Culture Fish

On Hiatus

2007-08-02T06:42:00.000-05:00

This blog is on hiatus while I spend more time in the video production department.

Check out EthicsDaily.com's YouTube videos at http://www.youtube.com/ethicsdaily.

Peace,

Cliff

Free Hugs

2006-09-27T16:16:00.000-05:00

Watch ...

Andrew Rudd Is Brilliant

2006-08-22T22:58:00.000-05:00

In the previous post, I mentioned Andrew Rudd and the fact that he's the one who called the Christ Heist story to my attention.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Andrew Rudd is BRILLIANT. He is such an astute observer of everything that matters it boggles the mind.

I've called him a wordsmith on many occasions. Read his entry on Warner Sallman and you'll have to agree.

'Christ' Heist Story Unbelievable

2006-08-22T06:33:00.000-05:00

My good friend, Andrew Rudd, pointed out this story to me, which has more angles and twists and turns than any one story should have. It's even more interesting to me because it involves a painting of Jesus, a school board battle, the ACLU, and a thief!

Here's an article from the Charleston Daily Mail about all this.

The principal at Bridgeport High School in West Va., had a copy of Warner Sallman's "Head of Christ" hanging outside his office for several decades. But the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State sued the Harrison County school board June 28 to have the portrait removed.

The Christian Freedom Fund and the Alliance Defense Fund came to aid the school board in defending itself and the painting's right to hang.

But early Aug. 17, a thief broke into the school and made off with the painting. Security cameras caught him on tape, but he had his face covered.

Now, players in the case are left wondering what to do. Will the thief be caught? Will the school put another painting back up where "Head of Christ" once was displayed? Will the suit go on?

I just produced a documentary on Steve Sawyer, who produces Jesus paintings in a series and business known as ART for GOD. So obviously, this story resonated with me.

Aside from that, few stories crystallize hot-button issues like this in such an "entertaining" way.

BCE Set to Unveil New Media Resource

2006-08-15T13:46:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned to EthicsDaily.com in the next couple of days for word about our new resource.

We've been working on a new product for the last several months that we think churches, organizations and individuals will respond to.

I'm especially invested in it because it's a DVD resource packaged with a study guide. So it allowed me to put some video production skills to work for an important cause: world hunger.

Gore's 'Warming' Film Looks Good

2006-05-24T15:33:00.000-05:00

Al Gore's new film, "An Inconvenient Truth," looks quite good.

The trailer at http://climatecrisis.org/ really sets the stage for a look at an issue that has become politicized. The film is also part of a new approach to movie marketing that highlights blog commentary and criticism.

Paramount Classics (behind the film) is partnering with Technorati to bring the blogosphere into communion with Hollywood. Very interesting development. (It's also part of larger developments re: Technorati and tie-ins. See this AP story for more.)

Nevertheless, the film should (re)start a conversation about global warming in circles that have skirted or ignored what the film's site calls a "ticking time bomb."

'Da Vinci Code' Movie Gets Online Debate

2006-02-10T08:54:00.000-06:00

The New York Times posted a story yesterday about a new Web site allowing dissenters of the upcoming "Da Vinci Code" movie starring Tom Hanks a forum for discussion. Here's the article ...

The site, www.thedavincichallenge.com, isn't live yet, so I'm not sure if all the participants will be dissenters necessarily. Perhaps some will be fans. As you can from the Times article, at least one or two will be arguing that Christians should see the movie (to be prepared to discuss its themes).

But as some say, all publicity is good, at least for business. Sony (the studio behind the picture) is on board.

'Wardrobe' Opens Today

2005-12-09T09:51:00.000-06:00

OK, the wait is over: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" opens nationwide today.

Check out my review of the film, and my feature as well.

As you'll see from my review, I don't think the adaptation holds up as well as "The Lord of the Rings," but I'd see it again anyway.

Next on my list of anticipated films: "Munich," by Steven Spielberg. The controversy is already in full swing ...

A New Term: 'Metrospiritual'

2005-11-08T20:07:00.000-06:00

If you're into terms, check out Beliefnet's take on "metrospirituals" at http://www.beliefnet.com/story/177/story_17799_1.html.

'Munich' Trailer Online

2005-11-08T20:05:00.001-06:00

The trailer for Steven Spielberg's upcoming film "Munich" is now online at http://www.munichmovie.com/. You can also see a poster.

I've been covering this film at EthicsDaily.com for a while now, and I remain convinced this film can be a tremendous spark for discussion about a host of issues, not the least of which are vengeance, retribution, forgiveness, moral doubt.

Check out some of our "Munich" coverage starting here: http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=6071.

Van Biema Keeps Time Well

2005-11-02T14:14:00.000-06:00

Long time no post.

Lots going on these days, but I wanted to point out the work of religion writer David Van Biema at Time magazine. He's written several recent pieces about Narnia and C.S. Lewis that have been really thought provoking.

Check this one out. Van Biema argues that no theologian has really stepped up to fill Lewis' shoes.

Or this one, on how to tell if the upcoming Narnia adaptation is really a Christian film. I think there's a lot to say, and argue about, over how to define a "Christian" film, but the story is good nevertheless.

'Da Vinci' Follow-up

2005-08-05T09:21:00.000-05:00

After posting about "The Da Vinci Code" trailer and marketing last night, I found this New York Times article today about how Sony will (or will not) market the film to Christian audiences. Very interesting.

Early Trailer Up for 'Da Vinci Code' Movie

2005-08-04T21:32:00.000-05:00

Just saw an early trailer for "The Da Vinci Code" movie, slated to open May 2006.

As you've probably heard, it stars Tom Hanks as symbologist Robert Langdon. Joining the cast (which looks stellar) are Audrey Tatou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany and Jean Reno.

Marketing this movie will be ... tricky, to say the least. The book stirred a controversy in Christian circles, and I have to wonder how Sony thinks it's going to tap into the Christian market.

Billboards Are Fun

2005-08-02T09:09:00.000-05:00

I just finished a story about the billboards that are signed, "God." You know the ones: "We need to talk," "One nation under me," etc.

The story took me to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. The Web site is interesting and has lots of information--a lot of stuff I didn't know.

As for the God billboards, I had always just assumed it was some religious organization footing the bill. But that's not correct. It's really a partnership among an anonymous donor, a PR firm and the OAAA's public service division. My story will run in a few days at EthicsDaily.com.

Those billboards aside, however, there's a lot to learn about billboards, which are a form of mass communication. Think about how many eyeballs see a billboard on any given day. At the site, you can learn about outdoor advertising companies, media they handle, costs of advertising and so much more.

We take billboards for granted a lot of the time; we often mindlessly process the messages they send. But it's a good idea to take a second and learn about the business behind the message.

'Emily Rose' Looks Good

2005-07-20T22:46:00.000-05:00

For those who especially like a chill on their flesh, be on the lookout for "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." It's due Sept. 9 from Sony Pictures. (You can visit the site and see the trailer here.)

The film is based on a true story about a 19-year-old woman deemed demon-possessed by the Catholic Church. The priest who attempt an exorcism was charged with negligence after her death. The movie deals with the lawyer's defense of the priest, as well as the story of Emily herself. Casting (Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson, for example) looks terrific.

I believe the true story comes from the novel "The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel." The film, however, looks like it might be a good entry into the "religious horror" genre. We'll see ...

London Attacks Make 'Vengeance' Even Odder

2005-07-07T08:34:00.000-05:00

Last night I finished reading Vengeance, a book about Israel's counter-terrorism operation after 11 of its athletes were murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

The book tells the story of Avner, an agent trained by the Mossad to lead four other specialists to infiltrate terrorist networks in Europe with the aim of killing 11 top terrorists as identified by the Mossad.

The book, by George Jonas, is fascinating. It's been made into a 1986 TV movie called "Sword of Gideon" (read our review) and serves as a source in Steven Spielberg's upcoming movie about that operation as well.

I finished its 350 pages last night about 11:00. This morning my wife woke me up telling me there had been terrorist attacks in London. Oddly, the first thing I thought of was the copy of Vengeance on my bedside table.

I'll be working on my review of the book today; it, like our review of "Sword of Gideon," is part of unfolding coverage in advance of Spielberg's movie.

Already I wonder how today's events in London will affect what I write.

Distribber Fights Pirates by Shooting Audience

2005-06-23T08:50:00.000-05:00

I think this is just amazing and weird. This comes from a Hollywood Reporter story about German film critics upset with a policy that their reviews of "War of the Worlds" must be embargoed (or held) until the film's release date:

"The German association also criticized the security measures undertaken at the first press screening of "War of the Worlds" on June 14 in Berlin. For the first time at such a screening, the distributor filmed the audience as an anti-piracy measure."

Wild. Just wild.

We go into a theater to watch stored images. As we do so, someone else is now storing images of us .... to make sure we don't store those images we came to see.

The ways in which our cultures are turning back and in on themselves just boggles my mind.

Implosion.

Watch for These Movies

2005-06-14T10:57:00.000-05:00

Watch for These Movies

Summer movie-going season is in full swing. We’ve already had monsters like “Revenge of the Sith” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” But more are on the way. Here are a few to keep your eye on:

“Batman Begins” (June 17), starring Christian Bale and Michael Cane. It’s directed by Christopher Nolan (“Memento”), and I believe it will put the film franchise back on firm footage. I have high expectations for this darker version.

“War of the Worlds” (June 29), starring Tom Cruise and directed by Steven Spielberg. Based on the H.G. Wells novel. Spielberg and Cruise last teamed for “Minority Report,” which I thought was outstanding. And now Spielberg is back with more aliens—this time, unfriendly ones. Again, high expectations.

“Fantastic Four” (July 8), starring Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis. Previews for this one look good, but the studio might be blowing its wad. I wish this one would be good, but I’m reserved in my expectations.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (July 15), starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton. Depp and Burton are together again, so adjust your sense of normalcy. Depp is sure to deliver another singular performance.

Deep Throat Revelation Should Spark Valuable Debate

2005-06-01T12:10:00.000-05:00

The recent revelation of Mark Felt as Deep Throat--the famous anonymous source for Woodward and Bernstein's Watergate investigation--should spark some valuable debate among everybody, not just media professionals.

People are weighing in with opinions of Felt, with some saying he's a hero and others, like Chuck Colson and Pat Buchanan, saying he sold out and pulled a major boo-boo (that's a paraphrase).

The whole revelation brings up both matters of "loyalty" to one's government and the use of anonymous sources.

The latter issue has gotten a fair amount of attention lately, at least in the media trades. What some perceived as an increased use in anonymous sources led to calls for more circumspection when taking quotes but not names.

I think it was Tim Russert who, on "The Today Show" this morning, defended the reasonable use of anonymous sources, saying that if we ever only relied on official spokespeople in broad daylight, we'd only ever get the party line. And as we know, that's not exactly always the truth and whole truth.

And of course, that leads into the former issue above--"loyalty" to one's government. I'm trying to see Colson and Buchanan's point--that Felt had certain obligations. But I think the ulitmate problem with their position is that they cast Felt as a man who must be obligated to institution, administration or government--not the people.

Who does Felt--or anyone, for that matter--serve? An institution? Or truth? The cynic (or realist, depending on your point of view) in me says institutions and truth aren't always on the same side, despite what mission statements, sounds bites and our trusting selves tell us.

Buchanan called Felt "a traitor." To what? To whom? To a system asking him to literally keep silent about wrongdoing?

I think there are many fascinating sides to Deep Throat, Watergate, the investigation and recent revelation. I invite the Colsons and Buchanans to speak their mind as all of us, I hope, contemplate the larger issue of our role in seeking the truth.

More DVD Ads

2005-05-11T10:18:00.000-05:00

Back on April 12 I blogged (bloge? blag?) about VW putting DVD ads inside the pages of Entertainment Weekly.

I just got a copy of World Ark magazine from Heifer, and inside was a promotional DVD. It contained three different versions (3 minutes, 14 minutes and 30 minutes) of their promotional video, packaged neatly in a cardboard cover.

I don't know what the price tag is on something like this, but I took it out and played it, just like I did with the VW DVD.

Heifer, of course, wants you to use the DVD to promote its mission: give the DVD to a friend, play it for a church group, etc.

I wonder how this strategy is working ...

Netflix Got Me

2005-05-07T08:58:00.000-05:00

I finally did it: I got Netflix.

Several friends had been trying to convince me to get it for several months, and for whatever reason I held out. I'm glad I finally caved.

For those who don't know, Netflix is an online movie rental company. You essentially create a list (in your online account at their Web site) of movies you want to see, and they send them to you in the mail. You can keep them as long as you want (no late fees!), and when you return one in the pre-paid postage envelope, they send you the next one on the list.

They have various monthly fees, depending on how many movies you want to keep out at one time. We pay about $15/month and keep two movies out at a time.

This last month, we watched roughly 11 movies from Netflix. If we'd rented movies the way we used to do it (from Blockbuster), that would have cost about $50. Of course, we probably wouldn't have rented 11 movies from Blockbuster either. To be fair, Blockbuster is now offering a plan similar to that of Netflix.

There are several things I particuarly like about Netflix: cost, selection, ease of use.

I've already discussed cost. Their selection is mind-boggling. They have everything from mainstream movies to foreign films to documentaries. Some of the documentaries I've already watched from Netflix were "Capturing the Friedmans," "Lost in La Mancha," "4 Little Girls" and "One Day in September." (And with Netflix, you can read all about the titles online and make choices in the comfort of your home, not in a crowded aisle.)

Which leads me to the last point: The Netflix site is cool and easy to use. Your list of movies--called your queue--is easy to maintain and order. You also get all sorts of recommendations, and you can add friends to your recommendations list so you can all swap likes/dislikes, etc.

Netflix has several distribution centers across the country. I live in Nashville, and my movies generally come from the center in Chattanooga. That means I usually get my movies the day after Netflix ships them. The travel times might be different for you.

I'll stop. You can tell I like Netflix. And there are good reasons why.

Ready for 'Sith'

2005-05-05T09:58:00.000-05:00

I haven't loved Episode I and II of "Star Wars" like I loved "the originals"--which is to say Episode IV, V and VI. But I confess that I'm a little excited about Episode III.

I suppose it has something to do with actually seeing Darth Vader and Chewbacca back onscreen. They, of course, weren't part of Episode I and II. Vader and Chewie represent a return to what fans of the first three loved.

I don't have anything brilliant to say about "Sith." I'm just feeling a little nostalgic for the cinema of my youth.

VW Print Ad Uses DVD

2005-04-12T07:50:00.000-05:00

I popped open my Entertainment Weekly last week and inside there was a print ad for Volkswagen. It was no ordinary print ad, however: It contained a DVD under cellophane.

On the DVD was not only an "interactive new Jetta brochure" but also a 6:20 short film called "The Check Up" starring Joe Pantoliano.

I of course had to watch the DVD, if only to see how VW was using the DVD to market its new Jetta.

The short film itself wasn't bad. The premise is a 31-year-old guy gets visited by some G-man-like dude who is checking up on him to see if he's acting like an adult yet.

Pantoliano is a good actor, and he plays the part well. But you keep wondering where this is going. And sure enough, the plot eventually circles around to the fact that this 31-year-old needs a car that's "Grown up. Sort of."

And wouldn't you know it, that's the new Jetta.

This is more than a commercial for the Jetta. This is more like reverse product placement. Instead of placing a product in a film (like getting E.T. to eat Reese's Pieces), we're placing a short film in a product.

Maybe we need some new terminology. Maybe it's not really product placement, but something like "story placement."

Hey, I thought the premise of "The Check Up" was fine: guy has a hard time letting go of his youth. That could work on its own terms, aside from the Jetta angle.

But I just have to wonder about the future--about filmmakers, writers and others who have stories, narratives, things to say.

"Hey, I've got a great story," says the writer. He pitches it to the executive, who then says, "Great, let's see if we can plug it into this product ..."

Thanks for Keeping Me Posted on MJ's Every Move

2005-03-22T12:07:00.000-06:00

I confess that I watched the O.J. Simpson trial routinely. I knew all about it: names, locations, timelines, shoe brands and of course the finer points of DNA analysis.

I'm not sure if it's the trial itself or if I've just changed, but I'm completely disinterested in the Michael Jackson proceedings. And what makes it worse is that my news headlines stay jammed with the man's every move: he's sick, he's late, he's tired, he's hospitalized, he's waving, he's lethargic, he's denying it all, etc. etc.

When O.J. was involved in the high-speed chase--er, "the low-speed follow,"--I didn't even have an e-mail account. The only thing I knew was that a good friend of mine at college had just gotten some sort of new-fangled thing on the computer that allowed people she knew to "send her messages." And she could reply--again, through the computer.

It would be several more months before I got my first e-mail account while a graduate student at Auburn in 1995. But even then, I wasn't getting news on the Internet. All the O.J. coverage I got was through CNN, whose own breakthrough coverage of Gulf War I was just a couple of years old.

Now it's Michael Jackson on trial, and oh how times of changed. I wonder if I would have been as interested in O.J. if I'd had the Internet then ...

Digital Projection in Theaters Lagging

2005-03-17T13:02:00.000-06:00

With digital video here and revolutionizing who can make movies, studios still aren't getting their way when it comes to digitally projecting their movies in theaters.

George Lucas had wanted to show his new set of "Star Wars" films to audiences digitally, but aside from a few test markets, his dream remains unrealized.

Basically, the studios would stand to save hundreds of millions of dollars each year by showing movies digitally (either through digital duplication to tape or disk, or by beaming movies to theaters via satellite). They could thus avoid having to make thousands of film prints, which are costly to print and distribute.

So, the studios want the theaters to set up digital projection equipment. But this, too, is costly, and the theater owners understandably aren't willing to foot the bill for it when the studios will reap most of the benefits.

Recent conversations among the major players (studio heads and theater owner reps) indicate that maybe the studios are starting to come around on this. The sooner they invest, the sooner they'll start saving.

Selma's 'Bloody Sunday' Turns 40

2005-03-07T08:52:00.000-06:00

Today is the 40th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" in Selma, Ala., when civil rights activitists planning to march from Selma to Montgomery were beaten and gassed by Alabama State Troopers.

Each year Selma has a "Bloody Sunday Jubilee" on the weekend around March 7. There's a "mass meeting" at Brown Chapel, site of many historical march deployments; a parade on the same route marchers took; and a festival of sorts with food, entertainment, etc.

The original march and its commemoration were part of my dissertation on Selmians' struggle for civil rights in 1965. I still find these "public displays" fascinating.

Online Narnia Featurette Whets Appetite

2005-02-28T09:21:00.000-06:00

If you're excited about the December release of the live-action version of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," a new online featurette will certainly heighten your anticipation.

Check it out here. (It's a Quicktime file.)

You get an interview with director Andrew Adamson, as well as some terrific shots of various sets and characters.

Love it ...

Oscar Telecast Not Bad

2005-02-28T09:18:00.000-06:00

The Oscars aired on ABC last night, and the show wasn't bad. It clocked in around 3 hours 15 minutes, which I appreciated. Please, no more 4-hour marathon viewings ...

Most of the speeches were short and sweet. I thought host Chris Rock was so-so. His opening was flat and his digs at various actors went nowhere, as they should have.

My vote for next year's host: Mike Myers.

Pay-Per-View Lie Detector Test for Slugger Canseco?

2005-02-22T16:47:00.000-06:00

Former baseball slugger (and MVP) Jose Canseco appeared on "The Today Show" this morning, where he was interviewed by Matt Lauer about his new book, Juiced. The book is an autobiography from this minority athlete, but its biggest bombshell is Canseco's allegations of steroid use by some of the MLB's biggest stars.

Many have questioned Canseco's credibility, simply dismissing the message on account of the messenger. Canseco probably didn't help his case this morning by deflecting Lauer's pointed questions about whether Canseco is trying to earn more money to pay off debts.

Lauer also mentioned the "story" that Canseco is considering taking a lie detector test about his allegations--on pay-per-view. Canseco at first said he couldn't talk about it, then he apparently referred to the fact that such an event was being set up, presumably within the next month. Lauer's point, of course, was that Canseco is still trying to milk his allegations for money.

No doubt Canseco isn't making friends. Some of his former teammates, opponents and even his one-time manager Tony Larusso have dismissed Canseco in no uncertain terms.

Because of Canseco's "credibility problem," the issue--steroid use--is being bumped aside in favor of questions about Canseco himself.

I haven't read Juiced, but I hope to soon. Meanwhile, the media circus continues ...

Watergate Still Fascinating

2005-02-16T08:17:00.000-06:00

I showed "All the President's Men," the 1976 film starring Redford and Hoffman as Woodward and Bernstein, to my mass media class last night. Most of them weren't alive during Watergate; I was only a few months old when the break-in occurred.

It's still a fascinating story, and one that has renewed media attention for several reasons. One reason is that Woodward and Bernstein recently sold their materials about the investigation to a center at the University of Texas. Check out some of the stuff that's there.

Another is the recent documentary "Inside Deep Throat," which looks at the porn film from 1972. That film in fact is responsible for the name given to Woodward's anonymous source from the executive branch. The source, still unknown, talked to Woodward on "deep background" as the young journalist tried to make heads-or-tails of the convoluted ties emanating from the Watergate break-in and subsequent cover-up efforts.

Another reason is the recent speculation that Deep Throat himself is in ill health. Woodward has said he will divulge Deep Throat's identity once the (assumed) man dies. Woodward, though, has said Deep Throat isn't necessarily on his death bed.

I think it's just fascinating that Deep Throat's identity is still unknown. In a day and age where so many people can no longer keep a secret--because of the lures to tell, because of our technological ability to track information--Woodward and Bernstein (and their then Post editor Ben Bradlee) have kept their word and retained the confidentiality of their source.

To learn more about or review some of Watergate, check out the Washington Post's section on it. It has a chronology, key players, original coverage and much more. Very nice.

Jose Canseco, Baseball and Steroids

2005-02-14T08:34:00.000-06:00

Jose Canseco, former star of the Oakland A's, has a new book out called Juiced. It's his autobiography. He was an all-star multiple times and one-time MVP. He was a slugger.

In his book he accuses several big-name players of steroid use (he admits to using steroids as well). Problem is, Canseco isn't viewed as a credible source. He's had problems with the law, and some critics view his allegations as jealousy. Of course, if you take a look at contemporary baseball, I'm not sure you need Jose Canseco to consider the possibility that some cheating has taken hold in dugouts.

I got Canseco's autograph years ago when he was playing in the A's farm system. He was with the AA Huntsville Stars--Huntsville being my hometown. He was there along with other future stars--like Mark Maguire (one of the guys he accuses).

I'm not sure I'd ever heard of steroids then. I'm not saying they weren't around; they just weren't on my radar. As a little leaguer, I don't remember blanket accusations about sports stars. What I remember is reading about Hank Aaron in one of my favorite books about sports heroes.

Baseball is still my favorite professional sport, but probably more for what it was and what I remember it being than for what it has become ...

Brilliant Blogging

2005-02-10T11:19:00.000-06:00

My best friend is Andrew Rudd. We met in graduate school at Bowling Green State University. It was quickly obvious we had a lot in common.

He's brilliant--and he blogs. And of course his blogging is brilliant. It should be collected and published. He tackles EVERYTHING.

It's called Andrew's Back Burner, and I highly recommend it.

Seeing the world through Andrew's heart, soul and mind is a gift for the rest of us ...

Leasing Your Forehead

2005-02-09T10:15:00.000-06:00

I teach a mass media class at Belmont University, and last night we spent some time talking about ads, seeing as how the biggest ad day of the year had just occurred.

Conversation turned to some more unorthodox advertising techniques, and we talked about the man who recently "leased" his forehead, if you will, to the highest bidder on eBay--so the winner could put a temporary tattoo on this guy's forehead to advertise whatever.

Take a look at the guy's eBay page at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5950507719.

It's a gimmick and in that sense is nothing new (there's also a woman who's leasing the skin on her pregnant belly for ad space).

As if we didn't see enough ads already ...

Super Bowl Ads

2005-02-07T08:22:00.000-06:00

It's the day after the Super Bowl and "The Today Show" on NBC just finished its Super Bowl ad roundup, wherein it "analyzes" the ads and gets opinions on the best ones from various folks.

I actually didn't watch the Super Bowl. Instead I've looked at ads on such roundup segments and seen various ones online--including versions of the ads that didn't make the cut for broadcast.

Probably one of the most talked about of these was the GoDaddy.com ad, which features a young woman in front of a congressional committee. She has a "wardrobe malfunction" a la Janet Jackson at last year's Super Bowl halftime show.

The ad commentators on NBC sized up this year's ads as almost boring. One said advertisers swung the pendulum back too far on safe ground and the result was a lackluster group of ads.

I have to be honest: My not watching the Super Bowl was part of a recent trend in my life: Less TV. That also means fewer ads for me.

My wife and I were just commenting on this last night and noticing how much we like not being bombarded by the ads one gets on TV.

I realize this may make me sound like a fuddy-duddy, and perhaps it's dangerous for a culture editor. I'm not sure this trend of less TV will continue, but it may. And I DO think it's valuable for a culture editor to carve out the space to evaluate his own reactions to varied levels of media consumption.

I also have to add that, in keeping with what studies reveal, less TV for me corresponds to more time online. I read more global newspapers online, I consume more "alternative" media online, and I spend more time producing something (e.g. writing, updating sites) online.

Documentaries in the Spotlight

2005-02-02T09:30:00.000-06:00

I don't agree with everything Michael Moore puts out there, but he certainly has raised the profile for documentary filmmaking.

His "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" helped give pieces like "Super Size Me" more recognition.

Less well known, but no less worthy, are other documentary films like "Born Into Brothels," which is up for an Academy Award. It's about the children of prostitutes in Calcutta who were given cameras to document their lives.

There's also "Stolen Childhoods," about child labor, which we're going to cover at ED (EthicsDaily.com) soon.

And "Paper Clips" is opening this weekend in Tennessee from Miramax. I screened it last April at the Nashville Film Festival. It's about a school in Tennessee that started to collect paper clips in memory of Holocaust victims. Really a fascinating story.

Just a reminder that some of the best stuff out there isn't what's most heavily advertised.

Angels and Demons

2005-01-31T12:49:00.000-06:00

I just returned last night from Los Angeles, where I screened "Constantine," a new movie starring Keanu Reeves that opens Feb. 18. It's based on a comic-book character--John Constantine--who has the gift/burden of being able to see angels and demons.

The film is so-so. My review will appear opening day, so please stay tuned.

We interviewed about seven people associated with the movie, including the director, writers, Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Djimon Hounsou, Shia LaBeouf and Gavin Rossdale. I'll generate several feature pieces based on these interviews. Weisz and Rossdale were especially articulate about some of the themes that the film superficially touches on (e.g. heaven and hell).

Reeves refused to speak about religion, saying it was "private" and "personal." One of the writers, however, commented on how he thought Reeves was a particularly spiritual person, but he didn't elaborate.

Welcome

2005-01-28T15:31:00.000-06:00

Thanks for visiting. I'll get this blog up and running shortly.