Sean Baker Warns “Censorship” Could Be Coming To American Cinema As He Wraps Production On His Newest Film

Sean Baker has made a name for himself as one of the most acclaimed indie filmmakers working today. And when you talk about “indie” cinema, Baker isn’t making small Netflix features. No, he’s still working with shoestring budgets and untrained actors to bring his dramas to life. That said, apparently, Baker is concerned about the direction of American cinema, and he’s worried that it might stifle the potential of younger filmmakers.

Speaking to Kinotico, Sean Baker gave an update about his next film, titled “Anora,” and also took time to talk about the current state of American filmmaking. That is to say, he’s not happy with the direction American society is going in regarding what he believes is “censorship” in filmmaking. Who does he blame for this change in society? Social media, obviously. 

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“American cinema has become more reactionary,” said Baker (via World of Reel). “Anything that can be described as minimally controversial now needs to be commented on. People talk about it, videos get made on TikTok. And it bothers me because the discussion turns to anger and defense. Or turns into an attack, not an argument…There is young talent that is unable to express itself freely for fear of backlash…”

He goes on to lament how studios are looking at what people say about a film and the controversy that might erupt if they release a “problematic” feature. “And suddenly, the story of a relationship with a big age gap, like ‘Red Rocket’ or ‘Licorice Pizza,’ becomes problematic. That’s where censorship begins,” he said.

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Now, to be fair, there was a bit of mild social media backlash surrounding “Licorice Pizza” and Baker’s own film, “Red Rocket,” but both of those movies received great reviews. “Red Rocket” currently sits at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. So, to say that his film was targeted and affected by social media outrage is a bit… overblown. The “age gap” controversy hasn’t changed much in the past few decades either. It’s always been a hot-button issue. But let’s not presume that Baker was somehow blacklisted or “canceled” because of it. 

People don’t go into a Sean Baker film expecting moralism of any kind. He makes (often amazing) films about people living on the fringes of society, where “problematic” situations run rampant. Baker shines a light on people who blur the lines between typical notions of good and bad. That’s what he does, and he’s really good at it. So, it’s a bit of a bummer for him to cry foul when people point out things as problematic when that’s kinda the point, right? If you make art that is uncomfortable and sometimes difficult to watch, don’t get mad when people are uncomfortable and don’t enjoy it, even if it’s viewed by the vast majority as great.

But I digress.

Speaking about his next project, which has the title “Anora,” Baker explained that he has already wrapped production on the film. Not only that, though he said that “Anora” is the biggest production he’s made, it will follow similar themes as his previous features. 

“It’s my biggest production to date, although that’s not to say it’s too big,” he explained. “It cost a little more than ‘The Florida Project‘ and in terms of theme, it follows the line of my previous films. It’s a story about a sex worker, but the tone is closer to comedy.”

It’s nice to know that a new Sean Baker film is seemingly around the corner. Regardless of what people think of them (and many film fans/critics love his work), the filmmaker always tells stories that are interesting and unique.