MCN Curated Headlines Archive for November, 2015

“If you generously assume 20% of all films receive theatrical distribution, about 7,500 films were made last year. On average, people go to the movies only about six times a year, and watch fewer than 100 movies a year (90% coming from studios). Knowing this, many still advocate for more indie films. Why? Why do so many in the industry ignore demand?”
Beanie Barnes Says There Are Too Many Indie Films

“Making feature films almost feels like an anachronism to me. It’s an extremely difficult undertaking. It was always difficult, and now it just feels monumentally difficult. So maybe the Gothams are more relevant.”
Muses Former IFP Executive Director Catherine Tait
“Each of them had a kind of point. Anchorman was clearly, like, what the f— happened to the television media, what a joke it’s become.Talladega Nights was about this weird stubborn pride that was showing up in America, kind of the corporate takeover of southern pride. Stepbrothers was about how consumerism turns grown-ups into little kids.”
Jessica Pressler‘s Six-Part Vulture “Cover Story” On The Miracle That Is The Big Short

Tauntaun Soup Dumplings, Jar Jar Bisque, Obi-Wan Pierogi
Chicago’s Table, Donkey, Stick Resto Mounts A Star Wars I-VI Dinner
“Claiming that sex-strikes can stop rape is premised on the idea that rapists are somehow concerned with the thoughts and opinions of their potential victims. There is very little evidence support this contention.”
Ta-Nehisi-Coates Disputes Spike Lee Comments About Chi-raq And Campus Rape
“He was a subversive populist, a celebrity avant-gardist. He was also, frequently, a political artist, one who came of age during the heyday of the Popular Front and never ceased to roil the culture industry.”
Alex Ross On A Century Of Orson Welles
“Rahm Emanuel is giving a billionaire filmmaker priceless parkland for $10.”
John King On The $400 Million Private Museum of George Lucas’ Miscellaneous Art On Chicago’s Lakefront

“It also complained about the use of a slang word for testicles, ordering the term be changed to ‘cats.'”
India Move Toward Harsher Censorship Takes Toll On SPECTRE: Language, Kissing At Issue
“As long as they let me. It’s the only thing I really enjoy.”
Peter Hartlaub On The Living Legacy Of Satirist Mort Sahl, Still Performing At 88
“We made sure that in every scene the characters had an eye light, just like a live-action film would. A specific light that was set to reflect and give that twinkle in the eye. Trying to get them to move in sync with one another and allow for the animators to see what they were doing was definitely a challenge.”
A Strong Backgrounder On The Origins And Production Of Anomalisa spoilers
“Most of the people in the world of distribution are straight white men and they’re distributing messages that make them the heroes, that make people empathize with them, and allow them to ‘otherise’ women, people of color and queer people. But we were raised to be objects and trophies in their storylines.”
“Transparent” Director Jill Soloway Talks Gender
“I see her the same instant she sees me, and instantly, I love her. Instantly, I am terrified, because I know she knows I am terrified and that I love her. Though there are seven girls between us, I know, she knows, she will come to me and have me wait on her.”
The Passions Behind Patricia Highsmith’s “Carol” Novel

“Carol is such a moving film and such a beautiful film, which demonstrates in a thousand ways why cinema (however moribund or irrelevant it may appear) is not television, that I am reluctant to privilege any particular element of its construction. It is one of the greatest American screen romances of any era, period–and perhaps that serves as the ultimate vindication of Haynes’ outspoken commitment to ‘queer cinema.'”
Andrew O’Hehir Definitely On Team Todd