New Orleans writer e-mails off her e-book to production company, negotiates e-deal for a movie project. Production begins in January. – Wired
Month: November 1999
UCLA DANCE
University gets $18 million – its largest-ever arts donation – to create new center for dance in historic building. – Los Angeles Times
A CULTURAL BASELINE
Columbia University study looks at how the arts are covered in American media. Newspapers have failed to keep up with cultural boom. – Seattle Post-Intelligencer 11/16/99
AND: Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Houston Chronicle, CBC, New York Times, Boston Globe (second item), Artswire, MSNBC, Houston Press (third item), The Idler and a contrary view
ALSO: Read the report
HARE HARANGUES
Playwright David Hare pens a journal critical of theater critics, producers, patrons, audiences, (and himself). – New York Times
THE QUEEN, THE POPE, THE PYRAMIDS OR BILL CLINTON
Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Church has too many invitations to sing on New Year’s Eve. – BBC
POKEMANIA
Pokemon movie racks up biggest opening-week box office ever for movie released outside of summer. Variety
MILLIONAIRE FEVER
For the first time since 1983, the NBC Thursday-night lock on TV ratings was broken. “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” is hot. Variety
PEDAL TO THE METAL
PE Detroit arts economy is booming along with the local economy. New concert hall, theaters, museums, rejuvenating downtown. Next up: an arts tax to generate $24 million/year for the arts. Detroit News
THE END OF THE BLOCKBUSTER
Or is it “The Blockbuster Lives?” Recent events on Broadway give conflicting clues to the future of the American musical. Hartford Courant
GET A LIFE
TV addict spent years of commercial breaks drawing intricate, architecturally accurate blueprints of TV sitcom buildings. Discovered by LA art dealer, he became toast of West Coast art scene. National Post (Canada)