For the first time, downloads of major Hollywood movies will be offered the same day they’re available on DVD. “Until now, both services offered digital movie downloads for a rental period only. Some films have been available to buy, but mainly those movies have been B grade flicks.”
Tag: 04.02.06
A Cleveland Company Hoping To Get Bigger
“Now that the future of Ohio Ballet is in jeopardy, a resident dance company is needed at Playhouse Square, and Ohio Dance Theatre could be a candidate. Regrettably, however, the classically trained contemporary ensemble is not yet ready to step up into the big leagues.”
Broadway’s Star Turns (And Turns)
Julia Roberts is the latest in a long line of movie stars to try a spin on Broadway. “Broadway is dependent on movie, TV and pop-music stars to generate interest in theater, and the announcement that the toothy, $20-million-a-picture leading lady would headline the generational family drama by Richard Greenberg (“Take Me Out”) was no exception.”
What They Earn In The Arts In LA
What are arts people making in Los Angeles? “Among the city’s most visible arts outfits, the drift of leadership salaries is up, up and up. If you lump together salaries for the top executives of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Los Angeles Opera, the L.A. Philharmonic and the Center Theatre Group from 2002 to 2004, the average increase was 28%, while inflation was rising 5%.”
Why Would I Pay For Satellite Radio?
“If you were thinking about subscribing to satellite radio solely for a broader variety of music, digital radio might offer a cheaper and reasonably satisfying experience. On the other hand, if you’re smitten by satellite’s other offerings, including the unmatched selection of sports, more thinly sliced music niches (blues, classic jazz, old-school soul, chamber music, show tunes) and unusually creative radio — drama, movie soundtracks, live performances, artist profiles — satellite has nothing to fear from broadcast’s new venture. At least not yet.”
A Million Words Of English?
Earlier this year an amateur scholar in San Diego declared that some time this year the English language would get its one millionth word. Professional word mavens were not amused. The notion that English will soon achieve this milestone is… ridiculous?
How London Learned Modern Theatre
“The cliché runs that England was a theatrical desert in the early 1950s. It was certainly true that London was far from the theatre capital of the world. Serious drama was served up with lashings of heavy sauce from Paris, where the long-winded works of Anouilh debuted, and where a little-known Irish modernist was premiering En attendant Godot. Entertainment breezed in from New York, where the American musical was responding to the brash energies of the booming 1950s with all the relish of Oh! What a Beautiful Morning. There were stirrings in London drama, however.”
Philadelphia New Music Group Takes A Turn
“Philadelphia was once a haven for musical specialization encouraged by low rents, sympathetic academic communities, and generous philanthropic organizations. Artists could concentrate on creating marvelous new sounds that speak to the times and count on audiences to find them – with a little help from a marketing director. Now, with larger organizations claiming more public and private dollars than ever, specialists from early to modern music have to refresh and expand their relationships with local audiences if they aren’t to be left behind. How do you do that, though, without losing what you have and who you are?”
Protests Over Bodies Exhibition
” ‘Bodies … The Exhibition’ features 20 whole cadavers, preserved using a technique known as ‘plastination,’ made famous by the anatomist Gunther von Hagens. It will open at Earls Court later this month. Human rights organisations have attacked the booming industry in travelling exhibitions featuring human corpses. They warned that the bodies, which are from China, could include those of executed political prisoners.”
Archi-Terrorism?
A shadowy group has threatened demolition and building contractors over projects they’re trying to build. “The group says it is dedicated to stopping modern housing developments and the destruction of historic buildings. It claims that ‘as a result of developers’ greed and planners’ indifference, the erosion of regional identity is at crisis point’.”