Talent Always Shows

Hollywood's creative anemia is advancing at a worrying pace.

As I reported some weeks ago, MGM are in the process of creating what they now call 'a reinvention' of 1980's iconic Oscar-winner, 'Fame.' Nine talented, new performers have been chosen as the Students, but players of the adult roles are still in discussions. Debbie Allen will even add a nod of approval from the original with a [hopefully meaningful] cameo role. Shooting is due to start late next month.

The budget for this remake [And let's be honest, that's what it is. 'Reinvention' is just a way to say 'recycled idea' without sounding as creatively desperate as you actually are,] is $25-million. Which in Hollywood terms is pocket change! And that's another reason why every new Actor deserves the same kind of break as this movie should give those at its core.

Any Actor who demands $50m or more just to get out of bed is an over-sized ego, with legs. And whoever who pays it is that Actor's fool. Give the freshmen a worthwhile chance and the results can burn holes in the screen. New Actors have a passion their more experienced peers ceased to feel or care about years ago. But the $50M guys put butts in the seats, so they get all of the breaks. And that's sad.

For those too young to remember, 'Fame' is the story of the joys and despairs felt by hyper-talented teens and their mentors during a year of devotion [and copious sweating] at the High School for the Performing Arts in New York. The original movie set box-office records and quite rightly collected two Oscars. I hold no such hopes for its parody's future.

The movie will debut on September 25 and I wish its new stars boundless success. I just think Hollywood should give its nascent new talent a more worthy, original showcase.

Photo by Megyarsh

Personal Loans Need Not Be Scary

As you may have noticed, the economy's in pretty bad shape. Everyone's worried about money, and reliable options for financial help are getting harder to find.

But among all the gloom there are still specks of hope; BestLeadingLenders.com have a range of loans with easy approval, and you never even need to leave home. They help people all over the country and your credit's not even an issue.

If you need some extra cash to get through the month - and with the holidays coming, who doesn't?? - they have payday loans to suit every taste. There's a menu of car loans for those needing transport and personal loans for just about every other purpose on Earth. These guys are one of the foremost online providers of sub-prime financing, so regardless of what your credit might be, they can probably help.

You can get a decision in a matter of minutes, it's quick, easy and free. So go on, check them out. You've nothing to lose but the joys of insomnia.

Does This Make My Ass Look Big??

Those of you so blessed as to live among the resplendent glories of New York will know that two dedicated Geeks have just emerged after 123 hours in a plexi-glass bubble in Times Square, watching non-stop movies to win the "Netflix Popcorn Bowl Challenge." Five days, fifty-seven movies, only ten minute breaks for bathroom needs, and no sleep allowed at all. None!

Susan Sarandon delivered their final challenge [her 1991, Ridley Scott-helmed yawn-fest, 'Thelma and Louise',] at the conclusion of which the two hardy winners, Suresh Joachim of Canada, and Claudia Wavra of Germany gained a new Guinness World Record, a lifetime subscription to Netflix, the 'Popcorn Bowl' Trophy, $10,000 each, and butts the size of an outlying planet.

I love movies to a point where the risk of needing a twelve-step program is an ominous daily reality, but I'm not sure whether to envy these people or find them professional help? Watch the video and see what you think...

Oscar lost a friend...

This is truly a sad day.

As I reported recently, GM has abandoned plans to be part of the Oscars next year. Today, AdAge has the news that the Korean car maker, Hyundai, has taken all of their spots.

This, dear reader, is no less than tragic. GM and Oscar have a place in the world that is shared by a very small group - They are universal icons for the American dream. Show their logos to any being on Earth and you're assured of instant connection. They will know the brand and fervently admire that place it calls home. Today, that caché was diminished.

GM has been a friend of the Awards for over ten years, and to have one American icon replaced at the event of another by a firm that embodies the very source of its troubles is almost akin to a death. This is a magnificent country and in these troubled times we need to celebrate that as much as we can, but the forced retirement of an American classic is cause for concern, not rejoicing.

In time, GM's board will turn things around. Until then, the Awards are undeniably weaker.

Photo by Mika Hiironniemi

Nova Gets Its Game On...

Those of you who are gamers will know the two major platforms have been warring enemies since Master Chief was barely an egg. With the demise of HD-DVD, Microsoft lost a major weapon in the feud, but they're now getting a bright, shiny new one...

PBS.

The public broadcaster has announced a deal where several of their lustrous plethora of cranial delights will be offered for download onto the console Everything from NOVA and Ken Burns’ Jazz, to 'American Frontiers' will be available on Xbox Live, the entertainment network for the over-priced brick.

“Our mission is to make our content broadly available to the public, and our commitment is to be wherever consumers are accessing media,” Andrew Russell, senior VP of PBS Ventures was quoted as saying in a statement announcing this unexpected alliance.

Quite how offering some of the most intelligent programming in the history of a sentient species on a platform whose dominant demographic has terminal acne and the attention-span of wool can be seen as serving their consumer is an insoluble riddle, as far as I see. But it's certainly an attractive idea. Were it to last, this could create a whole nation of 12-year olds with Therma-Clear beards and Olympian IQ's.

And given the pitiful funding received by most Schools, that is by no means a bad thing.

Photo by Bludgeoner86

Hasta la Vista, Vancouver!

It sounds like Governor Patterson's splendid idea for growing his city's economy may have started a trend??

The much-criticized 'Bailout Bill' recently signed into law by the President includes some remarkable bonuses for those in the entertainment sphere: A mixture of tax benefits and favorable financial returns for home-made productions will keep over $400 million in the country over the next ten years. Granted, most of these perks have been in effect since 2004, but the new rules allow a lot more firms to enjoy the savings.

Supporters have been trying to get the measures enacted since May and they finally crossed the goal-line on Friday. And the new rules received the unanimous support of the MPAA, the DGA and SAG.

My favorite part, though, is the section called 'The Runaway Production Statute.” Make your next blockbuster entirely in this country and you'll get special tax breaks on the first $15-million. You can get this back-dated to January if you're already in production, and it's extended to December of 2009.

For years, Canada's weak dollar, easy accessibility and photogenic locations have drained millions of dollars out of this nation. The new provisions can stop the bleeding and divert those millions into this nation's economy, creating thousands of jobs that will produce additional revenue via direct and consequential taxation. And that's a superb idea!

Sometimes, no matter how hard they try, even a Government can get something right.

Flag photo by: René Ehrhardt
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