In a recent interview, Clint Eastwood referred to the current generation of young Americans as a pack of teenage twits. That may or may not be a fair opinion. Clint may simply be cranky. However, Eastwood just summed up the audience that Hollywood is...
Like the old story about the reports of Mark Twain's "death," current news stories on the end of independent movies may be slightly exaggerated. Granted, it doesn't look good and the damage has been absolutely gawd-awful, but indie film is not exactly dead, no matter...
There's good news and bad news. The bad news is that 2012 scored over $225 millions across the globe for a blow-out opening that will convince the nitwits that run Hollywood that they are making money. Of course the movie's planet-destroying budget of $260 to...
We live in strange, absurd times. And everything keeps getting weirder. How else can you explain the recent release from SNL Kagan concerning their projected analysis for Hollywood movies? I mean, any press release that can keep a straight face while stating that "Overall, SNL...
There are those who are born to greatness and those who have greatness thrust upon them. Then there's Harvey Weinstein. He sort of rented greatness. Drove a hard bargain, too. With the recent news stories about Weinstein's old company, Miramax Pictures, on its deathbed and the...
The doom-saying business is getting ridiculously competitive. Oh sure, during the past year I had a decent run at spreading gloom and earning such catchy nick names as "Dr. No," "The Dark Prophet," and "Mr. Doom." But that was before I found myself competing with...
Somebody asked me recently how the cost of movie tickets is determined. I told them "Good question." Then I realized that they were serious and actually waiting for an answer. After staring blankly for a few minutes, I excused myself to go to the bathroom...
My goodness! If one were to believe all the news reports, it would appear that the entire motion picture industry has just fallen into the Pacific and sunk slowly beneath the waves. Gee gosh golly, what's wrong with everybody? Last I heard, Variety and the...
If you ever find yourself cursed with running a film festival, there are two questions you must ask. The first is: "Why are we doing this festival?" The second is: "Which way is the exit?" The ideal of any film festival is to present a wide...
Back in 1981, the ever brilliant Bill Gates profoundly announced that "640K ought to be enough for anybody." Yes, the prophet had laid the RAM upon the altar and the word of the Almighty was delivered to the multitude. However, Gates was wrong (as usual), and...