Hatchet Job Awards - Russia Goes Big On Home-grown Movies

A&E Awards Abound, and We Want One




The Arts & Entertainment arena has the distinction of doling-out all sorts of awards - from the Oscars to Sundance.  Needless to say, I'm envious.  Why should only the Hollywood hoi polloi and glitterati be recipients and take their strolls down red carpets - we all need that experience too.




So, I've decided that CMG will be going after a coveted 'Hatchet Job Award'.  Only in its third year, the Hatchet Job Award is given to critics who have written the best, most unflattering, most scathing entertainment critiques over the last year.  Awarded each January, I can only look on with unadulterated envy and vanity at this year's winners.




Being nasty about Hollywood celebs comes ...... well, naturally to me - it's fun.  Sometimes I do go a tad overboard but by-and-large the critiques are deserving.  To my credit, in proper bombastic form I use the rifle vs. shotgun approach and select my prey judiciously - it's not personal, it's business.




Now, it can be argued that the Hatchet Job Award encourages writers/bloggers to look for the bad in celebs; however, my feeling is that normal press coverage of celebs is beyond good and positive and borders on worship. In the world of star/celeb press coverage (both written and on TV) there isn't an apple that won't be polished nor a boot that won't be licked.




Terming it the Award for 'the lowest and noblest of writings' the Hatchet Job has taken its rightful place in the A&E arena.  It has as much right to be present as the Golden Globes, SAG, or Academy Awards.  So, it's three cheers for the Hatchet Job and wish me all the best for a win this next year.


Russia Get Rough With Hollywood


Vladimir Medinsky, Russia's Minister of Culture, indicated last week that he was considering putting a cap on the number of movies imported each year, stating that
"without a cap, it is impossible to help the Russian film sector".


Medinsky did not state what the quota would be in terms of numbers, but he has stated that the number of home grown films should be "20% of the total exhibited".  His statements come on the heels of Russia's growth in the cinema over the last 5 years. Currently, on a percentage basis, the Russian box office leads the world (it grew by 19% last year which even exceeded the growth of the Chinese box office). But no Russian made films were even close to the top box office earners, and the Russian government wants to change that.


In 2012, the government restructured the Russian Cinema Fund, the independent body that funds movies.  The Fund currently receives $170 million per year to promote films within and outside of Russia.  By 2017, the Cultural Ministry intends to double the amount given in state subsidies to film makers.  The government gets back a portion of the box office in fees which is reinvested into the film industry. The strategy is that Russian film makers will gravitate towards making the commercial films which dominate the current box office.


Best
Jim Lavorato