Category: media

Minority groups have become newly mobilized in Hollywood. Projects depicting minorities of any sort in a negative light are being protested, and the heat is being turned up. – The Globe and Mail (Canada) 03/31/00 

High-definition television broadcasting is here, but broadcasters are wondering if anyone is watching it. “It’s a good old-fashioned chicken-and-egg debate. Depending on your viewpoint, either there aren’t enough digital set owners to make broadcasting much programming worthwhile, or there isn’t enough high-def programming out there to spur new set sales.” – Variety 03/31/00

New study reports that sex on prime time American television has tripled in the past ten years. Oh yes, violence and bad language are up too. – MSNBC (AP) 03/30/00

What makes a winner? Salon takes a look at Dreamworks’ eight-month-long “American Beauty” publicity campaign, beginning with Bernard Weinraub’s glowing hype in the “New York Times” last July (a full three months before the film’s release). The day after the studio took home the Oscar, the “Times” congratulated the Dreamworks team for their successful orchestration of all the buzz surrounding the movie. “No one mentioned the powerful newspaper columnist who’d in effect played first violin.” – Salon 3/30/00

Two prominent actors unions – the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists – have said their members won’t make any more commercials until their demands – for increased residuals and more money for ads running on Spanish-language television and in international markets – are met. – CNN 3/30/00

“Antiques Roadshow” dumps two appraisers, saying the pair had ”staged” their on-air appraisal of a Civil War-era sword during an episode that aired in 1997. “Following up on a report in the Boston Herald, WGBH has determined an appraisal of a Civil War sword, first broadcast in 1997, was staged by the appraisers without the knowledge of `Antiques Roadshow’ and in violation of the basic premise of the program.” – Boston Herald 03/30/00

• Show severs ties with appraisers.  – Boston Globe 03/30/00
  
  
• Background: “Roadshow” is PBS’ No. 1 show. “The appraisers perform an almost magical function on Antiques Roadshows, transforming junk into gold through the power of their expert knowledge.” – Feed 03/14/00

Who says TV is all fluff? About to bow on British TV 4 – on Saturday evenings no less – is a series on serious philosophy, billed (no doubt for the ratings) as “a guide to happiness.” Series producer Alain de Botton says Seneca speaks to road rage and Schopenhauer to a contented love life. – The Economist 03/29/00  

Public TV’s “Antiques Roadshow” is a major hit with viewers and a cult phenomenon. But now the show has a credibility problem.  It “heavily uses two antiques appraisers whose company was found liable in federal court of defrauding the owner of Civil War heirlooms. The two appraisers have also staged at least one phony appraisal on the program, according to sources and court records.” The show has vigorously stuck by the duo. – Boston Herald 03/29/00 

After watching its heavily favored “Saving Private Ryan” lose the Oscar for best picture last year, Dreamworks SKG enjoyed “sweet vindication” on Sunday when its “American Beauty” took home five awards-just six years after the studio was founded and only three years after its first release. “DreamWorks SKG had at last risen to the top of the pecking order, for one night, at least.” – New York Times 03/28/00

• Journalists in India, outraged that “The Sixth Sense” didn’t win a single Oscar, have accused the Academy of apartheid. “The country’s media claims the film’s lack of success in any of the six categories in which it was nominated was due to racism against its director, M. Night Shyamalan, who was born in India.” – BBC 03/28/00