You'll Never Work In This Town... Again?

GOPUSA ^ | December 18, 2006 | Erik Rush

[CharentonChina]

I enjoyed your post. Would you say that "white trash" is similar to "redneck," but more derogatory? I know people who are proud to be rednecks.

[GOP_Proud]

I know people who are proud to be rednecks.

I know people who are proud to be called "white trash". It's part of what makes them "white trash".

[RockinRight]

[Albion Wilde]

"My Name is Earl" says it all.

[Old Professer]

My Jewish friends are proud of their white-trash buddies, and I should know.

[Old Professer]

Careful, you're on the verge of being offensive.

[Old Professer]

Now I know where the term, Dryin' the rent receipt, came from.

[sten]

apocalypto is not a smash hit. in the last two weeks it has brought in about $28m on a budget of $40m. So far, that's a loser.. not a big loser and will pay for itself eventually with rentals, but it's not a smash hit. Hell, even Tim Allen's Santa Claus 3 is doing better at $80m gross.

if anyone thought apocalypto would be a success, they just have no idea about business and the market in the US. Early on, I had put the gross at about $40-60m, and it looks like that's what it'll do. obvious landmines are simple.

• 1. subtitles - alienating at least 75% of the US market
• 2. demographic target too small (<12% of the US is hispanic)
• 3. political propaganda alienates at least 50% of the market
• 4. overt homosexual content appeals to only 2-3% of the US (see #3)
• 5. insulting to Christianity (see #3)... 85% of the US is Christian

Avoiding these landmines is at least half a step towards making a successful movie.

for your amusement: [ weekend numbers from Boxoffice Mojo]

[Maelstorm]

Yes because we allow them to.

[ModelBreaker]

There is actually a lot to appreciate in their lifestyle, but in a way their life has more freedom, if lowered expectations.

Most of my inlaws are Baptist, Mississippi hillbillies. They have their heads screwed on pretty straight and their priorities pretty much in order. Plus, they play a mean game of washers.

I have a lot more fun visiting them than other, more prosperous, and sophisticated parts of my family. I love the bobos in my family; but their priorities are way off.

I'll put it this way. If I had to choose someone to take care of my boy if something happened to my wife and me, it would be one of the hillbillies. People might call him white trash. But he'd get over that. What he might not get over is growing up thinking that the pursuit of money, curb-appeal, and power is more important that his relationship with his Savior.

[sageb1]

You're not alone.

[SaltyJoe]

You've made an interesting point, but I don't think Mel goes for mere money anymore.

I think the Latino market will make "Apocalypto" a sleeper/keeper the way "Jesus" became a low budget world class hit and an Evangelist's tool. Gibson's gem brings to light (if done horrifically, yet truthfully) the human example of consuming desire.

Mexican and Central American native cultures weren't the only cannibalistic nations upon our planet, but they are very well known for such tragedies, and their horrors are well documented. "Apocalypto" transitions easily to explaining why we need the Catholic Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, to satiate the God-sized hole in our hearts. His film comes at a time when gangster warfare among Latino cultures against the world (and more violently against their own Latino brothers and sister) is taking a HUGE toll upon mankind.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1749137/posts?page=139#139

$28 million earned for a $40 million movie? That's more than a great investment considering how well this film will educate souls to know Christ as Our Savior!

[Centurion2000]

insulting to Christianity (see #3)... 85% of the US is Christian

How is it insulting?

[sten]

not all my 'landmines' are in play for this movie. they are just general guidelines. Having 2 or more landmines in play is not a good recipe for success.

try it when you see a new movie come out. look at the list, and if there are 2 or more, assume $40-60m gross. Less, if it is not hyped. not often has this list been wrong.

if you know any landmines that should be on the list, please let me know.

[ohioman]

My question to you is the same - what are you talking about?

[RockinRight]

It was a pic of Britney Spears appearing very white trash, but now the link doesn't work.

[TAdams8591]

It is wrong that we cannot speak honestly and openly about the matters that divide racial, ethnic, and other kinds of groups. But name calling and vulgarity do not help those discussions. Such verbal expressions when I was growing up, had nothing to do with political correctness, but were called uncivil and impolite.

[Riverman94610]

Some of the worst white trash I have met lived in mansions with swimming pools.

[sgtbono2002]

You are right . Especially in Hollywood.