“The world’s largest media company will insist films that cost more than about $100 million must demonstrate that their characters can be sold around the world as merchandise. Analysts say the decision is part of a Hollywood-wide trend to safeguard profits and could lead to the production of fewer non-commercial films.” The Australian 07/22/10 Click… Read more »
News
Hollywood Employment Going Up
“The mid-year forecast, released Wednesday, estimated that regional entertainment employment will hit 155,300 jobs this year — 137,400 people in the motion picture and sound industries and 17,900 in television and radio. Those numbers are forecast to reach 170,400 in 2011, with 152,400 in motion picture/sound and 18,000 in broadcast.” Variety 07/22/10 Click here to… Read more »
Movies Anywhere, On Anything
US media companies are “testing a system that will let you watch the movies you buy wherever you are, regardless of formats and other technical hurdles. Like a bank account accessible from all ATMs, your account would follow you, no matter what brand of machine you use.” CBC 07/20/10 Click here to read the entire… Read more »
In Memorium: Vonetta McGee
Vonetta McGee, a film and television actress originally known for blaxploitation pictures like “Blacula,” “Hammer” and “Shaft in Africa,” died on July 9 in Berkeley, Calif. She was 65. To read an article on Ms. McGee’s life: The New York Times 07/15/2010.
Filmmakers to Document Historic Black City
“What intrigues me is learning about a small town that’s fighting with everything they have to stay alive and hearing stories about the town in its heyday,” Tammy Clayburn said. “The residents there know what they are fighting for.” The Anniston Star – The Associated Press 07/06/2010 Click here to read the entire article.
James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave In Driving Miss Daisy
“The production, which will be directed by David Esbjornson, marks the first time that Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1987 play will receive a Broadway staging.” Opening is set for October. Los Angeles Times 06/29/10 Click here to read the entire article.
America's Black Dance Companies Struggle Through The Recession
Fifty years ago, African-American dancers were very lucky indeed if they could find any professional company that would hire them. Since then, a wealth of black dance troupes – from the Alvin Ailey company to Philadanco to Urban Bush Women – has arisen and thrived. Yet the Great Recession has decimated funders’ endowments and made… Read more »
Museum For African Art Takes Up Residence On Manhattan's Museum Mile
“On Fifth Avenue between 109th and 110th Streets, the museum will occupy the lower floors of a 19-story condominium designed by Robert A. M. Stern and will extend New York’s Museum Mile uptown into Harlem. The limestone-colored building, with window mullions that lyrically evoke the weave of African baskets, will become a high-profile showplace for… Read more »
Despite Outcry, LACMA Film Program Remains Imperiled
“The protests that saved the program included director Martin Scorsese’s open letter … asserting the importance of movie screenings in a museum context. But despite the high-profile backdrop to their fundraising efforts, LACMA officials say that financial support — presumably from film industry figures who’d be the logical donors to an L.A. film endowment —… Read more »
Weekend Entertainment: Congolese Symphony Orchestra
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