Recent Attacks Could Blow a Fiscal Chill Across Satire
Read enough First Amendment cases and you become familiar with the concept of a "chilling effect," which refers to how placing restrictions on speech can lead to self-censorship. In the wake of…
Opinion
Music Business Lessons of 2014 Meet Predictions for 2015
With the new year already upon us and the old one in the review, here are some of the lessons 2014 taught us, along with a few fearless predictions for 2015. First the lessons: 1. Steve Barnett is a…
Are Screenwriters Becoming Obsolete in Hollywood?
We have plunged into the season of back-to-back awards and acceptance speeches, when every winner reminds us that filmmaking is a collaborative endeavor. In these recitations of all the…
Technological Advances Might Just Save Broadcast TV
The death watch has begun for broadcast TV. At least, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings thinks so. Hastings says that by 2030 or so, linear broadcast channels will go the way of the horse-drawn carriage. I…
Fans Feeling a Sense of Entitlement as Entertainment Costs Rise
Among winter traditions, the annual firing of coaches following the NFL and college football seasons has become one of the more reliable. Then again, as Los Angeles Times sports columnist Chris…
Why the Oscars Need More Movies Like ‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay’
Ever since the Oscars snubbed Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" for best picture in 2009, the Academy has tried to dodge accusations of elitism. The argument goes that Oscars voters, made up of a…
Indie Filmmakers Get Education at School of Hard Knocks
One of my guilty pleasures is to read the dozens of mini reviews of new indie films that run Fridays in the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. I admire their commitment to support the indie…
In Creative Pursuits, Two of a Kind Trumps a Lone Wolf
It can only happen in the movies: While a couple of weeks ago, Rocket the Raccoon was the superhero of the moment, he has been replaced by David Fincher, Christopher Nolan and Alejandro Gonzalez…
New Fall Shows Mix It Up by Adding Serialization, ‘Blacklist’-Style
One reason "The Simpsons" has run long enough to sustain an uninterrupted 12-day marathon is that nothing much changes around Springfield. The kids don't age, and what happened, oh, 17 years ago…
Norway’s Streaming Service Wimp Will be Sound Investment for Audiophiles
Are you willing to pay twice as much for your music streaming service to get kick-ass sound? That's the question being asked by Scandinavian company Wimp, which is launching a new streaming service…
