Oscar voters have a strong appreciation for good dramas, but at the Toronto International Film Festival, dramas were not as prevalent on screen as they were behind the scenes. The festival, known for being a starting point for movie awards, opened with the Charles Darwin drama "Creation" which was looking for a US distributor. Many of the films at the festival were still seeking distribution, including titles like "Chloe" and "Dorian Gray." Due to the recession, audiences have been more interested in escapist fantasies and comedies, causing distributors to focus on those genres and leaving serious dramas struggling for attention. According to industry insiders, fans of quality dramas still exist, and the genre is not dead. They believe the problem is more related to marketing and cost rather than a lack of creative content. However, filmmakers like Jon Amiel are finding it tough to produce movies like "No Country for Old Men," which won an Oscar for Best Film in 2007. Amiel, whose film "Creation" explores Charles Darwin's struggles with evolution in the 1850s, described "drama" as the new undesirable term in Hollywood. He mentioned that even indie distributors are hesitant to purchase films about obscure historical figures like a deceased, bald Englishman in today's market. Many American movies that are not viewed by audiences can be considered box office failures. This can be seen in the lower earnings of successful art house films like "The Hurt Locker" compared to more mainstream romantic comedies like "(500) Days of Summer." According to entertainment attorney Steven Beer, dramas are considered risky in today's market due to a conservative attitude. However, industry experts believe that dramas can still attract fans and be profitable. The key is to develop an appropriate production and marketing strategy that aligns with the current movie industry landscape. This often involves grassroots campaigns targeting specific audience groups, such as fans of science and period pieces for films like "Creation." Additionally, production costs need to be reduced to accommodate lower box office revenue and declining DVD sales, which have decreased significantly due to competition from other forms of home entertainment. Despite the challenges, dramas have always been difficult to produce and will continue to be so. Tom Ortenberg, president of theatrical films at The Weinstein Co., stated that the current economic climate is challenging, which is why there needs to be a change in the models used by distributors. David Poland of MovieCityNews.com also mentioned that the decrease in DVD sales has made distributors hesitant to invest in expensive dramas, although there is still demand for the genre. Distributors are now more selective when choosing dramas, making it harder for a breakout film like "Slumdog" at Toronto 2009 to emerge. Tom Bernard, co-president of Sony Pictures Classics, added that buyers at Toronto are now more cautious compared to previous years.