It’s Fascist Totalitarianism – David Mamet Blasts Hollywood’s DEI Initiatives
David Mamet, infamous for his “colloquial and frequently profane dialogue,” isn’t a fan of the Hollywood industry’s efforts in the name of inclusivity.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author slammed the entertainment industry’s efforts to drive greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as “fascist totalitarianism,” adding that these initiatives were taking away hard-earned opportunities.
He shared his thoughts in front of a packed house at an LA Times book festival on Sunday, where he was in attendance to promote his memoir Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic, and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood.
Manet, the legendary creative who received Oscar nominations for projects like The Verdict and Wag the Dog, slammed the efforts as “garbage” during the conversation with Matt Brennan, Times Deputy Entertainment Editor, at USC’s Newman Recital Hall.
During the discussion, he attacked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announcement of the new inclusion standards instituted for a movie to be considered in the Oscar Best Picture category in the wake of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.
For those who don’t know, awards like these require producers and directors to submit extensive information about the themes and narratives covered in their projects. The eligibility also calls for representation in creative leadership and project teams, apprenticeship (paid) and internship, marketing, publicity, and distribution.
The idea that “I can’t give you a stupid f— statue unless you have 7% of this, 8% of that … it’s intrusive,” Mamet elaborated. He also described leaders of these DEI initiatives as “diversity capos” and “diversity commissars” in his book.
That’s not to say that Mamet does not acknowledge that some groups have been under-represented in Hollywood over the years. However, he is also of the opinion that efforts to remedy that discrimination have gone too far in the opposite direction.
“The [film industry] has little business improving everybody’s racial understanding as does the fire department,” he said, attracting a few loud laughs, arguing that his colleagues are better off selling popcorn than trying to improve the representation of women, certain ethnic groups, LGBTQ+, and disabled people.
He references the outcome of the 148-day-long writer’s strike in 2023, in which creatives called for a crackdown on the use of AI, better remuneration and bonuses, minimal staffing requirements, and transparency from streaming companies — especially in the realm of viewership data, among other important issues.
“There’s no room for individual initiative,” the screenwriter and provocateur said.
He added that the industry is experiencing the “growth, maturity, decay, and death” that “happens to everything that’s organic.”
“There’ll be less work. But the scripts will be better”, he continued.
The Glengarry Glen Ross writer also shared his two cents on nepotism. He outright rejected the idea that his children ever got work because of their association with him.
“They haven’t benefited from any type of privilege,” he insisted. “They earned it by merit. Nobody ever gave my kids a job because of who they were related to.”
His daughter, Zosia Mamet, found fame recently after starring in HBO’s Girls. A lot of his comments attracted approval as they echo a common stance.
Would you agree?
