“For some 50 years, the reels of film lay forgotten in a London garage. Now a cache of more than 30 has been discovered, showing the first performances by young actors who would go on to become some of Britain’s greatest comedians, including Peter Sellers, Prunella Scales and Ronnie Corbett. The movies, all shot in the early 1950s when Britain was trying to turn its film industry into a mini-Hollywood, have now been given to the British Film Institute (BFI) to restore.”
Tag: 06.14.09
Gay Activists (Some Of Them) Are Unhappy With The Whole Bruno Joke
“Ultimately the tension surrounding Brüno boils down to the worry that certain viewers won’t understand that the joke is on them and will leave the multiplex with their homophobia validated. ‘Some people in our community may like this movie, but many are not going to be O.K. with it’, said … [an official with] the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.”
The Show Sounds Terrific, But How’s The Parking?
“[F]or local cultural institutions, the parking issue goes beyond simple matters of increased rates and hours. Getting folks to come out to your entertainment venue involves convincing them that they’re going to enjoy themselves, but no one enjoys stressing out about parking, and that stress has become increasingly difficult to escape.”
An Ambitious Plan To Remake Paris
“A formidable list of architects — including Richard Rogers, Jean Nouvel, Djamel Klouche and Roland Castro — put forward proposals that address a range of urban problems: from housing the poor to fixing outdated transportation systems to renewing the immigrant suburbs. Some have suggested practical solutions — new train stations and parks — while others have been more provocative, like Castro, who proposed moving the presidential palace to the outskirts.”
Theatres Increasingly Turning To Facebook To Promote Shows
“Along with social networking sites, theatre producers are harnessing the reach of cellphones and blog sites on the Internet in a drive to attract attention and raise awareness, as well as taking out advertising space on hoardings above main roads and highways, and setting up online bookings.”
Movie Theatre Ads Grow Even In Recession
“Revenue from advertising in U.S. movie theaters grew just 5.8% last year, marking the slowest gain in the seven years that such statistics have been kept. Still, the Cinema Advertising Council, which is expected to release its 2008 report Monday, can boast of an ad industry still showing growth while most others are not.”
Super Dealer Larry Gagosian Doubling Size Of His Beverly Hills Gallery
he has asked architect Richard Meier to double the size of the Beverly Hills gallery to 11,600 sq. ft. The New York-based architect designed the original Gagosian gallery in Los Angeles in 1994-95 by converting an existing storefront. The newly expanded gallery will open next year.
Hollywood Studio Internet Ventures Fail
“Conceived with great fanfare, big media’s attempt over the last two years to capitalize on the Internet video phenomenon embodied by YouTube and “Saturday Night Live” digital shorts has fallen victim to recession-triggered cuts and inflated expectations about the advertising revenue they would command.”
A New Generation Changes Australia’s Arts Boards
“There’s a generational and gender change slowly sweeping across the boards of Australia’s major arts bodies. Once seen from the outside as clubby, pass-the-gin-and-tonic sinecures for successful businessmen and wealthy donors to rub first-night shoulders with artists and to network with politicians, arts company boards are getting serious.”
America’s Movie Critics Get Second Life
“America’s film critics, an ornery lot, are not dead yet. In fact, their craft has shown flickering signs of new life lately — though not the kind that leaves ink-stained cinephiles entirely comfortable. The last few weeks have brought the debut of Moviereviewintelligence.com, a new Web site committed to monitoring, scoring and proliferating the work of critics at some 65 print and broadcast outlets.”