Digital Nation By Gary DretzkaDretzka@moviecitynews.com
Ready or not … Ultra HDTV right around corner
April 24, 2006 LAS VEGAS – There are times when I feel as if I’m the Grim Reaper of Digital Technology. Because part of my job – such as it is – requires me to attend as many industry-related conventions as possible, I’ve not only been able to alert readers to several new digital wonders,…
Read the full article »Marketing consultants add their 2 cents to debate on critics, and that's exactly what it's worth
April 19, 2006 Just stumbled upon an article in the corner of Forbes.com reserved for “Unsolicited Advice,” under the headline “Freezing Out the Critics.” It was written by Marc E. Babej and Tim Pollak, who, we’re told, are partners at Reason Inc., a “marketing-strategy consulting firm that works with clients in a range of categories,…
Read the full article »Stop the presses! Newsweek sells soul to 'Da Vinci Code'!
April 17, 2006 In its continuing effort to keep America abreast of all things “Da Vinci Code,” Newsweek has treated its readers to a lengthy “exclusive” preview story; a “Newsweek on Air” panel discussion of the cover story; an on-line Q&A with lead reporter, Devin Gordon; several hundred searchable items on the website it shares…
Read the full article »Performances by Ejiofor, Bello elevate Easter weekend hopefuls
April 13, 2006 The titles of most of this week’s new movie releases would look every bit as enticing on the marquee of a Pussycat Theater, as the signs informing passers-by of the fare at your local mega-plex. Consider: “Wild,” “Sisters,” “Kinky Boots,” “Hard Candy,” “The Notorious Betty Page,” “La Mujer de mi hermano (My…
Read the full article »To pay off, 'Hairspray' gamble will require more than Travolta, Latifah and hype
April 10, 2006 LAS VEGAS – In Monday’s New York Times, David Carr interviews John Waters and the co-CEOs of New Line on plans for the 2007 re-adaptation of “Hairspray.” The article does everything, except answer the question it begs: why bother? For those keeping score at home, the Queen Latifah/John Travolta version will be…
Read the full article »Making sense of wireless at Las Vegas convention
April 6, 2005 LAS VEGAS – Just took a quick stroll around the exhibition floor of CTIA Wireless 2006, one those conventions that couldn’t draw flies a decade ago, yet today attracts nearly 1,000 exhibitors and more than 35,000 attendees from 90 countries. Having covered an alphabet soup of conventions – from NAB and CES,…
Read the full article »Regarding The Alleged Controversy Over The Dargis Pulitzer Nomination
Dear Mr. Dretzka, A small matter: Where was it “reported” that either I or Ben Brantley “have a beef” with the Times’s nomination of Manohla Dargis for the Pulitzer? Certainly not in the silly Women’s Wear Daily article that appears to be your main source for this blog item. While I can’t speak for anyone…
Read the full article »The Oscars of Journalism
As far as I know, Pulitzer Prize-winners and presenters aren’t awarded gift baskets for showing up at the annual banquet saluting the best in the business of journalism … not yet, anyway. A handful of bloggers pay attention, but the ceremony isn’t televised … except, maybe, on C-SPAN … and no one in Las Vegas…
Read the full article »If the seat fits …
After ShoWest, Digital Dretzka managed to get lost in the Digital Ozone, and, for a while, the business of Hollywood took a back seat to monitoring March Madness and propping up the teetering pile of DVDs awaiting scrutiny elsewhere in Movie City News. Upon venturing into the blogosphere Tuesday morning, a random search turned up…
Read the full article »Keep On Flossing …
And, speaking of Floss ‘n Toss … being of the Boomer generation, DD naturally wondered if the good folks at StaiNo LLC had attempted to get the seal of approval of the American Dental Association, which had done wonders for sales of Crest and Colgate. David Antler, the company’s president, allowed that an ADA endorsement…
Read the full article »Sitcoms losses no laughing matter
A report that found its way into the Los Angeles Times’ Quick Takes column last Saturday has revealed that Americans are investing more time watching sitcoms than a dozen years ago, but fewer are getting their yucks from shows selected for them by network programmers. Magna Group’s research has discovered that 4.84 hours/week currently are…
Read the full article »ShoWest Wraps Up
ShoWest 2006 threw itself a wrap party Thursday night, but not before Warner Bros. availed itself of the opportunity to brag on its upcoming slate of “event” movies. The company, which once was known for sponsoring the most star-studded of all ShoWest banquets, has been a no-show for the last few years. Instead, the “new”…
Read the full article »Skip the butter, add the floss
Much of the fun for civilians attending ShoWest comes in strolling through the aisles of the exhibition hall, where the latest trends in concessions, furniture, cleaning supplies and technology are put on display. This year, there were few products that caused any kind of a stir, but one or two managed to stand out in…
Read the full article »Exhibs preview Altman’s Prairie Home Companion
Garrison Keillor may lack the charisma of a George Clooney or Brad Pitt, but 4 million radio listeners can’t be wrong … or, so hopes Picturehouse president Bob Berney. Exhibitors attending ShoWest didn’t pack screenings of “A Prairie Home Companion” in the same numbers as greeted “Cars,” but those who made the effort were rewarded…
Read the full article »Disney takes Pixar’s Cars out for a spin at ShoWest
LAS VEGAS — Few potential summer blockbusters will arrive with as much baggage in its trunk as “Cars,” which will be the first animated feature released under the newly conjoined banner of Disney and Pixar. Wall Street analysts will put the picture under the same intense scrutiny as that employed by film critics approaching any…
Read the full article »ShoWest & the Ghost of Cinema Future
Judging from all the projections of doom and gloom that accompanied each new weekend’s box-office reports last summer and fall, you’d think organizers of ShoWest would have staged the annual gathering of theater owners in a funeral parlor, and not within the faux-sunny confines of Paris Las Vegas. Apparently, with business up in the first-quarter…
Read the full article »Oscar 2004: Nominations – Spreading the Wealth
Park City, Utah – Having watched the announcements of the Oscar nominations on TV just minutes ago, this column is as current as it can be, or as the electronic media would allow. My commentary is filed from Park City, where many of us journalists are attending the Sundance Film Festival. One of the advantages…
Read the full article »Oscar 2004: Honorary Oscar As Compensation
Quick: What do Chaplin, Garbo, Stanwyck, Cary Grant, Kirk Douglas, and Deborah Kerr have in common? They have all been nominated for multiple competitive Oscars but have never won a legitimate Academy Award. As compensation, the Academy has conferred on each of these — and many other artists — Honorary Oscars, which acknowledge their cumulative contribution…
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