Censorship ain’t what it used to be, including in Ireland. Here, as elsewhere, it’s been replaced by a different C-word. The last Irish film censor, John Kelleher, was instrumental in seeing through legislative reform which in 2008 renamed and redefined his office: he was now a Classifier of films. As a result, the curtain was finally lowered on a long, shameful history of repression, philistinism and bowdlerisation that dated back to the very beginnings of the independent Irish state. – Irish Times
Why Do Complex, Messy Spelling And Writing Systems So Rarely Get Reformed? Power
When they do get reformed, it’s usually because autocrats force the changes through (as with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Mao Zedong). “A big reason spelling systems never seem to get overhauled in more liberal societies is that those in a position to change the rules have learned the old ones. Put another way, the type of folk who were once good at spelling bees now run the world. Those who would benefit most from reform, meanwhile, hardly have a voice.” – The Economist
South African Arts Collapse During COVID
“Just as an example, when I put a post on Facebook that I was looking for someone to help clean my house, I got at least 50 replies from artists that I’ve seen on stage and people that I’ve worked with. I also know of artists who have been in the profession for many years who have had to sell their houses and live in their cars. We are losing a lot of talented performers.” – BBC
Top Music Industry People Weigh In On The State Of Streaming
Senior figures from Spotify, Apple and other streaming services have commended the virtues of streaming, and few in the world of music would dispute that the platforms saved the music industry. Music streaming in the UK now brings in more than £1bn a year in revenue. But the fact remains that artists can be paid as little as 13% of the income generated, receiving as little as £0.002 to about £0.0038 per stream on Spotify and about £0.0059 on Apple Music. – The Guardian
Marshall Marcus Talks the UN and Arts Organizations
The Secretary General of the European Union Youth Orchestra shares about the connection between the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the mission of arts organizations. – Aaron Dworkin
The British TV-Watching Public Complained A Lot About An Excess In Coverage Of Prince Philip’s Death
As a matter of fact, there were so many complaints about the bump in programming for special coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death that the BBC had to set up an whole new temporary complaint page. And it wasn’t just the main channel. “BBC Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live also aired special programming charting Prince Philip’s life, while BBC Four was paused and displayed a message directing viewers to switch over for a “major news report”. – BBC
The Messy, Low-Budget, Rediscovered Late Soviet Era Lord Of The Rings
The 1991 project was believed to be lost. “But after Tolkien fan clubs urged the broadcaster [Channel Five] to scour the archives of its Soviet predecessor, Leningrad Television, workers for Channel Five managed to find the footage last year” – and to put it online for all of us to enjoy in late March. – The New York Times
Dancers Are Still Trying Everything To Make It Through The Pandemic
Real talk: “Kathleen Tiernan, a trainee at Ballet Austin, fears that the pandemic will financially stunt the ballet industry for years to come. ‘I don’t know that I would wanna risk going to one of those small companies that could be very close to shutting down,’ said Tiernan, who is still in auditions season. ‘And I don’t know how they’re surviving because those types of companies were already struggling before the pandemic and already paid their dancers unlivable wages.'” – The Dispatch
Chloe Zhao Wins Director’s Guild Honor, Cementing Her Status As Presumptive Oscar Favorite
Zhao, director of Nomadland, is the first woman of color and only the second woman ever to win the DGA award. Though director David Fincher didn’t win for Mank, he had a great line: “Directing … is a bit like trying to paint a watercolor from four blocks away through a telescope, over a walkie-talkie, and 85 people are holding the brush.” – The New York Times
So You Want To Be In The Movies
The easiest part of being an extra, ahem, a background artist, is that you just have to be there. “Being an extra requires no experience, no acting talent and no talking.” – Los Angeles Times
Where The World Of Comedy Throws Obstacles, These Women Have Forged Their Own Paths
It’s not easy for a woman in comedy, and that’s doubly true for a Black woman. Ask Ziwe (who now has a series on Netflix). “You really have to create for yourself and create in that vacuum because you’re not going to get the instant gratification and validation.” – Variety
Actor Riz Ahmed Says He’s At His Best When He’s Overwhelmed
Ahmed, whose performance in The Sound of Metal has been nominated for countless awards this season, doesn’t prefer the easy life. When he was a kid, he says, “I wanted to perform in some way, but I didn’t think it was viable. Teachers told me I should be a barrister, because I was always arguing with them.” – The Guardian (UK)
The Big Winners From Night One Of The BAFTAs
Ma Rainey, Mank, and others win on the first night of the British Academy Film and Television Arts awards, when mostly the crafts are recognized. – Variety