i have just returned from spending a week in the company of frenchbabyface, (fbf) and would like to share some basic observation that i feel will enlighten my fellow countrymen and women about a people we, as a culture, actually know very little about.
i do believe the medias of both countries do not show their people an honest and forthright view of the other countries people.
the american media gives us almost no news of france and most of what we do get is not very positive.
Isn't Art dependant upon what's fashionable at the time?
Real art such as the classic's are timeless but still it comes and goes with the fashion of the day eg Pavarotti made Opera truly popular with Nessun Dorma before that it was a small minority but now it enjoys a wider audience, Nigel Kennedy with Vivaldi's 4 seasons was another example..
The FFI has "had" its day.....!.........It has had it's classic's but no more.
i have just returned from spending a week in the company of frenchbabyface, (fbf) and would like to share some basic observation that i feel will enlighten my fellow countrymen and women about a people we, as a culture, actually know very little about.
i do believe the medias of both countries do not show their people an honest and forthright view of the other countries people.
the american media gives us almost no news of france and most of what we do get is not very positive.
Funny...............
I totally agree that this is a non issue "The French Film Industry" .....who really cares apart from HS...........................the French certainly don't.
The point of continuing this thread is to try to help HS understand that he is Very Very self opinionated and that just because he has a strong view point and is supposedly from the industry .....what ever that industry may be ........it doesn't make him Totally..Totally correct. I personally am sick of this type of attitude.
If he would just standback and "hear" someone else's opinion.........right or wrong........he may understand a little more about how "his" industry is viewed by "ordinary" cinema goers and thereby "learn" in the process. This new knowledge may then be utilsed to help improve the ailing "French Film Industry" he so affectionately cares for.....and at last admitts to be ailing
Can only Old posters be adament ? or do new posters have to be quiet?
And as for 2 persons being 1 you are totally incorrect. I don't know how the IP system works but if 2 persons use the same PC shouldn't it be the same ?
HS....
Is it too complicated for 'some' to appreciate that a revenue flow, and a creative flow are not the same thing!!
Why don't you see that NO one has said they are !!....you said the FFI was extraordinary but have yet offered nothing to prove it. People are commenting that success is/can be measured by the box office.
Creativity is limited to individual appreciation. Therefore if the FFI was extraordinary it would be appreciated by more than just the French....logical reasoning...or do you want to argue that point too.
And for observers you may notice that HS has now resorted to personal attack after personal attack despite me putting forward some reasonable arguements even if they can be flawed....but that has yet to be proved !
i have just returned from spending a week in the company of frenchbabyface, (fbf) and would like to share some basic observation that i feel will enlighten my fellow countrymen and women about a people we, as a culture, actually know very little about.
i do believe the medias of both countries do not show their people an honest and forthright view of the other countries people.
the american media gives us almost no news of france and most of what we do get is not very positive.
HS,
My trade is the arts. I have been in the arts for almost thirty years
This says it all !.......you obviously have a viewpoint based on your own experience or bias, I can understand this as we are all entitled to have our own views but you are not opening up to reasonable opposite opinion. That is why I commented about you being a "Debator".
True "debators" do just that ...debate.... they do not consider the other persons opinion worthy of consideration, even if they agree (which I'm sure you do deep down) they will continue to debate.
These posts are for an exchange of viewpoints not "just" debating, it is you that has lost the intention here not I.
I've read some of your past posts and I can see that you have a very high opinion of yourself, higher learning theory springs to mind. Some of your material is quite interesting but because you like "listening to your own voice" many of your posts are quite boring.
Get yourself educated about this matter Blobby, then perhaps you will either learn something or at least speak from some sort of territory of knowledge
There you go again, I present a recent credible viewpoint (The Observer) and you disagree, without even being critical of the material presented only aiming critisism at me. It's OK though because as I pointed out I consider myself quite ordinary and unlike you, I will accept or at least consider other's reasonable opinion, even if it does differ considerably with mine. For an art's critic to write..............
there is a deeper, unspoken unease that French-language films have had relatively little critical (no mention of $) success in the international film festivals in recent years.
...........there must be a problem or is she wrong and you know better ? I repeat "Film festival critique is "Pre" box office success and therefore has nothing to do with $."
You didn't like me suggesting you sounded like a JW. But be honest the evidence is there in your presentation and delivery.....self opinionated and hiding behind the facts.
i have just returned from spending a week in the company of frenchbabyface, (fbf) and would like to share some basic observation that i feel will enlighten my fellow countrymen and women about a people we, as a culture, actually know very little about.
i do believe the medias of both countries do not show their people an honest and forthright view of the other countries people.
the american media gives us almost no news of france and most of what we do get is not very positive.
Only pointing out that it can't be that extraordinary can it ??
I think the Observer is a legitimate source of intelligent information ...not simply a debators view point after all. (sorry lost all respect after you confessed to being a debator
This has got to be the most damming part of that observation from the Observer.
Beneath the gloom over finances, there is a deeper, unspoken unease that French-language films have had relatively little critical success in the international film festivals in recent years.
Film festival critique is "Pre" box office success and therefore has nothing to do with $.
are you still "in"?
have you altogether stopped attending meetings?
for how long have you been "out"?
Its been interesting to hear how you all "faded" away, this is something my wife and I are trying right now. We`ve just had the first bull sh*tting call (home visit) 2 weeks ago and agreed to try harder and be more regular....and to go on the service etc....but the intention is to do what many off you have done......fade away.
Our eldest child lives away from us and is still in the Org, happy and engaged, doesn't know of our plight...should we tell he/she how we feel and if so how ?......This is our biggest dilemma. Would really appreciate your advice.
If we tell he/she it could ruin their happy life or even worse damage our relationship.
i was thinking about this the other day in response to the question, "am i coming back?
" put forward by jw who called me (a former friend).
i said that i would not answer that question since it would put her in an uncomfortable position.
But would anyone consider going back.........maybe to fade away again.......just to speak to their family again ?
They play games with us ....so why not play games with them ?
i have just returned from spending a week in the company of frenchbabyface, (fbf) and would like to share some basic observation that i feel will enlighten my fellow countrymen and women about a people we, as a culture, actually know very little about.
i do believe the medias of both countries do not show their people an honest and forthright view of the other countries people.
the american media gives us almost no news of france and most of what we do get is not very positive.
HS....I took your advise to dig a little deeper and I thought you may appreciate a little humble pie....read on...
L'exception culturelle under threat as DVD sales and US blockbusters hit French films
Amelia Gentleman in Paris
Sunday October 26, 2003 The Observer
Hundreds of French film directors and screenwriters are meeting this weekend to discuss how to save the French film industry from crisis in the face of diminishing state funding, waning audience numbers and the unstoppable rise of the DVD.
On the surface the industry appears healthy. It has never been more prolific, producing 200 films last year. Fifty million more cinema tickets were sold in 2002 than 10 years ago and the business benefits from more generous, state-imposed subsidies than any other European country.
Given these luxurious conditions, it seems extraordinary that the film community should be indulging in doom-mongering. But the conference taking place this weekend in the medieval Burgundy town of Beaune is set to be overshadowed by anxiety over looming crises in film financing. Over 450 French film professionals will debate ways of revitalising an industry which is feeling the heat of competition.
The climate of uncertainty is fuelled by concern that France's bountiful subsidy structure could dwindle with changes in the system next year. At the heart of film-makers' alarm is the fear that Canal Plus, which for two decades has acted as the main pillar of support for the industry, could renegotiate its obligations to cinema, pouring less of its revenues into French film.
'Although the industry is doing well, we can see worrying signs on the horizon,' said Pascal Rogard, representative of the screenwriters, directors and producers lobby group, the ARP. 'Our government needs to act now to stave off future difficulties.'
The relationship between Canal Plus, Europe's largest pay-television operator, and the film industry dates back to its foundation in 1984, when President François Mitterrand stipulated that, in exchange for a terrestrial broadcasting licence, the channel would have to put 20 per cent of its annual revenue towards supporting films. Under the same arrangement it had to invest 9 per cent in French movies.
This contract was born from the Mitterrand government's commitment to l'exception culturelle, France's determination to protect its cultural identity against invasions from the US. As a result, the French film industry is the only one in Europe to have thrived.
But Canal Plus is having trouble fighting off competition from rival cable channels and is unable to combat the popularity of the DVD. Canal Plus expects to lose about 130,000 subscribers this year - which ultimately means a drop in the amount available for supporting the film industry. The channel's licence comes up for renewal in 2004 and its directors are in discussions to see whether their obligations to the film industry can be lightened.
Directors say the channel is choosing to support a small number of big-budget films which it hopes will generate more revenues, and neglecting smaller, independent projects. 'The context for independent producers is very difficult now,' said Caroline Cesbron of France's National Cinematography Centre. 'The future is uncertain.'
The government has already begun to take some action. In May the Culture Minister, Jean-Jacques Aillagon, announced new tax breaks for film-makers and higher taxes to be imposed on DVDs and videos.
Meanwhile, US films dominate, attracting between 45 and 65 per cent of audiences every year.
Only the occasional box office success like Eight Women or Amélie attract as many viewers as standard Hollywood fare.
Beneath the gloom over finances, there is a deeper, unspoken unease that French-language films have had relatively little critical success in the international film festivals in recent years.
This is the cloud hanging over the industry which prompted a front page of the daily Libération newspaper last week, filled with a single picture of an empty cinema and the headline: 'French cinema - the Cold Sweat'.
Before you offer...........yes I accept your apology. ......
escargot & french fries
i have just returned from spending a week in the company of frenchbabyface, (fbf) and would like to share some basic observation that i feel will enlighten my fellow countrymen and women about a people we, as a culture, actually know very little about.
i do believe the medias of both countries do not show their people an honest and forthright view of the other countries people.
the american media gives us almost no news of france and most of what we do get is not very positive.
Don't worry HS were not the same person (true) and not on here as anyone else but we're baffled why you are so serious about defending the French, even the French have given up (no surprises there).
The French aren't bothered so why are you? Seriously if you can convince us that the French are outstanding in comparison to other Nations then I'll tip my hat but until then....nope.
They are just as "ordinary" as many others. Only outstanding in their Arrogance. As a nation what "outstanding" feat have they accomplished in the last decade??
It would be very interesting to conduct a pole (I'm sure one has already been carried out) as to how other natons view the French. I'm sure the majority population of the USA & UK aren't too pleased with them just now (not that I'm defending their stance on Iraq).
Now "we" really are going to bed
i have just returned from spending a week in the company of frenchbabyface, (fbf) and would like to share some basic observation that i feel will enlighten my fellow countrymen and women about a people we, as a culture, actually know very little about.
i do believe the medias of both countries do not show their people an honest and forthright view of the other countries people.
the american media gives us almost no news of france and most of what we do get is not very positive.
Vit.......you took the words out of my mouth !
Going to bed now bored
