The media - Is it biased to Folk?

Subject: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: GUEST,Mike of Hessle
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 07:35 AM

I have been looking at a review and trailer of a film called 'Morris with Bells on' which it is claimed is a big hit and is something I would like to watch on the BIG screen.
However the large Cinema Organisations state there will not show it Nationally because they don't believe there would be any interest in it.
Another hit against the Folk Scene/English Traditions. How do we fight back or are they correct?

N.B. I subscribe to 'The Living Tradition' Magazine because after months of trying to obtain it via my Newsagents they could not because the wholesalers - W.H. Smith - stated they would nor carry it because of lack of interest. Ten years? later I still subscribe.

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 07:53 AM

"N.B. I subscribe to 'The Living Tradition' Magazine because after months of trying to obtain it via my Newsagents they could not because the wholesalers - W.H. Smith - stated they would nor carry it because of lack of interest. Ten years? later I still subscribe"

Then you'd be one..........

Seriously, is "the media" even aware of folk let alone biased? Let's have a test.....Let's take two big names and throw them out to "the media...........

Michael Jackson-----Much hoopla, super high recognition
Pete Seeger-----Pete who?


Next!


Spaw

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: Royston
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 08:01 AM

This has nothing to do with Media Bias. No "media" is doing the film down. The only issue here is whether film distributors are prepared to pump their cash into anything they regard as "fringe" or "risky". And the only consideration they have is "bums on seats". If they though a musical comedy about Fred West would get people into the cinema then, if someone made it, they would distribute it.

The way to support independent films is to, well I hate to be obvious, get off your butt and go and watch it at a film festival or on its regional tour. Join its Bookface group, sign the petitions that are doing the rounds etc etc.

This is the way that all independent films get distribution, nothing unusual, no bias against "English Traditions", just simple economics and you fight it with economic arguments: support it, pay to see it, encourage others to do likewise.

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: GUEST,Mike of Hessle
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 08:29 AM

Just to let you know Royston before I opened this topic I signed the petition and had already contacted some of the BIG cinema organisations on this matter with no response (yet).

I want to be able to watch the film at my local Odeon and will not accept less - why should I. I suppose if it was called 'Morris the Mad Axe Murderer' or featured some nymphomaniac starlet it would have an extended run

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: GUEST,Jemma Gurney
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 08:40 AM

There was a really long thread abuot the movie when it was released - search for Morris: a life with bells on...

On a more positive note - the bbc's article on the mercury awards gives the biggest quote to one of the folk (ish!) nominiees...

see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8160449.stm

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: Royston
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 08:52 AM

Mike,

I want to be able to watch the film at my local Odeon and will not accept less - why should I

Now I am inclined to agree with you; I would like to see more interesting films at multiplex cinemas, but it is not likely to happen. We can't *expect* a commercial organisation to do anything that doesn't make a profit for itself (alas). Odeon, looking at the deluge of summer "blockbusters" simply won't take a punt on turning auditoriums over to an indy film.

If the film gets the manifest support needed for the makers to argue a commercial justification for a full-scale release, then it will get a full-scale distribution and release.

More realistically, it might benefit those interested to lobby local independent cinemas or Picture House who have a good record at showcasing independent work.

Definitely the best way is to get behind the makers and support the showings that they have arranged; because distributors attend those showings and audience focus groups, post-show discussions and the like to gauge the market-appeal.

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 10:36 AM

..gotta be realistic, nowadays when even so many relatively big budget star name movies
go direct to DVD release
because they are considered to be unviable
for UK cinema screenings..

So, I'm happy to accept screenings of high quality independent esoteric movies and documentaries
on the likes of BBC 4, Sky arts, and [despite the ad breaks]
even Film 4 as a reasonable compromise.

I'm very content to avoid the inconvenience and expense of modern multiplex cinema experience
and watch high quality indie productions in the comfort of my own home on my big screen TV.

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: GUEST,wordy
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 10:51 AM

We have subscribed at a cost of £100 for a year to "Cine Moi" a channel devoted to French cinema and offering 30 new subtitled films a month. Heaven!!! Downloaded on to DVD we have over 50 films already.
Check out the website.

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 11:51 AM

just an extra idea..

one quite 'folkie' alternative is to organize 'viewer friendly' screenings at local community venues.
With the advent of Blu Ray Discs and Hard Drive media Players,
and hiring decent quality digital projection equipment,
even quite modest local Halls and Theatres can have access to fairly cost effective
regular specialist 'Movie Club' screenings.

A lot less fuss than outmoded broken down 16mm film projectors and easily damaged
cans of worn out scratched and clumsily spliced film presentations..

[yes.. i used to run an Art Centre Film society way back in the pre DVD era]

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: Bloke from Poole
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 07:22 AM

The Morris movie thread has just got a bit of an update, I won't repeat it here.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 07:46 AM

The media - Is it biased to Folk?


No, I feel its the exact opposite, 'biased against Folk? '

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 01:47 PM

PFR, you will need (you probably know this if you were involved in art film screenings) a wholly different licence from the rightsholder.

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 02:01 PM

Apart from a few "headliners" such as Bob Dylan, folk rarely gets much notice from the media in the U.S. When it was a "new" phenomenon, during and after the Kingston Trio's debut in the late 1950's, folk was on magazine covers, television shows and your local fish wrap. Now, it has become "out of sight - out of mind" for most. Actually, it has grown somewhat in popularity with the advent of the "new" coffee house venues and open mike opportunities, though mainstream media routinely ignores it except for a very few feature articles in the entertainment sections.

So long as WE can enjoy and share it, who cares whether it is "in" with the hollywood crowd or the talking heads? We don't likely need another "great folk scare."

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 02:32 PM

I'm now aware of the original thread re this movie,
and that there is some kind of positive practical resolution..



but..

Richard,

licences !!!!????

what !!!?????


.. that was way back in the idyllic days when the Local Authority Art Centre
was happily and effectively run by old hippies and very enthusiastic young punk volunteers..

We just had a tatty BFI catalogue and picked whatever we wanted
from the cheapest crappest films available for hire.

Luckily, they were mostly the old cult rubbish Roger Corman exploitation shockers
we most wanted to get a chance to see on a local screen anyway..

..never filled in or signed a single document as far as i can remember.


..obviously times are now a lot meaner and harsher
and far more beurocratic in the 'modern' 21'st Community Art sector..



Though, never the less, the low cost hi quality digital technology does now exist for any low key unofficial
free of charge & profit guerilla screenings
for any otherwise difficult to access esoteric media productions.....

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 04:19 PM

BFI were usually licensed for non-theatric viewings.

Your guerilla viewings are an infringment of the right of performance. The deprive the producer or distributor of the revenues to which the law entitles them. You do much more damage to art films than to mainstream, because their revenues are more fragile.

Friends like you the art-house and microbudget and zerobudget producers do NOT need.

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: Nerd
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 02:54 PM

One solution would be to buy the DVD and then hold a potluck where you invite a few friends over to view it, strictly privately. Since the cost of a DVD here in the US is often only about twice the price of admission to a cinema (sometimes even less), you're no worse off than if you and your spouse/partner went to see it. Plus you own it...AND, if it's really good, some of your friends might buy it or recommend it to their other friends. I don't know if the prices work out as well in the UK.

This works best if you have a big TV, which I do....

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: M.Ted
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 04:52 PM

Another solution would be to actually call one of the local theaters and set up a special viewing and ask all the people who signed your petition to come. It requires a little effort, but you'll get what you want--

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: Ian Fyvie
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 10:58 PM

Film MAKING has become much more acccessible with today's technology.

Yes the figures for a even a low budget film are still frightening for someone on a "normal" salary but if a group of people can come up with really good folkie based idea, can muster most of the skills to produce a film; then the finance required may seem trivial to Arts funding bodies that sees substantial bids every day from established producers.

The disadvantage of couse is the track record, but as they say in music publishing, a good idea always shines through (yes we know of the classic ones that were originally rejected...).

Probably the strength of the successful UK and Austalian/NZ films is that they are novel in some way, ie. are based on good ideas rather than big names and formula (Hollywood) or arty Producers / Directors (European).

If you think about where the budget of Hollywood style films goes - a huge amount goes on the Stars and special effects, because without these, the average Big Release would be a damp squib. But with a good idea, the cost is slashed, and I suspect there is plenty of scope for good folk music themed stories as the selling point - rather than the Price Tag Celebrety.

Ian Fyvie

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: mattkeen
Date: 24 Jul 09 - 04:11 AM

Regarding public viewings of a community type - then best(only?) place to get licences is Filmbank Distributors Ltd - not cheap but legal and fair - oh and they dont have the Morris film - Ruth hasn't been able to get it screened at Sidmouth either.

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: mattkeen
Date: 24 Jul 09 - 04:13 AM

We run a community cinema effort by the way and they are great. Good laugh and get people together

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 25 Jul 09 - 01:33 PM

In Britain, The Southbank Show has been the top "arts" tv show for the passed 25 years or so, and to my knowledge British folkmusic has never been feature on it. Everything else has! Country music, loads of jazz, loads of cassical, rock music etc. I bet Melvyn Bragg has a some sort of negative "thing" about British folk music.

Subject: RE: The media - Is it biased to Folk?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 25 Jul 09 - 03:27 PM

It has been my experience that very few in the modern media have any idea what went down in folk over the last century. I asked an editor at the Chicago Tribune who, at the Trib, I might send a new CD of mine to in hopes of having it reviewed in that paper. He told me that there was nobody at the paper who had any background info that'd allow him to be qualified for the project. ----- So, he, being a fan of things folk, did the article himself---for which I was truly grateful.

Scott Alarik at the Boston Globe is one of the good reviewers who was there and brings their knowledge of things "then" and also "now" to his writing.

That's just my opinion. I'm out of the loop these days, and only know what I know---and not much else.

Art Thieme