“Theatre is not just New York,” says a representative of the National Theatre Artists Residency Program, which funds collaborations between theater artists and theater companies to develop new work. The organization announced the recipients of its $1 million in annual grants – and not one New York-based theater received funding. – Backstage
Tag: 03.30.00
PILING ON
As many as 200 Australian art and antique dealers may file lawsuits against Sotheby’s and Christie’s, charging the auction houses with collusion on fixing commissions during the 1990s. – Sydney Morning Herald
BLOCK THAT SALE
A 10th-century Chinese sculptured wall panel stolen from the Five Dynasties (A.D. 906-960) tomb of Wang Chuzhi in Hebei Province in 1994 has been ordered seized in New York. The artwork was due to be auctioned at Christie’s but the US Customs office wants to return it to China. – Archaeology Magazine
JUST DIFFERENT
New technologies are changing the music business. Musicians can play along, or they can fight it. But just because the economics are changing doesn’t mean it’s a catastrophe. “Rather than insist that the way the music world does business today is the only way imaginable, it behooves artists to take a longer and more imaginative view. It’s not as if the status quo has served them so well.” – Salon
OOOH BABY BABY BABY
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
THE PR OF CHAMPIONS
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
PAID TO SELL
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
ON FURTHER APPRAISAL
“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
POTTER PANIC
The news that Chris Columbus has been chosen to direct the Harry Potter movies has some fans lamenting. “There’s nothing in [Chris Columbus’] filmography that suggests to me that he has any understanding of the inner lives and imagination of children.” – Salon
- Potter books banned from English religious school because they don’t conform with Bible’s teachings. – CBC
BOOK SALES BY CHAIN STORES —
— were up 11 percent in 1999. – Publishers Weekly