The Desperate Optimism of Dan Glickman

The link is to the transcript of the MPAA President's speech at ShoWest. Most of the news stories covering this speech pointed to the lame website that theater owners are supposed to refer their $6./hr ushers to, in order to motivate them to root out viewers with camcorders.

What I think is most amazing about this speech is his announcement that the MPAA is going to do a study on what theater goers want. Actually, that isn't what shocked me. What floored me is that this is the first time this organization has actually done this!

Hello. Film producers have always spent a lot of effort with focus groups. They've so given up on adult viewers that focus groups generally exclude anyone over thirty. Glickman is so out of touch, he points to the sophomoric Wedding Crashers and The 40 Year Old Virgin as being "adult hits". How sad is that?

The former pork promoter, Glickman, whose previous stint was at the Dept. of Agriculture helped me understand why the Academy had to nominate such low-grossing films. The only high grossing films are for kids! And, sorry, the voters just aren't gonna go there. Thanks for having a little pride.