New Broadway Television Network to broadcast live performances of Broadway shows on pay TV. – New York Times
Blog
REVIEWS DO MATTER
Despite good box office in its Washington DC run, the reviews weren’t good enough for Cameron Mackintosh’s “Martin Guerre” musical. So he’s postponing a plan to bring the show to Broadway. – New York Times
HOLLYWOOD RULES
Movie box office was up in Australia last year, with the latest “Star Wars” installment leading the way. But home-grown films captured only 3 percent of the commercial box office. Another disappointing year for the once-promising local movie industry. – Sydney Morning Herald 01/18/00
WATCHING THE PAINT DRY
It’s everything that conventional wisdom says should make for a recipe for dull TV. But C-SPAN’s simple formula of turning on the cameras and letting them run captures the energy of democracy in action. A virtual conversation with guiding light and “Book Notes” host Brian Lamb. – The Idler 01/18/00
DIGITAL DOO-DOO
Emmanuel Goldstein is the first defendant charged under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which bans the distribution of any “technology” that can bypass a copy protection scheme. Hackers who cracked the entertainment industry’s DVD codes clearly violated the law. But is the law constitutional? The scramble for digital protection of copyright heads to the courts. – Wired
IRELAND IS BOOMING —
— with one of the most robust economies in all of Europe. Artists are sharing in that prosperity, but despite the good times, modern Irish artists are “still relying on hackneyed images of the past,” rather than developing a new sense of visual culture. – Irish Times
COMPANY LORE AT BERTELSMANN, —
— the giant German media conglomerate, has it that the Nazis closed down the company during the Second World War because of its political opposition. Now a team of scholars, hired by the company, disputes that record. – New York Times
FILLED BEYOND OVERFLOWING
Cleveland’s newly refurbished Severance Hall had an open-house performance day, and for the first time in the life of the 69-year-old hall, a sign briefly went up on an exterior door saying “Full to Capacity,” which is miles beyond “Standing Room Only.” – Cleveland Plain Dealer
AN OVERBEARING GUEST
London’s Royal Philharmonic traveled to San Francisco this week. But the music was so hyped up on steroids, so loud and overbearing, it was like an overenthusiastic dinner guest you couldn’t wait to leave. – San Francisco Chronicle
“I HATE TALKING ABOUT MY WORK.” CLICK
Australian artist Tracey Moffatt’s slick images could be easily dismissed by the art world. But since an exhibition of her work at New York’s Dia Center in 1997 her career has taken off. Last year she had solo shows at major institutions in Copenhagen, Paris, Boston and Barcelona. In London, she’s represented by the powerhouse Victoria Miro Gallery, and in New York, she’s with dealers Matthew Marks and Paul Morris. – The Globe and Mail (Canada)