Location

The great thing about all the movie abuzz in Michigan is the fact that one day we'll all get to sit inside a theatre and see all our great landmarks and hangouts on screen. Though not always as our hometown. Detroit doubles Seattle in 'Red DawN' yet we all know American Coney Island when we see it. 'Vamp' is filming Detroit for New York, yet we all know Hart Plaza when we see it. The amazing thing is all the money these companies are spending to dress the locations as though it is really someplace else. About an hour into 'The Island' press pause and you may see the downtown Detroit skyline with street signs for Los Angeles. My question is, when is someone going to film Detroit for Detroit? Well better not, the more they need it to be something else, the more vendors are financially benefitting to dress it up like anything the company wants it to be.

i-Downloads' New Bidding

Steve Jobs has come up with a new plan: To offer television shows at 99 cents (already lower than the prices offered by i-Tunes). Although studio's are naturally squeamish - The reason? Ever since the downloading of music for such a low price, the great days of the early 90's were gone, when a CD could be priced tagged to actually make the studio money. Granted the legit but cheap downloads of today were a reaction to pirating. So granted that it was a a relatively good idea, the point is that DVD box set sales that are planned for release nearly half a year after the show's respective season ends, many now suffer a marketing plan. Also, many people may no longer be psychologically willing to buy a whole season of a particular show because of the cheaper price online, and the ability to perhaps buy only the episodes they want like songs. Most people of course if they like a show are willing to fork out for every episode because they have to have it. The point here is, can we as an audience and customer agree to placing a price for our harsh economic times but also be willing to look down on illegal downloads. Many people may not realize that downloading TV Shows like music hurts people involved. I did a post about SAG the Screen Actors Guild earlier. One of the ways these actors make bread is through the residual sales of DVD's. So I wonder what their take on this is? My last post was about the decline of physical video rental outlets, and taking it in, is this just a sign of the times, or a way for some people to make easy money on other people's hard work or perhaps a negotiated response to illegal downloaders in the same way it worked for music? Download and stream television, who would have thunk it?

Video Stores and Their Importance

Blockbuster Video may have to throw in and start a new game. With dwindling DVD sales and rentals, and consumer anguish over high retail prices Blockbuster has their hands full. Not to mention alternative options like streams, downloads, Netflix and RedBox, creating a whole new playing field. Blockbuster shares have been bouncing under $1 throughout the year and since 2007 Blockbuster reportedly has a loss of nearly $1 billion. In order to escape this billion dollar debt, the chain may close nearly 3000 stores across America. The question is will physical rental outlets like Blockbuster remain needed or will they go away for good in the future. I must say, considering the negative energy from "late fees" and "disgruntled employee/consumer interaction" of a any DVD/Video rental store, the concept of teenagers, couples and families having somewhere to hang out for 30 minutes on a Saturday night is needed. The dialogue over whether or not to buy popcorn, pop, chocolate covered peanuts or raisins, and even what genre of movie to get is pivotal to the human condition. We all remember slow walking the video isles with our significant other as we discover each other's likes and dislikes and analyze each other's personalities based on our choices of film. So yes, in a anthropological observation, I don't think rentals stores will go away completely, nor will their need of being.

Funky Sounds

I recently came across a musical artist who told me something interesting. We are subject to double standards for lyrics? Why is it that some people can say what they wish but others can't? The artist explained to me that as a musician, they all play the same instruments. Should we blame society for everything? Is it easier than blaming yourself? The new age movement has brought us a new spin on religion, and therefore blasphemy has been given a whole new dictionary of words to work with. Why is it that so many people force us to feel obligated not to say what we want or what we need to? A musician among all artists should practice the inalienable right to speak the truth through chords or lyrics without the fear of popular radio backlash or being subject to the blacklist of event management groups that have taken a stranglehold on the voice of the minstrel. Let the Warblers free.

To Join or Not To Join

Many actors in Detroit who've benefited from the tax incentives for filmmakers have found themselves questioning, do I join SAG. The Screen Actor Guild union is a prestigious foundation to be an official member of. First off, I would advise actors to consider carefully. It is a decision not to be taken lightly. Once an actor pays his initiation fee and joins the union he cannot violate 'Rule #1' and participate in non-union work. This is a great thing for an actor who has already participated in many independently produced films or student project; However for the novice who joins right off the bat because he or she has received 1 or 2 lines in a movie or commercial, this could prove risky, if that person hasn't had a chance to learn from practice. That being said, SAG is an absolute must in my opinion for the thespian who wishes to become a member of the community of greater acting professionals. Being a member of the union offers protections and guarantees that non-union work can too often fall short on. In final note, joining SAG is an absolute "yes", be proud of your invitation to coalesce with the greatest company you could ever come across.

Events To Launch

Most of the time, I overhear so many people talking about the Detroit arts scene as a past tense. I can push this enough that it is our duties as metro-Detroit residents to get out there and engage in events that push the artists market. Oakland University is holding a 'Contemporary Art' gallery in the coming weeks, and the UMMA steadily holds gallery shows; currently a feature of James McNeill Whistler. Although, I to understand the frustration that so many people are enduring - Most galleries take place without the works of many metro-Detroit natives. I therefore encourage and plead to the ushers of circumstance to help our artists triumph by giving them a podium to which they may stage their grand escapes of evening entertainment. Too many times, I hear from local painters and sculptors who sell their work for a measly dime at smaller festivals that there isn't opportunity here. So, let us bear the responsibility and take advantage of their wonderous work. Help show it to the world. We don't have to search to far for the next Van Gogh....he may just be poking around a local high school in Oakland County.

Artistans and Their Bread

After a situation that happened this week, it has come to my attention that artists need to be reminded of their route in life. I advise taking an hour out of each day to sit back and ask "why am I doing this?" and "what will I get out of this." Questioning your advances will help develop a path. The goal should be however to no stray away from that path. Many actors, musicians, painters and artists in general do not realize that art in of itself is indeed a craft, to be honed and carved from stone. It needs to be molded to reflect your dreams. If you do not think you will be successful in letting others know who you really other, don't attempt it, because you will be embarrassed of your attempted effort. Instead, plan, plot, and discover the route that best suites your needs and fits your talents. Most of all in order to re-iterate, stick to it. Don't give up and strive forward against all strife. Afterwards, you can sit back and eat your bread.