forget hollywood - go right to the internet

if ever there was a more certain clue that the corporate 'masterminds' behind the 'big seven' and the 'top three' were sorely missing their heads in the ongoing debate between the writers guild and the top bean counters it's this:

the writers are going directly to the internet alone.

while part of this pleases me a great deal, having posted on the discussion between thom yorke and david byrne before taking some well deserved time off with my family, i have to admit that in a negotiations battle this is a risky move.

at stake: the capitulation of the studios and television networks into recognizing that while they were able to shaft writers on royalty arrangements relating to dvd's - the future of entertainment distribution will include internet downloads.

we all know that michael eisenberg is complaining that he was barely able to break even with is mini drama prom queen but the reality of the situation is this: the studio heads (like eisenberg) need to realize that they cannot go it alone without the writers. barely breaking even in a a new medium is, in itself, a fantastic feat. how long did it take for amazon to make a profit?

the writers on the other hand - well they know how to spell out the letters on the wall (so to speak) and they are deciding to show just how easy it would be for they to dump the studios and start making money on their own.

the downside: well, as chuck d opined years and years ago when he was talking about how the mp3 format would upend his industry, there is less to be made in big packages. if the writers think that they will be able to make it alone and make the same kind of money they were making while writing for 'friends' let's say (my personal opinion is that there should be a ring in dante's inferno for everyone attached to that abomination - but, that's just me) then they are sadly mistaken.

the facts: from a sideliner's perspective the whole debate is a bit like watching a couple of five year olds in a shoving match. as an amateur writer myself it will come as no surprise who i'm rooting for in this particular push-pull of commerce. at the end of the day though, i only watch five hours of television a week and being in canada this means that the cbc shows slated to start should keep my interest at least until april.

what that means? let's just say that i'm willing to wait.

oh and one other thing directed at both sides: QUIT MAKING SILLY REMAKES OF MOVIES/TELEVISION SHOWS THAT WEREN'T THAT GOOD THE FIRST TIME AROUND!

'nuff said.

when sci-fi grew up

the funny thing is that for any serious reader of the genre it's been 'grown up' for a long time.

i suppose what the guardian's article means is when 'tv' grew up about sci-fi.

the new sci-fi

on a side note - i hope they bring 'life on mars' over the lake. i'd like to see a show about a time traveling policeman.

myths over miami

one of the most amazing things about the current state of the internet is that i can pull this article up and still present it to you - it was published in 1997 and since we're (checks calendar) yes in 2007 it shows that the early adopters of the internet have a dividend of material to offer.

yay.

anyways, dictionary.com defines myth as being "a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature"

i came across the usage of this article in a tv show called jeremiah, which was one of those post-apocalyptic way in the future kind of things. and there was this episode that feature this new religon the children of that age were believing in which featured God having left heaven and the angels regrouping for a counter-attack.

it was sort of a post traumatic stress disorder version revelation for sure and was semi-central to the particular episode but nothing was explored following up.

i forget how i stumbled upon this article but the similarities were enough to convince me that the myths that homeless children have (those with parents on the streets and those without) was the basis for the research for the writer's subplot to that particular episode.

so here it is without furhter ado - myths over miami

supernatural

i'm begnning to become a huge fan of this show 'supernatural' which is apparently filmed out in bc. i have no idea where or how it's shown in the states but here in ill-dot i catch up on it on thursday nights and it's become a regular 'tape this please' kind of thing.

i've learned the hard way from liking too many shows that were on television that i cannot find hide nor hair of on dvd (legally) so when i find a show i like - i tape it without question.

the episode 'tall tales' shown this week is a remarkable example of the fact that this show is seriously being slept on in a big way. the story is not complex but there are subtle hits here and there which bespeak a bright mind on the other side of the screen.

and here's my case in point and i'm out of here.

on the supernatural.tv website (where apparently someone screencapped the entire episode - boy i can't wait to read that 'cease and desist letter') you can find the screen caps and if you check out the 10th page or so you will see a shot with dean in the right and on the left on the wall is a photo, actually a print of what appears to be a haida (or haida influenced) portrayal of raven who is the trickster in the haida folklore. here is a link to another artist portrayal of raven.

if you've seen the show you know how that all figures in. if you haven't well, then i won't spoil it for you.