What would happen if we sacrificed a year of entertainment budgets to solve all our problems? I asked an AI

I read yesterday that The Joker’s total movie budget was a humble $200million, and it got me pondering. If you’d like to discover where that pondering went, bear with me as I have a bit of a pointless ramble and devil’s advocate with myself below – with added ChatGPT.

Preamble over, this ponder initially caused me to think; $200million, eh? What if we did something really radical, and just took all the tv shows and films that are planned to be made in the next year, and… just decided to not? Books too. For a year. And instead, put all of that money into saving the asses of the entire human race and all the other species still alive on this godforsaken burning rock?

Think about it for a second. Who here doesn’t have countless TV shows and films on their lists to watch? Countless books to read. Would it really be that much of a hardship to forego any new form of budget-churning entertainment for a year while we all catch up and, y’know… figure out how to put a halt to climate change? Sort out our planet? End world hunger? Get our f*cking SH*T together? I mean, really.

I get it. People in the entertainment industry have jobs and need to make a living. We’d have to still work that part out, and my idea is rough and unthought out, but… I’m just sayin’. Y’know, looking for a way through for some kind of hope.

I was met with a mixed response. Of course, taxing the billionaires, and redistributing wealth is the most obvious thing to do, rather than having to sacrifice ANY of the arts. I’m an artist, myself; I agree with that wholeheartedly. But it ain’t happening, is it?

Another person told me I should get AI involved to help plan how my idea could actually be implemented. Out of curiosity, I asked it – despite having absolutely zero way of actually getting anyone to take this seriously. But, y’know. In for a penny!

It’s also particularly fitting that I’m currently invigilating at a gallery that’s broadcasting audio of a range of robotic voices talking things that are difficult to parse at me!

But first… some MORE thoughts:

The pros of sacrificing entertainment for a year

• Making some actual progress in the world, without which we can’t enjoy nice things because we’ll all be dead
• Coming together for good – community, togetherness, maybe we’d stop killing each other for a bit
• Catching up on all the entertainment we haven’t yet consumed
• There’s more to life than being entertained by things. Increased productivity? New schemes to get involved in for the good of the planet?

The cons of sacrificing entertainment for a year

• Obviously, no new entertainment for a year
• We’ve have to adjust our Geek Native content!
• A big hecking lot of planning and accountability to make it work
• People out of jobs and having to be given a comfortable basic income
• The backlash of ALL of this

The questions around sacrificing entertainment for a year

• How can all of this conceivably be achieved?
• Do we even deserve nice things, anyway?

Below is ChatGPT‘s response to my question above (providing it all the information in my social media post I’d shared above).

Redirecting the budgets allocated for entertainment towards addressing global issues like climate change, ending world hunger, and preserving biodiversity is indeed an intriguing idea. Here’s a rough outline of how such a plan could be approached while ensuring that those in the entertainment industry are not left impoverished:

1. Establish a Redistribution Mechanism: Create a centralized organization or fund that manages the redirection of entertainment budgets towards various global initiatives. This organization would oversee the allocation of funds to different projects and ensure transparency and accountability in spending.
2. Support Transition Programs: Offer support programs for individuals employed in the entertainment industry to transition into other sectors or projects that contribute to addressing global challenges. This could include training programs, career counseling, and financial assistance for retraining or education.
3. Basic Income Guarantee: Implement a temporary basic income guarantee for those directly impacted by the redirection of entertainment budgets. This would ensure that individuals and families have financial security during the transition period.
4. Invest in Green Technologies and Infrastructure: Allocate a significant portion of the redirected funds towards research and development of renewable energy sources, sustainable agriculture practices, and green infrastructure projects. This investment would create new jobs and stimulate economic growth while addressing environmental challenges.
5. Support Sustainable Development Projects: Fund initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development, including access to clean water and sanitation, renewable energy solutions for communities in need, and conservation efforts to protect endangered species and ecosystems.
6. Global Collaboration and Partnerships: Forge partnerships with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to maximize the impact of redirected funds and ensure coordinated efforts to address global challenges.
7. Public Awareness Campaigns: Allocate resources towards public education and awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of addressing climate change, ending world hunger, and preserving the environment. Engaging the public is crucial for generating support and mobilizing action on these issues.
8. Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the impact of redirected funds on global initiatives. Regular assessments would help identify successes, challenges, and areas for improvement, ensuring that resources are used effectively and efficiently.

By implementing a comprehensive plan that combines financial support for those in the entertainment industry with strategic investments in global challenges, it’s possible to make significant progress towards building a more sustainable and equitable world.

Thanks, ChatGPT. You’ve made it look like I’m not completely insane, and it’s actually a feasible idea. Feasible, but again, not very fair. Then again, it’s getting to the point where we really have to consider priorities. Surely continuing the human race is more important than a year of new movies and TV if it’s the only option.

Would people be pissed at having to wait an extra year for the next season of Big Dragon House, or the next Marvel movie? Of course they sodding would. I’m just at the point where it feels like we need real change, and we’re incapable of doing so.

Still here? Thanks for reading this far. Sorry if this post comes across as pessimistic, or cynical. Call it a thought experiment, and in the words of MJK… Raise a glass to our, our heterogeneity, our remarkable resilience through calamity (yes, I’m quoting Puscifer now).

What do you think of this idea? Would it be annoying, but worth it – or is it completely inachievable, deluded drivel from a bored artist sitting alone in a gallery space? Answers on a postcard, smoke signals, morse code, pigeon post, or in the comments below.