Cleopatra vs. Hookbook

This novel chronicles the making of a movie during the 1960s and also the production of TV shows and movies in the present day.  The author, Jess Walter, places a huge amount of emphasis on the deviation that has occurred since the 1960s showing how the quality of movie/TV has steadily declined with time.  

""Michael. Tell me. What do you know about Cleopatra?"

Stupid question. Every last person in town knew every last thing about that film.  Mostly how it was eating Fox alive... After sixteen months of production and seven million bucks he had less than six feet of usable films... Not after two years of production and twenty million already down the shitter and God knows how much more while poor tight Skouros rode that goddamn thing all the way down hoping against hope that what showed up on-screen was the greatest goddamned move spectacle ever made" (Walter 241-242). 

This long passage details the many trials and tribulations that occurred during the making of the 1963 film, Cleopatra.  There were so many issues with weather, and illness, and running out of money, yet the film was still made.  Even though it may have not produced a huge profit, it provided viewing pleasure for movie-goers which was what used to be the most important thing.  The people working on the film were very committed to making it, and even though it took a lot of effort, they got it done because they were determined and passionate about it.

"She can still hear the pitch: It's called Hookbook.  It's like a video Facebook for hookups.  Anyone who posts a video on the site is also auditioning for our TV show.  We snatch up the best-looking, horniest people, film their dates, and follow the whole thing: hookups, breakups, weddings.  Best of all, it casts itself.  We don't pay anyone a cent!" (Walter 27).

This passage describes a series made recently by Michael Deane productions.  Hookbook, as this pitch entails is self-cast, and requires very little effort on the production company's part.  All they have to do is record everything and edit it down to TV show length.  The large population of people who enjoy watching mindless TV will surely tune into this show and the production company will earn lots of money from it.  Hookbook is the complete opposite of Cleopatra.  It is not well-thought-out and very minimal time and effort goes into its production.  It is obvious that the production company is only trying to make money.  They are not extremely passionate about the subject of Hookbook, nor are they willing to put forth a lot of effort to make a quality TV show.

I think that Jess Walter is trying to make a statement about the laziness that has encompassed modern-day society by contrasting today's quality of film production with film production 50 years ago.  It says a lot about our culture that such an unimaginative reality show like this can be produced nowadays with so little passion and effort behind it.