The original anti-Hollywood startup (United Artists)

There's been a great deal of talk on HN lately about PG's declaration of war on Hollywood. As a Hollywood refugee myself, I'm intrigued. And here we are now, brainstorming alternatives. It's exciting. I would argue, however, that the past might offer us glimpse into the future.

Those unfamiliar with the history of United Artists -- a studio founded by leading talent, looking to declare independence from the Hollywood of their day -- might find the story of its rise and fall intriguing, if not a bit bittersweet. It's the story of a house ultimately divided, then fallen.

Today, a smaller-scale analogue (of a sort) exists in Maker Studios, an LA-based collective of viral YouTube artists collaborating and co-producing each other's work. Time will tell what becomes of this enterprise, but it's off to an interesting start.

IMO, today's studio system is critically vulnerable precisely because its leading talent is eager to jump ship. If better options presented themselves, some of the best writers and artists in the business would gladly participate.