John Landis slams Hollywood studio system

John Landis, the director of legendary movies like 'Trading Places', 'The Blues Brothers' and 'An American Werewolf In London', has slammed the Hollywood studio system.

Landis aired his uncompromising views at the Mar del Plata Film Festival in Argentina over the weekend, suggesting that the major studios are 'not in the movie business anymore'.

“Some of us were very lucky. I started to make movies for the studios in the 70s. They were dying, but at least they were still studios,” he said.

“There are no original ideas. What there is - and this is something no one understands - is that it is never about the idea, it is about the execution of the idea.

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"The film studios are all now subdivisions of huge multinational corporations,” he continued.

“Time Warner, British Petroleum, Sony - these aren't companies, they are f***ing nations. They are these giant international things that don't pay taxes!

“It's ridiculous. They're like pirates. It really has to do with desperation, because they don't know how to get people into the theaters, so they bring back 3D and make all this kind of sh*t.

“I don't know who owns these companies now. There are no individuals who say, 'Sure, I'll take a risk.' Because the risks are now huge!

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“I'm not that old, but many of my movies made more money the second, third, or fourth week, because we used to have what we call word of mouth. Now if a movie doesn't make money its first two days, you're f***ed!”

He did admit there were still some good films to emerge at the cinema, however.

“There will always be good movies being made. It's just harder and harder to see them. And the studios are no longer interested in making good movies - they're interested in movies that will bring you in.

“So you have movies like Avatar, or Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity. It's wonderful to look at. Now, is it a good movie? No! But it's entertaining, and it's a spectacle and technically astonishing

He then championed the world of cable TV, before comparing what is happening in the movie business to what has happened in the music industry.

“There are a lot of interesting things being made in cable TV now because they can afford to take the risk,” he said.

“Everything is changing. Steve Jobs destroyed the music industry. He decided a song is worth 20 cents, just like that. Boom. Destroyed.

“So everything has changed. There are no villains here. No one has the handle on it. I understand why they're scared. All their decisions are based on fear.”