Category: media

“Those that push the envelope in terms of content tend to do better both critically and commercially.”

“Movie screenings were canceled and souvenir stands closed at the San Sebastián film festival Wednesday due to a general strike in Spain’s Basque Country against goverment austerity measures. Only seven movies [were] shown compared to about 70 on other days of the festival.”

The cable network FX has contracted to develop an hour-long series based on the Coens’ Oscar-winning dramedy. (The pair is involved but will not be writing the scripts.) The series is “part of MGM TV’s strategy to mine the company’s catalogs for properties suitable for series adaptations/remakes.”

“Although crowdfunding and crowd investment ventures … are often perceived as level playing fields with no or low entry barriers, it is not only the material capital, but very much also the cultural capital that a project is able to accumulate which determines whether a film receives funding in the first place and, subsequently, reaches a significant audience.”

“What makes this television moment so iconic is the juxtaposition of the Queen and James Bond together. Viewers gazed in wonder and puzzlement, pride and laughter: is this really the Queen? The moment beautifully broke the boundaries between fact and fiction, and in doing so made its mark worldwide.”

“With a period piece, the only likely controversies are anachronism of language or possibly an objection that there was too much nudity or sex … In present-day fiction, however, the plot is likely to throw up issues of sexuality, prejudice, violence, addiction, swearing and political balance of the sort that risk dividing audiences and shortening [producers’] careers.”

“Although writer-director Asghar Farhadi’s acclaimed family drama A Separation was named best foreign-language film at February’s Academy Awards ceremony, Iranian officials have opted out of the upcoming Oscar contest … [and has] called on other Muslim countries to boycott the Oscars as well.”

“Ticket sales have been hit by a VAT increase, while state spending on the industry has been slashed by 30% and production has dropped by two-thirds. Still, … it’s managed to keep its funding from Madrid untouched. The regional government actually increased its contribution by £200,000, such is the Basque country’s enthusiasm for an event that brings it rare global attention.”

“Until recently, wireless and cable companies were archrivals. Major cable providers owned spectrum and hoped to start their own wireless businesses, while wireless companies wanted to compete in cable. The new spirit of cooperation is jolting analysts.”

“The tradition of the fall season, originally tied to the start of the model year for new cars, is now more than 60 years old. It is defined arbitrarily and rather arcanely by the Nielsen Company as 34.5 weeks between mid-September and mid-May. And yet, the idea persists, in large part because it still works.”