Xander ,'Lessons'
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I really don't think it is. Or at least, it's no more insane than it's been in the past. Part of the problem is that our view of the past is skewed. A lot of the films which have sunk without trace were probably remakes but we have no cultural memory of then.
I've seen this argument made against, "All music today is crap!"
RE: Independent films. I've seen some creative distribution/financing ideas from some indy filmmakers.
I've seen this argument made against, "All music today is crap!"
There are definitely cycles in music which are more exciting and innovative. But usually they're out of sight in some kind of regional scene or underground where they can develop while the mainstream scene is a bit bland.
However, the music business has changed so radically over the last ten years that I'm wondering if that's possible anymore.
Bubblegum, to cite an example I know well, used to be driven by independent producers. Studio insiders and hustlers who'd whip something up and get it out onto the market. But now Bubblegum is driven by huge mega corporations who see it as an extremely profitable genre with a built in audience.
Disney's vertical integration allows them to create an act, put them on TV incessantly and play them Radio Disney and then get them on some ABC show as well. Even the Cheetah Girls made a lot of money, and (in order) High School Musical, Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers all made billions. Not hundreds of millions - but billions. And most of that is from the ancillary marketing - the Jonas brothers pillows and Hannah Montana lunch boxes. Though the tours are also incredibly lucrative.
I've seen this argument made against, "All music today is crap!"
That holds true for all values of "today." The #1 song in 1969? Sugar Sugar.* Also released in 1969, but not as a single? Gimme Shelter.
*(Apologies to fans of the Archies, but I'd rank Gimme Shelter above Sugar Sugar any day.)
Apologies to fans of the Archies, but I'd rank Gimme Shelter above Sugar Sugar any day.
Sugar Sugar is a far more effective earworm, however. (Damn you, Teppy....)
Ah, my work here is done. t swirls cape dramatically, steals off into the night
(What? It has to be night for that to apear dramatic. Just envision it. It doesn't matter if it's REALLY not night right now. I'm also, FYI, not wearing a cape, either.)
Stuart Townsend cast as Bard the Bowman in The Hobbit.
Finally, he gets into the franchise!
I know!
Torn has some pictures from the Hobbit set - possibly the first picture of Martin Freeman as Bilbo. What do you think?
What do you think?
I didn't realize the Shire was a trailer park.