Corporate drive for reliable profit and creativity are like oil and water, aren't they.
All our entertainment seems to be narrative. Stories. We never tire. We are story junkies—gossip, tabloidism, the Stock Market is stories, sports, music, religion, movies, TV, history, politics. Narrative may be the only way we ever learn anything. Perhaps the meaning of life is to create a story and then to tell it.
I miss stories about real life. All these calculated blockbusters are franchises, in a time of ever-increasing powerlessness and harsh realities, all we get are superheroes, cartoons, and explosions. How far off can the predictions of a prophetic movie like Idiocracy be.
The real money is in independent TV now— GOT, The Handmaid's Tale, The Crown. I see more theater closures.
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Who is Dawn Hudson, and why is there a picture of her in the Oscars story?
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@jona My question too. Wikipedia says: "She serves as the chief executive officer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". So relevant, just unidentified.
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Meanwhile.. The State is on fire, Gov. Brown wants to pass 3 more tax increases before he retires, affordable housing is a thing of the past, gas prices are the highest in the nation, homeless populations continue to fester, there are 6 million undocumented immigrant workers on deck to receive FREE HEALTHCARE and there is a "service" dog in every grocery store shopping cart. Can the day get any better???
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Regarding the Oscars-
I imagine a world where police officers, and scientists, and religious leaders, and teachers- arrive to a public party in fancy gowns and tuxes and are lauded and appreciated- and entertainers and professional athletes, while acknowledged, are not placed above all others.
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Anyone, including Rob Lowe, who believes changes at an awards ceremony signal the end of the film business doesn’t understand why great directors, scriptwriters, and actors make great movies - only why those who make them to earn statues for their mantels can’t.
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Given the fires and destruction going on in CA right now, it's almost embarrassing to comment on such fluff. BUT....in light of the decisions outlined in the article I'd say it's just another institution heading for extinction. RIP
Just want to say thanks for keeping this column going. I read the NYT daily but appreciate a quick look at some of the California-specific news. I like the array, too: serious to quirky.
Keep up the good work!
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