Arts & Entertainment: Industry News

Starting today, we'll be publishing a weekly roundup of various arts & entertainment news that we've come across. Most of these developments, whether national or international, have a direct relationship with something local, whether it be an organization, individual, or our collective culture. In any case, it's a nice chance to broaden our world view -- a definite bonus (or necessity, some might argue) for a city that revels in creativity! -- Editor

Art

If you enjoyed the East Austin Studio Tour a few weekends ago, be sure to check out the Bouldin Creek Studio Tour (starting Saturday, December 1st). Support Austin arts!! /// Austin's Blanton Museum of Art has announced the departure of its Latin American art curator, Gabriel Perez-Barreiro. Mr. Perez-Barreiro will be accepting the position of Director at the Coleccion Patricia Phelps de Cisneros.

Film

The Sundance Film Festival has begun releasing its 2008 film lineup. Among the films in the documentary category competition sits "The Order of Myths" by Austin filmmaker Margaret Brown. The film is about the celebration of Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama. /// In Hollywood, the Writers Guild of American (WGA) strike continues. Negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) are currently on pause until Tuesday as the writers consider the AMPTP's latest offer.

Books

The National Book Critics Circle has compiled its annual list of the year's best fiction, nonfiction and poetry. The list is here. /// The recent rise in popularity of mobile devices may be setting the stage for the "digital books revolution," says BusinessWeek. /// The Universal Digital Library, a project undertaken in 2002 at Carnegie Melon with the stated goal of eventually digitizing every single book that's ever been printed, has recently reached the 1.5 million mark (about 1% of their goal).

Theater

Broadway has resumed business in earnest after a tentative agreement was struck in the Broadway stagehand/theatre producer strike earlier this week. /// In light of the economic standstill of America's grandest stage, there are many who believe that a major shift in Broadway's business model may now be required (See these two pieces: One, Two).

Music

Another rough week for Big Music. Warner Music - the 3rd largest record company in the world - reported major fourth quarter profit losses, which it (predictably) blames on the rising popularity of digital music. At EMI - the 4th largest record company in the world - numbers are down, too. Terra Firma, the VC firm that owns EMI, appears to have shifted into panic mode, and it looks like many aspects of EMI's business might soon go to the chopping block. /// On the live music front, Live Nation, the world's largest concert promoter, has stated that simply running concerts is not going to provide the company with enough revenue to keep the behemoth afloat, and that an expansion into "alternative business areas" will probably be necessary to keep its shareholders happy. Meanwhile, Austin's own indie promoter C3 Presents has just announced a new festival on the East Coast, which it will be putting on in partnership with UK-based Festival Republic (the company that handles Glastonbury).

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By s in News on November 30, 2007 1:01 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

JohnM

On a less sarcastic note, cool feature, I like this. Good idea.

JohnM

"I'm a major record label. I'm putting out shitty music, then blaming my sales losses on piracy, while independent labels who know how to cope with the modern era are thriving. Waaaaaaah! I'm a little bitch, I'm gonna cry about this for years and years instead of trying to solve it."

Barney Noodles

I bet Live Nation tries to buy C3. Who wants some action?

kenneth1

Tim, I believe you just summarized the plot of Mel Brooks' The Producers.

tim

I don't feel those articles on theater are particularly pertinent. It's true that theater can be performed anywhere. But one does have to get your audience to the non-traditional theater. And that can be like pulling teeth.

Pretty much every theater company has used non-traditional spaces, but we all prefer the comfort of a building with 4 walls if the show allows for it.

The world of stagehands is more or less rooted in the world of Teamsters, etc. That's an enormous ball of wax of mistreatment and resentment that's been building for over a century. The problems inherent there only exist at a few of the most established theaters in the US. I have a lot of sympathy for stagehands. I'll admit they've got a sweet deal, but once you've worked for that director who wants to work until 4am every night of your tech rehearsals you'll understand why it might be necessary to have a stagehands union.

In the end Broadway's New York's Disneyland. The shows are essentially tax avoidance schemes. They are expected to loose money. That's the whole point. Then the producers write off the losses and get their tax deductions. Eventually they make a horrid movie to "recoup" their investment.

Broadway has been dominated by fluff for decades now, and it's doing just fine. Just don't expect to see anything mind-blowing.