“It took more than a decade for the government and industry to get the next generation of TV off the ground. If consumers thought that was a bumpy ride, they’d better hold on tight: The road to digital TV is filled with potholes and little agreement on who is responsible for fixing them. This week’s National Association of Broadcasters meeting has focused attention on the need for the broadcasting and TV manufacturing industries to share the responsibility for change. – San Francisco Chronicle (AP) 04/11/00
Tag: 04.11.00
MOVIE SQUEEZE
One of France’s giant movie-theater chains – one that has already taken over 40 percent of the market by showing big American movies – recently came up with a deal for film-goers – a yearly pass with unlimited admission at a low price. The move is killing Paris’s tiny boutique theaters that specialize in small French films that get only limited distribution. – The Age (Melbourne) (The Telegraph) 04/11/00
A THING FOR VAN DAMMY
- The biggest-grossing film last year in Namibia was “The Matrix.” The only cinema in Windhoek – Namibia’s capital city with a population of 300,000 – is a Ster-Kinekor three-screen complex consisting of a total of 400 seats. Here, the entrance fee is N$20 during the week and N$25 on weekends, far beyond the reach of most locals. “Two entrepreneurs are walking around Windhoek, asking passersby what their favorite movie is: ‘Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes, Jean-Claude van Dammy [sic].’ ” The entrepreneurs want to revive a beat-up old cinema for African film. – Daily Mail and Telegraph (South Africa) 04/11/00
CANCELLATION COMPENSATION
A Hartford artist whose exhibition of artwork depicting sex aids was canceled last fall by nervous city officials, has made a settlement with Hartford City Council. The city will pay the artist $2,500 after she complained that the city had violated her First Amendment rights by canceling her show. – Hartford Courant
“SAD SITUATION”
A blue-chip roster of leaders from the Vancouver cultural community, including architect Arthur Erickson, author/curator Doris Shadbolt and artist Gordon Smith, is calling for the resignations of the executive board and the interim director of the Vancouver Art Gallery. – Vancouver Sun
FISH (MAMMAL?) OUT OF WATER
Whale painter Wyland, who has made a career of wandering up and down the West Coast painting giant sea-life paintings on the sides of buildings, has proposed to bring his show inland. To Oklahoma City, no less. But the city’s arts commission has declared the project isn’t in keeping with the character of the historic district in which Wyland proposes to work, and turned down permission for it. – The Oklahoman
NOW EVERYONE’S GOT TO DO IT
Last summer Chicago’s art cows were the hit of the town. Now Cincinnati is planning a Big Pig Gig and Toronto is courting moose (mooses?). So Buffalo, well, what else would the city deploy but the big brown beasts? The project has been a hit with artists, sponsors and the public. Look for the first herd in May. – Buffalo News
SAFE HERITAGE
In February Hawaii’s Bishop Museum turned over rare Hawaiian artifacts to Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai‘i Nei in accoradance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Hui Malama officials told museum staff the artifacts were reburied in a Big Island cave. But now some critics say the items should go back to the Honolulu museum because of concerns over their security. – Honolulu Advertiser
YOUR LIST OF LISTS
Germany posts list of Nazi-stolen art on the internet. “Over 2,200 works of art, as well as 10,000 books and coins have already been indexed on the pages of www.LostArt.de. These works have been called the “Linzer Collection” because they include paintings intended by Hitler for a “Führer Museum” in the Austrian city of Linz.” – Die Welt (Germany)
NEW TOOL
“The Internet makes this information available to the most people possible. Those who have survived can now easily search for what they have lost. If they are unable, their children or grandchildren can search for them.” – Wired