Nothing original, but it keeps paying off so studios bank on it. And why shouldn't they? As long as idiots line up to see it they have a business model.
Where things get dark is that once you've seen the Spiderman or Batman story three or four times, you just stop going (well, one would hope, we are talking comic book geeks after all, they just have to see if "this version" is "right version"... I digress) at some point (and this may already have happened) the people who make big budget films forget how to tell new stories and they will blame every single potential point of failure except themselves along the way.
Movies are "dying"? Clearly internet media pirates at work...
Actually they've had varying degrees of registration hoops over the years (if I recall for CS2 you actually had to dial a number to get key confirmation). That said, tools like Photoshop are so popular cracks and workarounds show up almost immediately after launch.
On the plus side newer versions seem to have fewer useful additions but more off-putting cosmetic changes that make cheaper alternatives more appealing.
It's mind-boggling how true this statement is actually. In fact, I'll be calling up my cable provider today and cancelling my "tier 3" package as all the channels on tier 3 no longer show the programming I purchased tier 3 to get!
I'm in Canada so the stations are a little different but beyond sports many of the extra channel packages I've purchased just don't show what I want to see anymore...
I disagree with your book author metaphor because the print industry is a lot more diverse. With relatively little effort you can become a publisher (or heck like you say, self published), this is not so with the film industry mainly because you have to rely on the MPAA if you want to get beyond a small distribution.
So yes, I still have to say that the film industry is censored though I think using the term "regulatory body" was a big mistake on my part as it connoted "Government" for a lot of people. It can't be ignored that the MPAA Rating System is a systematic form of industry self-censorship, and it was intended as such from its inception through Jack Valenti: http://www.skepticfiles.org/en001/mpaarate.htm
I fully agree that the US Government isn't in control of what can and can't be said or depicted in a film, rather, that honour goes to a monopolistic industry association that controls the majority of production and distribution.
I reckon if independent studios or publishers were more competitive with the MPAA we wouldn't be having this conversation, however with media production becoming easier and cheaper all the time we may see this shift of artistic control lean more toward the artists than the producers.
To get a film made within the industry you need to get it past approval, it's "expected" MPAA rating can significantly impact whether or not it will get made, marketed or distributed. So, the MPAA rating goes beyond telling you what a film's content might be like and actually affects whether or not a film gets made. Get a large enough group of like minded people in that organization and you have a situation where minority views (right or wrong) dominate without the checks and balances of an official governed body.
The MPAA, as a private organization, make removal of objectionable content attractive through profit motive. If that's not censorship then I guess I don't know what is.
Artistically speaking, freedom of expression is limited in the United States (and other countries, don't get me wrong) because of regulatory bodies that exist for the sole purpose of deciding what is appropriate content and what is not.
This is a fixed-position point of view in an ever changing sociological landscape and it increasingly does not make sense.
I often wonder if films like "Taxi Driver" could ever be made today.
I was going to say, I mean if people weren't trying to set land speed records in rocket-powered cars would Von Braun have been as interested in rocketry at all? Who would be the champion for that technology if there were no little people with big dreams??
Also, if you're visually impaired like me and scale your fonts anyway this is a HUUUUUUGE pain in the ass.
Also, why is everything so bright all of a sudden THE GOGGLES THEY DO NOTHING
Side note: first time I hit this site on my older machine Chrome crashed because the CPU was cranked, WTF! Why would a list of articles do that? Why should a list of articles do that?
Now to go see if there is still a "classic" view...
I had a similar problem yesterday except in Chrome. I guess I wasn't really paying attention but why the hell does Skype install toolbars without my input anyway?
That addon was removed pretty damn quick after it crashed and locked up my browsing session. Useless crap...
Slashdot Mirror
Nothing original, but it keeps paying off so studios bank on it. And why shouldn't they? As long as idiots line up to see it they have a business model.
Where things get dark is that once you've seen the Spiderman or Batman story three or four times, you just stop going (well, one would hope, we are talking comic book geeks after all, they just have to see if "this version" is "right version"... I digress) at some point (and this may already have happened) the people who make big budget films forget how to tell new stories and they will blame every single potential point of failure except themselves along the way.
Movies are "dying"? Clearly internet media pirates at work...
Actually they've had varying degrees of registration hoops over the years (if I recall for CS2 you actually had to dial a number to get key confirmation). That said, tools like Photoshop are so popular cracks and workarounds show up almost immediately after launch.
On the plus side newer versions seem to have fewer useful additions but more off-putting cosmetic changes that make cheaper alternatives more appealing.
Because we keep getting trolled into commenting and getting them more ad revenue, that's why.
Actually I think it's very important we send guys in suits into space, there is so much left to learn.
Pinky, I know what we're going to do tonight, TRY TO SUE THE WORLD!
All I'm saying is...
Goatse... IN YOUR BRAIN
It's mind-boggling how true this statement is actually. In fact, I'll be calling up my cable provider today and cancelling my "tier 3" package as all the channels on tier 3 no longer show the programming I purchased tier 3 to get!
I'm in Canada so the stations are a little different but beyond sports many of the extra channel packages I've purchased just don't show what I want to see anymore...
Everywhere else?
Yep, I'd say you interpreted me correctly.
I disagree with your book author metaphor because the print industry is a lot more diverse. With relatively little effort you can become a publisher (or heck like you say, self published), this is not so with the film industry mainly because you have to rely on the MPAA if you want to get beyond a small distribution.
So yes, I still have to say that the film industry is censored though I think using the term "regulatory body" was a big mistake on my part as it connoted "Government" for a lot of people. It can't be ignored that the MPAA Rating System is a systematic form of industry self-censorship, and it was intended as such from its inception through Jack Valenti: http://www.skepticfiles.org/en001/mpaarate.htm
I fully agree that the US Government isn't in control of what can and can't be said or depicted in a film, rather, that honour goes to a monopolistic industry association that controls the majority of production and distribution.
I reckon if independent studios or publishers were more competitive with the MPAA we wouldn't be having this conversation, however with media production becoming easier and cheaper all the time we may see this shift of artistic control lean more toward the artists than the producers.
Anyway, sorry for the ramblings...
The MPAA is the centre of the problem, I think this comment sums it up pretty nicely actually:
http://entertainment.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=2000480&cid=35233964
To get a film made within the industry you need to get it past approval, it's "expected" MPAA rating can significantly impact whether or not it will get made, marketed or distributed. So, the MPAA rating goes beyond telling you what a film's content might be like and actually affects whether or not a film gets made. Get a large enough group of like minded people in that organization and you have a situation where minority views (right or wrong) dominate without the checks and balances of an official governed body.
The MPAA, as a private organization, make removal of objectionable content attractive through profit motive. If that's not censorship then I guess I don't know what is.
Agreed.
It's sad, film is a great art form but it's easily perverted by the profit motive of the industry behind its making.
Artistically speaking, freedom of expression is limited in the United States (and other countries, don't get me wrong) because of regulatory bodies that exist for the sole purpose of deciding what is appropriate content and what is not.
This is a fixed-position point of view in an ever changing sociological landscape and it increasingly does not make sense.
I often wonder if films like "Taxi Driver" could ever be made today.
The only defense is a clone army of Alex Trebeks armed with one word answers.
I shall hide in the American city of Toronto!
When war with the cyborgs comes (and it will) what we will call it?
It's the old song and dance
"Hey look! A guy who started a website for SHARING SECRETS! Never mind the secrets over there..."
I was going to say, I mean if people weren't trying to set land speed records in rocket-powered cars would Von Braun have been as interested in rocketry at all? Who would be the champion for that technology if there were no little people with big dreams??
WHERE ARE MY SLASH BOXES!?!
Also, if you're visually impaired like me and scale your fonts anyway this is a HUUUUUUGE pain in the ass.
Also, why is everything so bright all of a sudden THE GOGGLES THEY DO NOTHING
Side note: first time I hit this site on my older machine Chrome crashed because the CPU was cranked, WTF! Why would a list of articles do that? Why should a list of articles do that?
Now to go see if there is still a "classic" view...
It actually happened as part of a Skype update that rolled out recently (this week I think).
But it could be a Windows thing, regardless: toolbar - do not want!
I had a similar problem yesterday except in Chrome. I guess I wasn't really paying attention but why the hell does Skype install toolbars without my input anyway?
That addon was removed pretty damn quick after it crashed and locked up my browsing session. Useless crap...
Is this "responsibly" as defined by the dictionary or by RIAA's cracked logic?
Responsible organizations like RIAA sue their customers, repeatedly, as a deterrent, against non-customers...
Forget glasses, use something like Inuit snow goggles (prevents snow blindness)
Imagine if you will a dead horse that deposited millions of dollars into your bank account every time you beat it.
She's also the daughter of Trillian
Man, that would get confusing real fast!
Meet me at the restaurant on the corner of 5th and Main (except every other Tuesday where it's at 116th street and 22nd Ave).
Also we're switching to metric time so meet me at 75 minutes after 2.
Also, also, don't forget to put on concrete wheels for the rubber roads...