17 Comments
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Frederick Roth's avatar

There is a well documented phenomenon where children of industry insiders are flooding the arts, and particularly the film industry. Are these nepo-babies responsible for the creative wall Hollywood has hit?

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Oliver Johnson's avatar

I'm not sure - I think there's always been actors who were children of actors (Jamie Lee Curtis, Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez etc), so I don't know if it's more the case than it used to be?

I think it's possible that there's a related thing going on, which is that the fragmentation I mentioned means that there aren't so many decently paid jobs in the arts, more reliance on internships etc, which would make it harder for working class people to get their foot in the door. But again this is based on vibes rather than hard data

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Ben Mitchell's avatar

Well I'm still enjoying your seamless pivot from all things Covid to all manner of other subjects. A real surprise (meant in a non patronising way. Honest!).

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Oliver Johnson's avatar

Thanks - I'm not sure it was a pivot in the sense of an explicitly planned strategy or anything, more just having less to say about COVID than before (and so more time to write about other things), but I'm glad it's working out

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sarah's avatar

I'm working you bastard etc etc

(It's fine I had Christmas off)

Happy new year!

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Oliver Johnson's avatar

Well some of us didn't get a brat summer (or indeed a day off since mid July) so swings and roundabouts really. HNY though

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sarah's avatar

Oliver Johnson's Brat Summer is a substack I long to read. Highly recommended. Maybe one year :)

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Alex Rich's avatar

Thank you for your writing and happy new year!

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Oliver Johnson's avatar

Thanks - Happy New Year to you too!

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Cathy Garcia's avatar

Really value your writing Oliver, great defence against all the slop out there (and not just the AI variety). Happy new year!

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Oliver Johnson's avatar

Thanks - have a good one yourself!

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Sue Armstrong's avatar

Happy New Year! (please keep writing)

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Oliver Johnson's avatar

Thanks - and I'll try!

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Rowan Davies's avatar

Happy new year Oliver, hope 2025 goes swimmingly!

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Oliver Johnson's avatar

The same to you - hope it goes brilliantly!

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Tony Byrne's avatar

Happy New Year!

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Oliver Johnson's avatar

And to you!

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