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Media boo-boos:
1) The New York Times got the Motion Picture Association of America (the people who bring you stupid ratings for movies, headed by scary Jack Valenti) mixed up with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the people who bring you the Oscars). The story about how studios are trying to curb piracy by not distributing "for your consideration" Oscar screener DVDS mistakenly called Jack Valenti the head of the "Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences," an organization that doesn't exist. But apparently many though that meant he was the head of AMPAS, which made AMPAS freak out from the realm of neutrality (who to support - the studios who makes films or the Academy members who want easy ways to see them) and issue the statement, "The Academy has absolutely nothing to do with studio 'screeners.'" The Times says reporter Anne Thompson got it right, but that the copy desk was at fault. It's always the copy desk, isn't it? Oh, yeah, and along with some others, Gothamist really hates Jack Valenti. [Via Variety]
2) The Philadelphia Inquirer, trying to be all cutting edge about New York gossip media, made the grand mistake Gawker editor Choire Sicha's analysis of Lloyd Grove's new Daily News gossip column as the work of Elizabeth Spiers. So Choire helpfully gives his bio for not just silly Philly writer Beth Gillin (and her copy desk), but for all of us. And Gothamist would like to add, that's why we rather be here than Philadelphia (W.C. Fields, by way of Agent Dale Cooper).
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Aw, come on Jenn, why ya hatin' on Philly?
rheilly
I think I'm hatin' on Philadelphia ever since I overdosed on Fla-Vor-Ice from WaWa, summer of '93. I really don't hate Philly; I just heart New York more.
I've always wondered whether Valenti was mugging to get into the famous photo of LBJ taking the oath of office, a few hours after Kennedy was shot. He's on left, here, midway between the top and bottom, in what had to be a very uncomfortable position: http://www.jfklibrary.org/images/04-0106a.jpg
I'm very suspicious of people who play for advantage in the aftermath of a tragedy.
i appreciate the Pulp reset. kudos, yo.
ACcording to the New Yorker profile from him, if I remember correctly, Valenti claimed LBJ just grabbed him to the swearing in.
And, uncle grambo, I'm glad you noticed. I was hoping someone would.
Speaking of copy desk, your typos are rampant today, little lady.
That's my one quibble with Movable Type - no spellcheck. But did you read yesterday's post?
Excellent catch, Jen, re the Phila Inky's mistaken attribute to Elizabeth Spiers. Glad I keep up with what's going on in NYC. And don't pick on Jen Chung for typos--she's putting the news out there as fast as possible for our benefit! See Sacramento Bee Weintraub link for editing blogs policy.
Thanks, soyviz; I actually got the PI mistake from Choire on Gawker. I just think that's funny, now that Gawker took away the About page, people don't know who is editing it.
You're right, time is better spent nagging about factual errors.
Best,
Jack Valenti, executive technical president
Amerikan Academy of Cinema Authoritarians
This Oscar DVD screeners issue in the name of piracy is bogus.
It would be so easy to watermark these discs to track-back the leak or mandate that the studios use disintegratable layers technology on special discs for one-time viewing.
There are only a finite number of Academy members who cover the Oscar race.
It'll be rewarding to see MPAA members jump ship following this completely technologically out-of-touch decision.
Miramax will break ranks and the rest will follow, just watch.
Ah, Philadelphia's a bad joke for a town---the people are very set in their ways, and the government is always 40 years too late with ideas.
Crack in 1985 pretty much did in any chance for a lot of the stable working-class neighborhoods to hold on to anything.
They make fun of when people ask where Fourteenth Street is, so it's fair to hit them for not knowing who writes Gawker.