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Psychotic Reactions
-- John Shea
4 June, 2003
As expected, the FCC went ahead with its proposed changes to rules regarding ownership of media outlets. I spoke about this in an earlier column but I'll do so again because the implications of this action are huge. The new rules allow companies to own multiple TV stations and newspapers in the same area. That means that where ever you live, one company can gobble up a high percentage of the media in that area. In doing so they become capable of severely shaping coverage of any item in the news to fit the agenda of that company. Not only are these changes likely to bring about a considerable drop in entertainment quality, they are likely to curtail freedom of press.
Let's consider who is behind the big push for these changes. Former FCC chairman Richard Wiley is the lawyer leading the charge. Interestingly, as FCC chairman, Mr. Wiley put into place the very rules he has now helped weaken. Why the change of heart? Well Wiley claims that he just knows better now. "The world has demonstrably changed since then," he said in a recent interview with the New York Times. "I think my earlier handiwork is outmoded. It was a good rule for 1975. We were concerned at the time that newspapers would dominate television, which people forget had only really been created 20 years or so earlier. It's almost been 30 years later and many things are different."
Some might say he merely hopes to profit fromt the changes. Listed amongst his firm's clients are Viacom, AOL Time Warner, all four of the regional Bell telephone companies and a number of cellphone operators, major newspaper chains, broadcast affiliates and equipment manufacturers, including Zenith and Motorola. Does that sound like someone with the best interests of society in mind, or someone trying to help big corporations make even more money? Critics accuse him of having severe conflicts of interest. In fact, in 1998, a Utah jury fined him $150,000 in a malpractice suit for violating conflict of interest rules. The ruling was eventually overturned on technicalities by the Utah Supreme Court and was eventually settled out of court. In overturning the case though, the Utah Supreme Court pointed out that Mr. Wiley had been approached by another lawyer at his firm, pointing out the obvious conflicts of interest. Mr. Wiley's response? "Think of the fees."
In many ways, Mr. Wiley is one of Washington's biggest influence peddlers in the telecommunications industry. He headed up President Bush's transitional team on telecommunications. His law firm Wiley, Rein has supplied more lawyers to important positions in the FCC than any other firm. He personally recommended current FCC chairman Kevin Martin for the post to President Bush. Furthermore, many of Wiley, Rein's lawyers were recruited from the FCC. Clearly he is highly connected in Washington.
Despite the less than savory individual behind the push, there is hope yet for the rule changes to be struck down. FCC chairman Martin still has to appear before the Senate Commerce Committee with the new rules and it is expected to be a rough meeting. Several Senators on the committe are openly hostile to the changes. One of those committee members, Senator Stevens, is also the chairman on the Appropriations Committee. The stubborn senator could force legislation revoking the changes by tacking something on to a spending bill. Or he could simply hold up the FCC's own funding until they meet to reconsider the changes. This is going to be a big fight so stay tuned.
What's most interesting to me is where people fall on the changes. The vote by the FCC was 3-2 and was strictly a party line vote, with Republicans voting for the changes. Yet the rather conservative National Rifle Association produced 750,000 letters of protest from its members. Big name Republican senators have complained as well.
No Seriously
Spike Lee is suing Viacom over its intent to change the name of the cable channel TNN to Spike TV. Lee filed for an injunction insisting that he never gave his consent for use of the name. "The media description of this change of name, as well as comments made to me and my wife, confirmed what was obvious - that Spike TV referred to Spike Lee," according to Lee's filing. A judge has asked Viacom to explain why it should be allowed to use the name. Considering the tiny number of people that turned out for Lee's last film, The 25th Hour, you would think he'd be delighted to have some actual exposure to his name.
News
Resident Evil 2/ Ultraviolet: Sony Screen Gems has cast Milla Jovovich (5th Element, Resident Evil) in two sci-fi films. The first is the Alexander Witt-directed Resident Evil 2. After that she will follow up by playing the title character in Ultraviolet, a futuristic vampire film that will shoot in Shanghai in December. Kurt Wimmer("Equilibrium") wrote the script and will direct. Jovovich plays a tough young woman who finds herself the protector of a 9-year-old boy targeted for death. The film takes place during a late 21st century civil war between humans and a subculture of vampires. Jovovich plays one of the vampires. Wimmer wrote the script specifically for Jovovich after watching her work in Resident Evil. Lucas Foster is producing. (Variety)
Blade 3: New Line has given the go ahead for a second sequel to the vampire flick Blade. David Goyer, who wrote the scripts for the first two films will again be writing the script but will this time also direct. This time around the vampire hybrid Blade will have to prevent an apocalyptic event that could put the whole planet under vampire control. I'm not usually a big fan of sequels but this one I'm looking forward to. So far both Blade films have far exceeded my expectations. I'm always up for more of that from films. (Variety)
Assault on Precinct 13: Focus Features is planning a remake of John Carpenter's early film Assault on Precinct 13. James DeMonaco (The Negotiator) is writing the script. No director or stars have yet been attached to the project. "Just as John Carpenter refashioned a Western shootout into an inner-city siege, James is now reimagining the essential crime thriller elements of a showdown," Focus co-presidents David Linde and James Schamus said. "We want to carry this storytelling torch into the 21st century. "The new version transports the story to the present day, in a police precinct made obsolete by the industrialization of its surroundings. Assault on Precinct 13 is a favorite of film buffs and action fans worldwide -- and this remake will be smart, fast and fun." We can only hope so. (Variety)
Risk Addiction: Lee Tamahori (Die Another Day) will be taking on the task of developing and directing Risk Addiction. The project was originally intended as a sequel to the sexual thriller Basic Instinct but is now considered a stand alone film. The role of photographer that the film centers on was to be the Sharon Stone character but that was changed after the actress departed the project two years ago. "We always thought it was a great script and a great sexually charged thriller that could stand on its own without the Basic Instinct name, so [now] it's not going to be a sequel," said MGM vice chairman Chris McGurk. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Deathlok: In continuing Lee Tamahori news, FilmForce is reporting that he is the favorite to direct a film based on the Marvel comicbook character Deathlok. Stu Zickerman and Raven Mentzner have written the script. The comic was about a man badly injured and then unwillingly used as a test case for creating cyborg soldiers.
Casting Couch
The Aviator: Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Adam Scott, Keli Garner and singer Gwen Stefani have all been signed to join the cast of Martin Scorsese's next film The Aviator. Blanchett will play Katherine Hepburn. Beckinsale will play Ava Gardner. Scott plays Howard Hughes' press agent Johnny Meyer. Garner will play young actres Faith Domergue and Stefani will play Jean Harlow. Shooting starts next month. (Variety)
Pics
Troy: A shot of Brad Pitt in costume can be found here from the Daily Star.
King Arthur: You can find some shots from the set of King Arthur here. The movie is attempting to tell the Arthurian legend from a historically accurate viewpoint.
Trailers
Radio:
Mystic River:
Date Changes:
Gigli: The Jennifer Lopez/Ben Affleck crime comedy has moved to Wednesday September 30, 2003.
The Medallion has moved to 8/22/03.
Reviews
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