“Over the past few years, the electronic ticket has proved to have a surprisingly large impact on the marketing and distribution of both large- and small-scale films, and it has stirred controversy in unexpected places.”
Tag: 11.29.07
Invest In Theatre, Not Buildings!
“In recent years, far too much public money has gone on capital projects and keeping the lavatories working in subsidised theatres, and far too little into the work that actually goes on stage. An empty theatre is just a building and nothing more.”
Doris Lessing Can’t Travel To Collect Nobel
“Instead, the Nobel foundation will present the £766,000 prize to the 87-year-old British writer in London, after medical advisers told her not to travel.”
Warner Profits Tank; Recording Industry Hurting
“Warner Music Group, the world’s third-largest music company, on Thursday posted a fall in quarterly profit, hurt by an industry-wide slump in sales as more fans choose to buy songs online rather than physical albums… Sales of digital music at Warner were up 25 percent at $130 million during the quarter but this could not make up for the short-fall in CD sales.”
Writers’ Strike Cancels Democratic Debate
The Democratic National Committee has canceled a presidential candidates’ debate scheduled to be held in Los Angeles and air on CBS, after multiple candidates made it clear they would not be comfortable crossing a picket line threatened by striking Hollywood screenwriters.
Opus Posthumous
“The works of Boston-born artist David Park, who died at 49 in 1960, are finally enjoying some worldly renown… Twice this year, a David Park canvas has sold for more than $1 million, both records.” Compare that to the prices Park’s work garnered in his lifetime, when he would sell a landscape for $200 to buy shoes for his children.
Striking Writers Getting International Support
Protests are being staged worldwide by screenwriters supporting the striking Writers Guild of America. “Protests were held in Paris, Berlin, [London] and four Australian cities.”
Finally, Some Art That Isn’t Stolen
“Three paintings by Flemish master Rubens held in a British gallery were not stolen by the Nazis, a government panel has ruled.” Instead, a Jewish-owned bank in the Netherlands was found to have legally sold the paintings prior to the Nazi invasion of Holland in 1940.
Scientist Ignores Threat, Says “Pollocks” Aren’t Real
“A forensic scientist said yesterday that a large group of paintings discovered several years ago and thought by some to be by Jackson Pollock included many containing paints and materials that were not available until after the artist’s death in 1956.” The scientist was hired to examine the paintings by their owner, then threatened with a lawsuit if he disclosed his findings.
Writers, Producers Still Talking
“Striking screenwriters and Hollywood producers agreed to extend their renewed contract talks to a fourth day this evening, signaling at least some progress toward ending a work stoppage that began three and a half weeks ago.” However, there has been no breakthrough on the core issues that sparked the strike.