Special to the Cochrane Eagle
By Majid Koudmani
Imagination is infinite. Hollywood counts on it. Movies whisk people off to a new world, a fantastic place of emotional exploration or escapism. However, to the uninitiated, it easy to conflate movies with the reality what it is to make them.
I love movies. I love watching them. I love making them, but growing up in rural Cochrane I was definitely uninitiated. Far away from the romanticism of working in the movies, it was hard to imagine that behind a set wall is only concrete and plywood.
Historically, the Oscars try to capitalize on this romanticism. They play into celebrity fascination mixed with the wonder of movies, but the fascination is waning.
Sound familiar? The monarchy. I know, super relevant, right? For a long time the monarchy fostered the image of a grand life by keeping people fascinated with a fairytale that was meant to maintain its status; however, in the modern world, people are increasingly less inclined to admire grandeur as they are to resent it. What is the crown to do? It has tried in some ways to humanize the untouchables. While the royals are not beyond criticism, increased transparency has helped people to see that gilded institution is inhabited by real people.
So what’s behind the curtain? As soon as I could, I started working on sets in Alberta with others from Cochrane who were also enchanted by movies and eventually, like so many others, chased the feeling down to Los Angeles Is there magic? Sure, but there are also realities. Most people drive trucks. Most people fill out paperwork. Most people move heavy equipment.
But here’s the thing, we still loved movies. Good movies are an art. They are meant to inspire and explore humanity. Maybe the monarchy isn’t going to give up the palace. Maybe the Oscars don’t need to give up the enchantment if they remember where movies come from.
So here it is ...
Dear Oscars. We love movies. Keep your glamour. Keep the wonder that allows movies to bewitch us. There can be magic in the craft but help people to see that its not all gold and glamour. There is also a truck driver from a small town who works 85 hours a week. There is an assistant who works for minimum wage. There is a struggling indie director who borrows money for their dream. Maybe bringing awareness to the hundreds of people on each movie, like the crews from Cochrane or assistants in the mail room, will humanize the industry in the same way the monarchy has attempted. Show us that behind the curtain, the majority of people are workers who grind to create the same magic that inspired them.
Give us a taste of what’s real. We will still love movies.
Majid Koudmani is a Cochrane local who has worked in the film industry out of Alberta and Los Angeles in everything from marketing studio films to working with Academy nominated directors. His work has enforced a deep love of story telling and his travel has forged a connection to his roots, the prairies.
