If change is constant, when does the old become new?
And when do we recognize that we are always being lied to?
Links, Ponders & Wonders 10.19.24 Edition
I keep going over my own self-imposed 5 link limit, not to mention two consecutive days. I am going to have to start to accept that as a given. Or maybe change my rules. But regardless the rules say that today is free, so well… today is free for all.
Today’s LP&W Contents
Democracy dies on Instagram.
Give me something new please.
The only constant is change.
Maybe just change this though.
What can all of INDIE learn from recent horror success?
Portrait: a great list and a whole lot more…
First Boston screening of Invisible Nation (and elswewhere)
1
Democracy dies on Instagram.
Yup. “Downplaying politics is a business and political strategy from Meta, the social media giant.” Insta, FB, & Threads will reduce your reach by 40-60% when you say “vote” or something a wee bit more political. Is that what you want? Are you going to put up with that? Or will you go elsewhere? Maybe stop using it and just play on substack instead.
2
Give me something new please.
Every morning I wish for a new breakfast treat — and I have a long list of varied foods I cycle through. Every day around 5P I yearn for a new snack food and I’ve tried all I can find. If you are a thorough reader you might know how I hope for new film genres to blossom ( I suggest 7 such new genres, here). Can’t we just take a clue from womens’ basketball and invent something new that is fun to watch? Sean Mcnulty breaks it down in his Thursday WakeUp:
And yeah, I’d settle for a new breakfast or pre-dinner snack.
3
The only constant is change.
Dear Producer’s Rebecca Green recounts her career today demonstrating the business is always profoundly in flux. That is the only thing that stays the same. I found it a calming read to all the chaos that surrounded me this week.
Or perhaps, here is another way to consider it… like how when the market seeks to minimize financial risk, artistic risk is also reduced, and someone — say… producers —are asked to shoulder all the financial risk, making it all virtually unsustainable. Check out Karin Chien’s overview of the current situation:
4
Maybe just change this though. And right now, please.
CEOs earned 290 times as much as the average worker in 2023. In 1965, it was only 21 times as much. Gross.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/18/corporate-executive-pay-increase
And ICYMI yesterday, for the first time since the early seventies, career producers in film can look forward to health care, and hopefully soon commencement wages and fair crediting treatment.
https://deadline.com/2024/10/producers-united-hollywood-movie-studios-deal-1236118963/
(FWIW, I am a member of Producers United)
5
What can all of INDIE learn from LONGLEGS & TERRIFIER 3?
Scott Mendelson has six good takeaways from the latter. The fact that I had multiple friends ask if I wanted to go to see T3 with them to figure out what the heck was going on, says a lot about how a gorefest can be a source for inspiration.
If you want to go deep into this vein, we have a real treat for you tomorrow. Stay tuned, fiend.
6
Portrait: a great list and a whole lot more…
Portrait is something worth checking out. It seems to have everything. And then some. You need to check it out. Trust me, this list is just the start.
“Portrait is an invite-only network and professional platform for creative careers. Apply to join or nominate a friend.” Their substack has job listings, deadlines, new releases, and a round up of issues that affect the community.
7
Everyone’s talking about it, but Boston has been deprived… until NOW! (and we have something for NYC, LA, & Houston too)
That’s right. This Sunday. 3P ET. The Coolidge Corner. If you are in Boston, be there! Buy your tickets now.
Vanessa and I will both be there for a Q&A.
https://coolidge.org/films/invisible-nation
If you are an AMPAS member or have any guild affiliation, please RSVP to one of these screenings below. And if you are not, and would like to come, just let me know.
Thank you for showing Invisible Nation in Brookline! I learned a lot from the film, and even found the translation in the subtitles to be very well done ("At the same token for "tongshi" was a particularly inspired choice). I found the Q&A afterwards to be very stimulating, and I meant to ask during the Q&A whether the film has been shown in public libraries. I noticed some notable published Taiwanese authors were interviewed, including Shawna Yang Ryan and Michelle Kuo.
(7) "A Crackdown on Unearned Film Credits"
I wish this were true. It started with Associate Producer Credits for the wife or husband of the Star cast member on a big budget film to Producing Credits for Crowdfunding Contributors on a micro budget. Nowadays, almost every sales agent wants an Executive Producer Credit on your film before they will help you sell it. I respect the title of Producer and will not accept it unless I have actually done something important in the making of the film.