Writers’ Union Girds For Tinseltown Battle

The union that represents Hollywood’s professional writers is counting down to the end of its current contract with the major studios, and negotiations are expected to be tense and complicated. The union’s new president will have much to do with how the contract talks progress, and whether Hollywood will see its first extended writers’ strike since 1988.

Lost & Found: Godunov Gets A Belated Premiere

“In 1936, two of the Soviet Union’s greatest artists decided to work on a new theatrical production of Pushkin’s “Boris Godunov” for its author’s coming jubilee. Sergei Prokofiev wrote 24 musical pieces while the visionary stage director Vsevolod Meyerhold mapped out scenes and started rehearsals. The following year, Stalin’s terror fixed its gaze on Meyerhold and he abandoned the project. Three years later, he was dead, shot by a firing squad. Now, thanks to the recent discovery of Meyerhold’s original notes and Prokofiev’s handwritten score and comments, their collaboration is finally having its world premiere.”

Hot Tin Roof Heats To A Boil

“A Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with an all-black cast headed by Oscar winner Forest Whitaker as Big Daddy has imploded – the result, theater sources say, of ‘inexperienced, inept and insane’ producing… Two weeks ago, [director Kenny] Leon and Whitaker pulled out of the project after repeatedly clashing with the producers, a group of extremely wealthy hedge-fund managers with no previous theatrical experience.”

Tanglewood To Volunteers: Thanks, But Now Pay Up

For decades, the Boston Symphony’s summer home at Tanglewood has depended on the labor of a small army of volunteer staffers, who toil on the grounds in exchange for free passes to the concerts. But now, with the BSO battling deficits, the organization is demanding that all “volunteers” donate at least $75 to the orchestra, and is also yanking the privilege of “companion passes” volunteers could use to get guests in for free.

Saatchi’s In: China Must Be Big!

There’s no longer any question that a Chinese art boom is in full swing, and some of the world’s best-known collectors are jumping on the bandwagon. Charles Saatchi, “whose patronage helped to establish the careers of Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin in the 1990s, is now paying increasing attention to the east. This year he launched a Mandarin version of his website, which gets more than 4m hits a day.”

Davies: Decline Of Serious Culture Is A Nat’l Disgrace

Scottish composer Peter Maxwell Davies has leveled a blistering (and lengthy) attack on the UK government for ignoring the importance of serious art, literature, and music, days after the director of the National Gallery did the same. “Keeping people in a state of ignorance is good for the government in power – it precludes the possibility of articulate criticism, induces political apathy, and its by-product is a frustration which bursts forth into seemingly mindless, unmotivated violence.”

Australia’s Tight-Lipped New Culture Chief

The Australia Council, which is in charge of arts funding for the nation, has a new American-born chief, now two months into her tenure and one month from her first federal budget deadline. She’s upbeat about the national arts picture, but she steadfastly refuses to join many in Australia’s cultural community in criticizing the government for insufficient support. In fact, she doesn’t seem terribly interested in answering any pointed questions about the arts.

Ashkenazy To Take Over Sydney Symphony

The Sydney Symphony has hired Russian-born pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy to be its next chief conductor, beginning in 2009. “Ashkenazy is music director of the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo and the European Union Youth Orchestra,” and has other engagements around the world, leading some to wonder how much time he will be able to spend in Australia.