A new tax credit program for British filmmakers will help spur the industry. A government program that had given tax breaks for those who invest in UK movies is coming to an end, and the movie industry had complained that its discontinuation would kill British film investment.
Tag: 03.21.04
Is LA’s New Cultural Affairs Department An Opportunity Or Political Salve?
Last week, Los Angeles’ mayor relented and decided not to kill the city’s cultural department to save money. “It remains to be seen whether the mayor’s redefined Cultural Affairs Department is more than a political tactic to quiet angry arts supporters as the city struggles to close an estimated $250-million budget shortfall. But the arts community shouldn’t simply declare victory and accept the mayor’s largely commercial vision of his new arts council. Rather, it should emerge from the affair with a new determination to position arts and culture at the center of city life.”
Sydney Opera House Being Retrofitted With Bomb Protection
The Sydney Opera House is getting bomb blast barriers for its entryways. “Police and security agencies fear a truck or car bomb could be driven into one of Sydney’s most recognisable landmarks. The building has been identified by ASIO as one of Australia’s top terrorist targets along with the rail network and government buildings in Sydney.”
Sued To Fame And Fortune
No one likes to be sued, right? Usually. But some publishers find that being sued over a book is a big boost for sales. “Paradoxically, a lawsuit, especially a flimsy one, can be a boon to a book’s fortunes. And increasingly, some writers and publishers admit to hoping they’ll attract one.”
The Greening Of A Freeway
The route along the freeway in Boston that has been relocated underground (the Big Dig) is to become a greenbelt. As the old freeway is dismantled, Robert Campbell is taken with how big the space is. “It’s just possible that the greenway site is more stunning today than it will ever be again. That’s because of the way the remaining fragments of the old artery stand around in it, like mysterious wreckage from an earlier civilization. They may be junk, but — as artists long ago discovered — junk can be visually rich.”
MTT, American Conductor
Michael Tilson Thomas has been music director of the San Francisco Symphony for ten years. “The conductor was a man with a mission from the beginning, and he is still focused on bringing forward new music, American music, and neglected repertory as well as refreshing the standard classics. But his explorations have taken on a special urgency in recent years.”