Category: media

“In order to download (or upload) files on any peer-to-peer network whatsoever, all on-campus users have to pass an online quiz on copyright infringement. But not just once. Passing the test — with a perfect score — enables peer-to-peer access for six hours on the user’s on-campus registered machines. The next time, the student, staff or faculty member has to go to the intranet Web page and take the randomized test again.”

“Faith-based campaigns have failed to deliver big numbers even for such recent Christian-themed films as “The Nativity Story” (2006, $38 million) or “Facing the Giants” (2006, $10 million). For that reason, several marketing executives say they are shying away from faith-specific outreach.”

“Senators, on a voice vote, approved a resolution nullifying the new, relaxed ownership rules adopted in December by the Federal Communications Commission. The vote moved lawmakers a step closer toward overturning the new FCC rule.”

“Reality TV is just a vehicle for bringing out our inner pervert, right? Yeah, right. The truth is reality-show fans are no different from fans of sitcoms or dramas or sports or any other type of programming. They like compelling characters, exciting storylines and humour. They aren’t twisted voyeurs.”

“Blindness opened the Cannes Film Festival last night, receiving more respect than love for a film that avoids thriller clichés yet fails to deliver all it promises… It is a more than respectable choice to open Cannes, which is often content to begin the big show with pictures of far less substance.”

“Hollywood’s summer movies promise to be a little fresher, more original and funnier than usual. And that could be a problem for an industry that has done well lately by peddling the familiar… This year’s more inventive pictures, whether they win or lose individually, may come up short as a group.”

“Canada’s broadcast regulator plans to hold hearings into whether ‘new media,’ such as online TV, radio and mobile video, should be regulated… The regulator, which presides over Canadian content requirements and funding rules for TV and radio, decided in 1999 not to regulate new media platforms.”

“All the rules are changing. Traditional platform releases, the heart and soul of the independent film biz, are being threatened. Studio specialty arms in particular are going through an identity crisis as they plot new distribution strategies to compensate for too many films and ever more expensive projects.”

“He said the proposed tax change in Bill C-10 would cause an exodus of Canadian filmmakers to other countries, and would shatter Canada’s fragile industry of independent filmmakers.”

“The other, sadder truth is that the foreign films shown here, and at big festivals like Berlin, Venice, Toronto and New York, have never had less an impact on the average U.S. moviegoer than they do now. Long gone is the time when every American with a pretense to culture felt obliged to know all about ten or twenty top European or Asian directors.”