Category: media

“If video games are art, what kind of art are they? What are their particular attributes and potential? And, perhaps most importantly, just how good are they?”

“Can you come up with a business model to make this possible, while also ensuring that the artists and producers can make a living? When you figure something out, kindly forward it to the music, newspaper and publishing industries. Thanks!”

“When all the posturing and the hype is done, what exactly do these festivals have to offer, what happens there and what’s the point? We asked a panel of insiders for the truth about film festivals.. “

“Wolverine has not only retained his appeal among comic-book readers; he has gone from being a pastiche of ’70s tough guys to becoming the badass icon of the ’90s, thanks to his cartoons, video games, and, now, his Hollywood blockbusters. […] And like all wildly successful figures in American entertainment, Wolverine is a Canadian.”

“It’s time to brush up on your John Milton because the 17th century English poet’s ‘Paradise Lost’ is suddenly on Hollywood’s radar. Veteran producer Martin Poll has joined with Granite Entertainment and STV Networks to mount an indie version of ‘Paradise’ that has been gestating for nearly four decades and could enter production as early as the summer. If so, it could find itself going up against a competing version of ‘Paradise’….”

“Given all that’s gone wrong in the economy, it’s not surprising that this year’s Cannes Film Festival will be more restrained than in recent years. And that could present a problem for independent filmmakers and their financial backers hoping to score a big sales payday or even land a theatrical distribution deal.”

“Clear Channel Communications Inc. cut 590 jobs in its radio division and suspended its 401(k) employee-matching program as part of a restructuring. Including today’s reduction, the largest U.S. radio broadcaster has cut its workforce by 12 percent this year…. The latest round will take place in engineering, information technology, and programming.”

“In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court half-heartedly prolonged the futile game of ‘whack-a-mole’ that the federal government continues to play in policing indecency…. Yet with six justices separately weighing in with opinions and the media landscape evolving, it’s hard to escape a sense that this whole debate — especially as it pertains to regulating a lonely island of broadcasters within a media free-fire zone — is operating on borrowed time.”

“The Supreme Court said yesterday that the Federal Communications Commission may penalize even the occasional use of certain expletives on the airwaves but left for another day the question of whether such a policy is constitutional. The court’s narrow ruling said the FCC — prompted by Cher’s use of the F-word during a 2002 live broadcast and similar remarks … — was justified in changing its policy in 2004 to fine broadcasters up to $325,000 every time certain words are allowed on the air.”

“Hulu’s growth is impressive, considering that it launched just over a year ago amid a lot of doubt about whether it would succeed against YouTube and other video content sites. Now Disney is close to a deal to join and the site has become so popular that it is becoming a source of tension among those in the industry worried about Hulu siphoning away viewers from television.”