The following contains spoilers forThe Franchiseseason 1 episode 5, “Scene 83: Enter the Gurgler,” now streaming on MaxThe Franchise’slatest exploration of real-world conflicts in the world of blockbuster filmmaking highlights a long-standing debate about directors. The comedy has been a prickly parody of the film industry as a whole, with many specific gags targeted at the process by which superhero tent-pole films are produced.The Franchise’s cast of characterstake a number of standard production archetypes and reinvents them in a consistently silly but surprisingly somber way.
Episode 5 ofThe Franchiseleans heavily into one long-standing debate about movie-making, specifically how good films can justify unprofessional conduct by the filmmakers behind them. Although Eric may want to be a good guy and focus on his humanity inThe Franchise, he spends episode 5 listening to Daniel’s belief that good movies aren’t made by good people.The result is one that could impactthe harsh reality ofThe Franchiseseason 1, and plays into a long history of filmmakers who push the boundaries of acceptable behavior for the sake of their film.
The Franchise Sets Up A Classic Film Debate About Difficult Directors
Eric Finds His Temper InThe FranchiseAnd Makes It Everyone Else’s Problem
Eric’s transformation into a “difficult director” in episode 5 ofThe Franchisedirectlyparallels a consistent debate about professional ethics in the world of filmmaking. Daniel Brühl’s Eric is helming the superhero filmTelco, but has spent the first half of the season ignored or belittled by the studio funding him. “Scene 83: Enter the Gurgler” pushes it further when he discovers the preferential treatmentCenturios 2gets over his film. While the show had poked plenty of fun at Eric’s flaws,The Franchisehas always portrayed him as a well-meaning filmmaker. His frustrations in episode 5 change that, though.
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After “finding his rage” and crashing the set of the neighboringCenturios 2shoot, Eric sheds his more empathetic impulses in the name of finishing the movie. It’s not an uncommon stereotype to see film directors portrayed as control freaks, especially in movies or showsThere’s always been an argument over whether strong results can justify this kind of unprofessional behavior, somethingThe Franchiseseems keen to explore from a comical perspective. This has been a long-standing debate in Hollywood, and one with a darker history.
Hollywood Has A Long History Of “Difficult Directors” Before The Franchise
Several Legendary Filmmakers Have Been Accused Of Being
Hollywood history is littered with filmmakers whose unprofessional conduct was accepted as a cost for their filmmaking talent. Stanley Kubrick is one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century, but his treatment ofShelley Duvall on the set ofThe Shiningis an infamous case of a director sacrificing his actors' mental well-being for the sake of their vision. Other filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock, Gene Kelly, David O. Russell and Quinten Tarintino have been accused of mistreating their cast and crew for the sake of their films, and Eric is set up to follow in their footsteps.
As reported byScreen Rantin 2018, Quentin Tarantino has acknowledged and apologized for his treatment of Uma Thurman on the set ofKill Bill.
Some of these conflicts went on to inspire other shows and films, such as Francis Ford Coppola’s hectic tenure helmingThe Godfatherserving as one of the key inspirations behindsimilar shows likeThe Offer.Some directors have even pushed their professional work to the point of criminal offenses. The troubled and unsafe production during John Landis' segment ofTwilight Zone: The Movieresulted in the deaths of several actors and led to Landis going on trial for manslaughter. Each of these directors is still recognized for their talents over actions, setting a harsh precedent for the entertainment industry.
The Franchise Uses Film History To Play Into Its Quietly Tragic Theme
The Human Cost Of Movie Magic
The Franchiseuses Eric’s turn in “Scene 83: Enter the Gurgler” to underscore a consistent theme of the comedy. At the heart ofThe Franchise’s various gags about the film industry is the recurring dehumanizing impact that blockbuster movie-making requires. Special effects teams are driven to the breaking point, careers are shattered by a single quick decision and actors can become the target of hate campaigns. Eric’s transformation into a “difficult director” is another example of this human cost, as he purposefully eschews his softer impulses to become the kind of filmmaker necessary to finish the massive production.
It’s a casual moment of cruelty that highlights the personal cost to both men [inThe Franchise].
This extends even to minor bit players in the film, such as Rufus. Earlier in the episode, Eric stood by his humanity when pushing a scene featuring him to the following week, saving his hair for his upcoming wedding. However, “difficult” Eric ignores that empathy and orders Rufus to shave for the shoot.It’s a casual moment of cruelty that highlights the personal cost to both men. Eric loses that little bit of humanity while Rufus suffers for his decision. Even whenThe Franchisekeeps the focus on a grounded character level, the cost of filmmaking can be surprisingly harsh.
The Franchise
Cast
The Franchise is a Max original comedy television series that follows a film crew as they document their increasingly chaotic and hectic work on a Superhero film franchise. Acting as a satire on the industry, the show looks to lampoon the process and the sometimes unreasonable expectations of keeping a long-standing franchise alive and kicking.
