The act and the art of translation requires the permission to transcend borders, the permission to make mistakes, and the permission to be repeated, by anyone who feels the tempestuous tug, and the clarion call, of the unfamiliar. To rein in such liberty through categories and compartments that imprison our creativity is a disservice to the human imagination. – The Conversation
Streaming Passes 1 Billion Subscribers (But Theatre Box Office Tanks)
For the first time ever, subscriptions to streaming services surpassed one billion, reaching 1.1 billion globally. At the same time, box office receipts plummeted because movie theaters across the world were closed for a significant part of 2020. Global ticket sales tapped out at $12 billion, with North America accounting for $2.2 billion of that haul. (2019 saw $42 billion in revenue). – Variety
The Royal Shakespeare Company At 60
“In 1960 Peter Hall created a theatrical revolution. He turned a summer Shakespeare festival in Stratford-on-Avon into a year-round enterprise based on a permanent ensemble, a second home in London and a mix of classical and contemporary work. But it wasn’t until 20 March 1961 that the whole enterprise was given the name we know today. … Sixty years on, even as we celebrate the RSC’s survival, new questions arise. What is it really for? How does it adapt to a changing world? Do we still believe in large theatrical institutions?” – The Guardian
Beijing Leans On Hong Kong’s Arts Funding Body To Curb ‘Anti-Government’ Work
“The campaign has forced the Arts Development Council into stating it might suspend grants to artists who advocated independence, while additional cultural venues have refused to screen a controversial documentary about the 2019 anti-government protests. The question of what constitutes ‘lawbreaking artworks’ has also been raised in the Legislative Council.” – South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
Bollywood’s Biggest Legend Leads Fight To Preserve India’s Oldest Films
Amitabh Bachchan, who’s been a superstar in India for 50 years, has campaigned for years for the preservation of film from Indian cinema’s early history, which goes back to 1931 for talkies and 1913 for silent movies. Some 80% of Bollywood’s output from 1931 to 1950 is lost or unavailable to the public, and out of more than 1,100 silent films made there, only 29 are known to have survived. And much of that old celluloid is in poor condition. – BBC