As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time observing and analyzing the dynamics of various social groups, I find the rise of these tech-centric belief systems fascinating, if not a tad concerning. The idea of merging humanity with technology to achieve immortality and create a network state feels like a blend of science fiction and reality, reminiscent of movies like “The Terminator” or “Blade Runner.”
In essence, you could imagine placing a marker on a timeline to signify the beginning of Silicon Valley’s conflict with Hollywood. This significant event occurred on August 29, 1997. Remarkably, this date marks the inception of Netflix, a small DVD delivery service established by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, which is located approximately an hour south of San Francisco.
The rest is a familiar story: In a span of mere two decades, the mainstays of the old entertainment industry began to collapse. Television programs broadcast in sequence, cable TV, movie theater revenues — none were immune, not even the towering giants they once were.
However, let me update you on some recent developments. Within the last few weeks, there have been indications that Southern California is experiencing a resurgence, or at least attempting to do so. Unlike previous civil wars regarding digital platforms or online content protection, this conflict is occurring between tech moguls and established Hollywood liberals. They’re not just squabbling about digital windows anymore; they’re engaged in a much larger struggle, as both sides vie for influence over the type of government that will be elected in November. At stake this time is nothing less than the presidency of the United States.
A studio executive bluntly expresses Hollywood’s current attitude as, “We’re fed up with the tech enthusiasts who support Trump.”
As a gamer diving deep into the political landscape, I’m talking about the bunch of Northern California tycoons who’ve jumped on the bandwagon of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump lately. Among them is Elon Musk, a name that echoes wealth like no other with an estimated net worth of $250 billion. He initially promised to pour $45 million each month into Trump’s campaign, although he later refuted making such a pledge, leaving us guessing about the actual amount he might contribute (he’s now hinting at funneling his funds into his own pro-Trump political action committee, AmericaPAC).
Now there still are plenty of liberals in Silicon Valley, like Steve Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg. There’s venture capitalist Reid Hoffman, another member of the PayPal mafia, who donated $7 million to the Democratic super PAC Future Forward (and who in July exchanged uncomfortable words with his old pal Thiel over their divergent politics at the Sun Valley CEO conference). Not to mention Hastings, who recently donated $7 million to a pro-Kamala Harris group called the Republican Accountability PAC.
Despite expectations, the number of tech billionaires backing Trump is just as astonishing as the vast amounts they’ve been accumulating for his campaign. Notable supporters include Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, twin bitcoin tycoons who famously sued Mark Zuckerberg over the creation of Facebook (they were portrayed by Armie Hammer in David Fincher’s film, “The Social Network”); venture capitalist David Sacks, who recently hosted a fundraiser for Trump costing $300,000 per ticket; Antonio Gracias, founder of Valor Equity Partners and a $1 million donor; Jacob Helberg, CEO of defense technology firm Palantir, who also pledged $1 million; tech entrepreneur Joe Lonsdale ($1 million); Sequoia Capital’s Douglas Leone ($1 million); Shaun Maguire ($500,000); and tech investor Ben Horowitz, who has promised a “significant” contribution. Over a dozen others have also shown support. Interestingly, two who appear neutral in this election cycle are Zuckerberg and Open AI founder Sam Altman, although Trump claims that Zuckerberg promised not to back a Democrat, and Altman, who once likened Trump to Hitler, has urged Americans to moderate their rhetoric following the July attempt on Trump’s life, stating that the country would be resilient regardless of the election outcome.
Previously, there were indications that the influential figures in Hollywood might not participate in the 2024 race. However, following Joe Biden’s intense debate performance on June 27, many began to close their wallets or, like Ari Emanuel of Endeavor, redirected their resources towards congressional races. But then, as George Clooney suggested should happen, Biden stepped down and endorsed Harris, which sparked an immediate surge in enthusiasm among Hollywood’s elite. This wasn’t limited only to the elite; within the first 24 hours of Biden’s announcement, Harris received a record-breaking $100 million in donations from various parts of the country. “The support and excitement for the vice president has been extraordinary,” says embattled DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, who is now co-chair of Harris’ campaign (having previously served as Biden’s co-chair). “It has ignited a level of enthusiasm I have never seen before.”
Indeed, she’s set the flame alight. Originally from California, homeowner in Brentwood Harris, had established a robust connection in LA prior to her 2020 presidential bid – which she later abandoned to join Biden’s team. Notable backers of her campaign were Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Ben Affleck, Reese Witherspoon, Reginald and Chrisette Hudlin, Jeff Shell, Donna Langley, Dana Walden, Jessica Alba, Mindy Kaling, Ron Meyer, Jeff Bridges, and Shonda Rhimes, among others. Jenny Frankfurt, a former literary agent who organized several Harris 2020 primary fundraisers, shares her enthusiasm, stating, “Everyone I’ve met has been incredibly excited. Some are thrilled because it’s her, while others are enthusiastic because they yearn for the new beginning that Biden wasn’t offering.”
Some individuals, to put it mildly, are extremely passionate about countering their main rivals from Silicon Valley. As one prominent Hollywood executive who backs Harris explains, “For a decade, figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Altman have been shaping our society, yet the world hasn’t improved as a result. These individuals already hold too much influence; we don’t want them dictating policy or occupying the Oval Office. I believe this campaign offers an opportunity to balance the scales.”
A prominent Democratic advisor concurs: “It’s not hidden that Hollywood generally doesn’t have much affection for these individuals. The idea of them being allied with the Trump administration is hardly appealing. There’s a significant amount of wealth in Hollywood, coupled with a great deal of disapproval towards these tech entrepreneurs. I expect we’ll witness substantial donations aimed at demonstrating to these candidates that they can’t purchase an election.”
To be honest, it’s not just about political disagreements that are fueling this tension. A significant portion of the animosity stems from ego clashes and differences in ideology. For years, these tech moguls from Silicon Valley have been dominating Hollywood with their innovative streaming services, disrupting long-established broadcast and cinema business models, and imposing unconventional corporate cultures on an industry that values its own unique work ethos (like the cubbyholes at Amazon given to top executives instead of C-suite offices). Many film enthusiasts in Hollywood, such as Christopher Nolan, are still upset about Project Popcorn, Warner Bros.’ decision during the pandemic to release their entire cinematic lineup on HBO Max, a plan devised by former WarnerMedia head Jason Kilar, who is also one of the co-founders of Hulu.
Nonetheless, it’s evident that there are significant philosophical distinctions between the two groups. While Hollywood might be notorious for housing scoundrels, deceivers, and traitors, a portion of these individuals possess a strong social consciousness. Historically, this area has been associated with classical liberalism, dating back to the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, even before Charlton Heston became known for his gun advocacy; he once stood alongside Martin Luther King Jr. during his 1963 speech at the March on Washington. Iconic figures like Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda (and his daughter Jane), Gregory Peck, Katharine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall are just a few examples of Hollywood’s long line of liberal celebrities, a tradition that continues to thrive with new progressive advocates (Robert De Niro, Alyssa Milano, Larry David, Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, among others). Despite the substantial wealth circulating in these areas, Beverly Hills and its surroundings have consistently been one of the most profoundly liberal regions across the nation.
Historically, Silicon Valley has held similar values to Los Angeles. While it’s been more liberal in terms of taxation and regulations, it has generally aligned with Hollywood on cultural matters such as LGBTQ rights, marijuana legalization, and immigration (as tech companies rely heavily on foreign workers and many tech leaders are from immigrant families). However, there seems to be a significant change in the political climate up north, and it’s not just Elon Musk’s controversial tweets criticizing progressive movements and illegal immigration. It’s puzzling why so many Silicon Valley billionaires are now backing a convicted rapist with multiple felony convictions who previously attempted a presidential run. Can other explanations account for this shift in political allegiance?
As a gamer, I often find myself scratching my head in bewilderment over tech tycoons who, with billions stashed away, choose to side with Trump just for more financial gains. I can’t fathom it. You’ve got enough money to last lifetimes, yet you still cling to Trump because he promises to further reduce your taxes? There’s no explanation that makes sense. It’s a disheartening reflection on the lengths some people will go to safeguard their riches, even if it means compromising our democracy.
The fact is, there are reasons besides lower taxes that might explain why so many in Silicon Valley have gone full MAGA — much, much weirder reasons. “It’s not just about the money,” explains Christopher Wylie, the Cambridge Analytics whistleblower who testified during the 2018 Senate hearings on online disinformation in the 2016 Trump campaign and who knows the northern culture well. “It’s about ideology. What you’re dealing with here is a cult. These tech billionaires are building a religion. They believe they’re creating something with AI that’s going to be the most powerful thing that’s ever existed — this omniscient, all-knowing God-like entity — and they see themselves as the prophets of that future.”
As someone who has spent years studying and working in technology, I find it both fascinating and a bit unsettling to see how certain ideas and beliefs within the tech industry have evolved over time. For instance, I remember reading Marc Andreessen’s “The Techno-Optimist Manifesto” back when it was first published, and while I admired his vision for the potential growth of technology, some of the more extreme ideas he and others are now promoting seem to have taken a turn towards the bizarre.
According to Torres, their objective revolves around creating cutting-edge technologies aimed at fundamentally transforming themselves in such a manner that death becomes obsolete. This aspiration for immortality is deeply ingrained within their convictions, making it reminiscent of religious beliefs. Consequently, some have likened this movement to the Scientology of Silicon Valley.
Others in San Francisco are calling it “The Nerd Reich.”
It’s important to note that there’s no indication Trump endorses or understands these ideas, though Vance might be less certain. As a protege of Peter Thiel, who is known for his advocacy of the eugenic TESCREAL manifesto in the tech world, Vance shares this background. Thiel has been vocal about his support for this Silicon Valley ideology. In the eyes of these tech entrepreneurs, Trump doesn’t necessarily have to share their beliefs; he just needs to accept their donations and implement policies aligned with their guidance, such as dismantling regulatory bodies like the FDA that they believe are hindering technological advancement and the creation of a utopian tech society.
As a gamer, I’ve found that Trump seems quite eager to join forces in this digital world we call crypto. Just recently, he graced the stage at a crypto gathering in Nashville, pledging to transform the U.S. into the undisputed “crypto capital” of the globe. This is the same leader who, as president, dismissed bitcoin as “not money” and criticized it for being a creation “based on thin air.” However, it seems he’s changing his strategy now.
“They see Trump as a useful idiot,” says Wylie. “He’s somebody who’ll do what they want.”
In Hollywood circles, many share this viewpoint regarding Silicon Valley’s approach towards politics, even if they aren’t familiar with transhumanism. This is what makes their actions so unsettling. According to a prominent executive who backs Harris, these tech leaders view Trump as a blank slate for their political ambitions. They see him as an instrument for pursuing an agenda that emphasizes survival of the fittest, deregulation, and destructive nihilism, which lacks compassion or subtlety.
Reminiscent of a past tale, I can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. It seems as though I’ve heard those very words before, echoing from an old Arnold Schwarzenegger film about a relentless cyborg assassin from the future – a creature devoid of compassion or regret. Strangely enough, that significant date we spoke of earlier, when Netflix began its reign over Hollywood – August 29, 1997 – coincidentally marked the day Skynet attained self-awareness in The Terminator.
And we know how that turned out.
Lachlan Cartwright, Degen Pener and Scott Feinberg contributed to this report.
Originally published in The Hollywood Reporter’s August 7 edition, find this intriguing tale here. Consider subscribing for more!
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2024-08-07 16:25