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From the 1970s through the 1990s, made-for-tv movies were common on ABC, CBS, and NBC but they disappeared from those networks after the new century began. Now you find them on cable networks like Lifetime, Hallmark, and SyFy.
Probably--Netflix happened. Those producers may be selling their products directly to 'flix, or contracting with them in the first place, as partners in the production stage. Kind of like how some authors these days contract directly with Amazon, to publish their books, rather than with conventional publishing houses.
"Direct outlet", you could call it, as a marketing strategy.
Actually, I feel we are seeing a sort of resurgence of these types of movies with Netflix and their competitors. Some of them have fairly decent budgets and well known actors, but so far the quality hasn’t been that great in many of them, not entirely sure why. That newish movie with Will Smith about the Orcish police officer comes to mind. Decent quality, acting, and budget. That said, I thought the movie wasn’t good at all, I didn’t even finish it. Netflix has been releasing movies like that at least once a month if not more. I haven’t been impressed with anything I have seen.
That's because Netflix will accept anything, and has a lot of bad movies on. They are also uncensored, compared to ABC, CBS, etc, so they have that as an advantage.
I miss those holiday Hallmark movies. The commercials were as much as of an event as the commercials for the Superbowl. Very sanguine and all but they were full of feel-good content. I don't have the Hallmark channel. Few people give greeting cards these days and when you do buy one, they cost as much as a paperback book.
From the 1970s through the 1990s, made-for-tv movies were common on ABC, CBS, and NBC but they disappeared from those networks after the new century began. Now you find them on cable networks like Lifetime, Hallmark, and SyFy.
One thing is for sure - When you look at the quality of content produced by Netflix vs major cable players ... Netflix absolutely TROUNCES them. Seriously, the major networks should be completely embarrassed for producing garbage for the last 2+ decades.
They stopped doing it because of the demographic that still watches cable TV doesn't appreciate quality content and would rather have re-hatched series or 'reality' crap. It's cheaper to produce and distribute and when your market is full of the lowest common denominator, well, you get what we have.
Cable TV has been a walking dinosaur for about 10 years now. They also rely on test screening and nealson group type BS to try to cater too much to middle america and anything interesting, provocative, original, or socially uncomfortable gets canned. It's one reason Netflix produces so much great content. They don't test screen ****. They give talented people money and let them create Art with minimal oversight from people in suits that don't understand cinema.
The TV movies of the 1970s and 1980s usually had some well-known actors in each one. Now, that is no longer the case, at least with those on basic cable.
The TV movies of the 1970s and 1980s usually had some well-known actors in each one. Now, that is no longer the case, at least with those on basic cable.
And they would often use the TV movie to play against type to "prove" that they weren't a one trick pony. I'm thinking of Farrah Fawcett and Elizabeth Montgomery.
And they would often use the TV movie to play against type to "prove" that they weren't a one trick pony. I'm thinking of Farrah Fawcett and Elizabeth Montgomery.
They also needed or wanted the work and had the name recognition desired.
Many a older actor we saw in these made-for-TV movies .... continued to blessed us with their talents and we could still enjoy them either past their heyday, or prime for some of the oldest of Hollywood. So many gone now.... or less work available for those of the 80s we rarely see now. But some TV actors into the 80s 90. Gained residuals that earlier TV stars did not. So less might have sought the work.
Last edited by DavePa; 04-22-2018 at 04:31 PM..
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So many gone now.... or less work available for those of the 80s we rarely see now. But some TV actors into the 80s 90. Gained residuals that earlier TV stars did not. So less might have sought the work.
