Hello!

Forget so-called ‘scary’ movies … the next day and maybe several days more are going to be nail-biters, depending on the breaks. Let’s hope for a peaceful democratic election and transfer of American political power. That’s my two bits for the day, Amen.

The CineSavant Column items today are good reading. Joe Dante and David J. Show forwarded links to these recent articles, each of which puts forth some big opinions and bold ideas.

The first item is a November 2 posting on Fast Company dot.com, written by filmmaker and actress Justine Bateman.  The title alone says what it’s about and raises our curiosity:

Bateman gets her message across efficiently, explaining how corporate culture has killed movies by turning entertainment into ‘content,’ and embracing technology that will allow marketable ‘content’ to be manufactured by computers. The short article ends not with more cries of doom, but the thought that something new and different will emerge from the entertainment void that will be created.

On a more positive note is an October 23 article on The Ringer by Abe Beame. Movie theaters are crashing everywhere because the corporate movie industry is embracing streaming, choking distributors and movie theaters out of the profit chain.

Rather than bemoan the falling enthusiasm for new product, Beame looks at recent trends and cites the growing popularity of repertory theaters and special screenings. He gives several anecdotal examples of creative ways that film societies, etc., are getting someone other than Marvel-addled teenagers out to the theaters. luring the cinema-literate hipster crowd that everyone thought had gone extinct… even here in too-cool-for-you Los Angeles.

Agree or not, the title has appeal for film enthusiasts, and any encouraging word is good news for us who like to cheer-lead for movies in general. You may not agree with the title of Beame’s article, but we like its positive ring:

Thanks for reading! — Glenn Erickson