A24 was on my schedule.’ He threw [the baked potato] at me, and I dodged a big potato. He was like, ‘Well, find out, and get me a new potato.'”

If that was dramatized, I honestly think there is no way it could realistically be played except for laughs. If you don't feel the acute fear of getting yelled at, the idea of seeing someone dodge a baked potato is objectively funny.

This tangent also makes me think Anna Wintour, model for Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, might be on the shortlist to be cancelled."

Everytime I read about incident of "the brown-skinned potato" I always laugh at the thought.  Especially when he asks him to get him a new potato Dark comedy indeed. I also wondered whether some incidents were actually comical (such as someone ducking when the stapler flew towards him...or when someone who was the subject of Rudin's wrath would quit and leave...goes to Starbucks to cool off and returns to the office ... to find that Rudin has also cooled off and is asking him not to leave)... yep, more like dark comedy than straightforward drama!

I thought dramatizing the whole 15 days of tension after the THR report broke out ...the outcries ... the speculations...the discussions within...the unexpected Rudin departure... until Hugh Jackman ended the speculation about what happens to The Music Man...

Hhmm... maybe it would not be as appealing as "The Saga Of The Brown-skinned Potato" after all 

Updated On: 4/21/21 at 10:08 PM

Hugh's message was loud and clear ... and the only important thing for those interested in The Music Man !

"The show will go on!"

 

I am pretty cynical, and I believe that Scott won't face any legal repercussions, but I have to say--it does seem like this is really the beginning of the end for him. Maybe I'm naive and he will just silently bankroll things from afar for the foreseeable future, but even if he gets all the anger management therapy in the world, there will be no doubt be countless individuals and organizations who will want nothing to do with being associated w/his name.

SouthernCakes said: "Yeah it’s sad! He did make some great art. It’s sad that people have to put up with that behavior just to “make it” in this industry."

Really? Rudin isn't demanding; he's abusive. There is a big difference.  It's about time for people to begin to ask why does anyone have to put with this behavior to "make it" in this industry.  For those who say, 'that's show biz,'  the only reply should be FU!

 

Rudin's first job was for the legendary Kermit Bloomgarden (when he was only 16), and Rudin would have to take Bloomgarden's fake leg on public transit to have it repaired. He has also spoken about a poor relationship with his parents.

I'm no psychologist. But a bad upbringing + a feeling that he had to compensate for his young age and lack of college education probably contributed to his behavior. The NYMag piece implies severe OCD and anxiety, perhaps also paired with what we would now call autism and/or psychopathy and/or bipolar disorder.

It's also just a fact that being in a position of power brings out abusive tendencies in people who harbor them, which isn't helped by the workplace cultural ideal of bosses who will do anything to ensure perfection and high return of capital, even if that means degrading and injuring their employees. I've known people in many positions who are extremely akin to Rudin on a smaller scale, and the implied reasoning behind the abuse is always "if I'm degrading you, it's because you can do better", but it's also just a power trip. There's no getting around the basic truth, which is that sadism is fun, and people in power have unique access to it.

Charley Kringas Inc said: "I've known people in many positions who are extremely akin to Rudin on a smaller scale"

Fortunately there was a protest yesterday and this will all be fixed once the...

*checks notes*

...actor's union becomes more BIPOC friendly.