ONCE UPON A MURDER
^ The cast
^Prince Charming with Cinderella's Step-Sister
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Copyright and Piracy
So after our (for now) win against SOPA and PIPA, my interest in copyright and piracy laws has exploded. I've been watching youtube clips of what is fair-use of copyrighted material and what is means to hold a copyright and i've come to the conclusion that this system sucks. Why is it that something that was created by a person, who then created a company around the original idea, can keep making money on the idea long after they are dead?
As a director of plays, i frequently want to use stories for the stage that i can't, because i can't afford a license on a copyrighted story for an author who has been dead for 20+ years. So instead of creating an awesome new play based on an Agatha Christie book, i'll just not do it. I might think about writing my own stuff, but i won't because i'm afraid i lack the skills to do it. Does this generate more money for the copyright holder? no. Does it create more content for public consumption? no. It stifles the little bits of creativity that was already there.
Which brings me to piracy. The big uproar about the horrors of piracy centre around the idea that if the content (movies, tv, or music) wasn't available for free on the internet, the user would buy these things from the company. Well this just isn't true. I will use myself as an example.
Assuming there was no free content available online: If there was a movie that i was moderately interested in, i probably wouldn't bother going to see it in the cinema because there are lots of movies i'm only moderately interested in seeing. (If i saw every movie that i was only a little interested in, i'd lose a lot of money and waist a lot of time.) After a few months there wouldn't be advertisements on tv about the moevie and it would eventually move to the movie rental shelves. If i went to the rental shops, i might see it and think 'ok, i'll have a look'....but chances are, i wouldn't go because i'm the kind of person who LOVES my own movies. If i own it, i love it and watch it again and again. So i could watch something i already LOVE or i could possibly waist 2 hours on something that is probably not that great. i'll pick my love every time. When i finally saw the same movie in the discount bin at Big W, i'd think about buying it...but i wouldn't because i couldn't be sure i liked it enough to buy it. My budget is a bit flexible, but i don't want to spend even $5 on something i'm not sure about. So in the end the entertainment industry would lose out on my $$.
However, with piracy, if there is a movie that i'm moderately interested in, it doesn't cost me to check it out. I don't feel like i'm obliged to sit through it all because i paid for this. I can skip thru it or watch every second. If i love it, i put it on my "must buy" list. Then when i see it at the store, i'm more likely to buy it, even if it isn't discounted; because i like it!
The thing that the entertainment industry doesn't seem to understand is that people will pay for things they like. The don't like to pay for being jerked around and treated like a thief AFTER they buy their products. I think it is time that the industry did some research on how much money they make because of piracy, instead of complaining about how much they 'lost'. I know they've made at least $400 off me. (want more proof? click here)
And i'm not the only one who is starting to question our willingness to let the entertainment industry bully their consumers around. In Europe, the Greens party has announced they are backing a plan to change copyright laws and legalise file-sharing (click here to see the article). The other political party to take note of is the Pirate Party, who are gaining support all over the world.
It really is time to update our laws to reflect lifestyle and to stop the bullies.
As a director of plays, i frequently want to use stories for the stage that i can't, because i can't afford a license on a copyrighted story for an author who has been dead for 20+ years. So instead of creating an awesome new play based on an Agatha Christie book, i'll just not do it. I might think about writing my own stuff, but i won't because i'm afraid i lack the skills to do it. Does this generate more money for the copyright holder? no. Does it create more content for public consumption? no. It stifles the little bits of creativity that was already there.
Which brings me to piracy. The big uproar about the horrors of piracy centre around the idea that if the content (movies, tv, or music) wasn't available for free on the internet, the user would buy these things from the company. Well this just isn't true. I will use myself as an example.
Assuming there was no free content available online: If there was a movie that i was moderately interested in, i probably wouldn't bother going to see it in the cinema because there are lots of movies i'm only moderately interested in seeing. (If i saw every movie that i was only a little interested in, i'd lose a lot of money and waist a lot of time.) After a few months there wouldn't be advertisements on tv about the moevie and it would eventually move to the movie rental shelves. If i went to the rental shops, i might see it and think 'ok, i'll have a look'....but chances are, i wouldn't go because i'm the kind of person who LOVES my own movies. If i own it, i love it and watch it again and again. So i could watch something i already LOVE or i could possibly waist 2 hours on something that is probably not that great. i'll pick my love every time. When i finally saw the same movie in the discount bin at Big W, i'd think about buying it...but i wouldn't because i couldn't be sure i liked it enough to buy it. My budget is a bit flexible, but i don't want to spend even $5 on something i'm not sure about. So in the end the entertainment industry would lose out on my $$.
However, with piracy, if there is a movie that i'm moderately interested in, it doesn't cost me to check it out. I don't feel like i'm obliged to sit through it all because i paid for this. I can skip thru it or watch every second. If i love it, i put it on my "must buy" list. Then when i see it at the store, i'm more likely to buy it, even if it isn't discounted; because i like it!
The thing that the entertainment industry doesn't seem to understand is that people will pay for things they like. The don't like to pay for being jerked around and treated like a thief AFTER they buy their products. I think it is time that the industry did some research on how much money they make because of piracy, instead of complaining about how much they 'lost'. I know they've made at least $400 off me. (want more proof? click here)
And i'm not the only one who is starting to question our willingness to let the entertainment industry bully their consumers around. In Europe, the Greens party has announced they are backing a plan to change copyright laws and legalise file-sharing (click here to see the article). The other political party to take note of is the Pirate Party, who are gaining support all over the world.
It really is time to update our laws to reflect lifestyle and to stop the bullies.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
rambling meandering
This weekend marks my 10 years high school reunion. I can hardly believe how quickly time has flown! I could wax lyrical about how 'it feels like only yesterday'...but the truth is, high school seems like a life time ago. Some times i look at pictures of myself at that time and wonder if i even know that girl any more.
I think college was the best thing i could have done for myself. It got me out of home, thinking for myself, and seeing the world. It brought me so much joy and happiness! I completely recommend it to everyone.
The girl i knew in high school was angry and powerless. The girl who graduated college was much calmer and so much more in control of herself and her destiny. Maybe that is how most people feel about their teenage years, angry and powerless. I was just wise enough to surround myself with wonderful people who helped me grow out of that.
and maybe high school me would be a little disappointed that i'm not massively famous or a serious force in theatre (or some thing)...but i think she'd be really glad to know peace was only a few short years away.
I think college was the best thing i could have done for myself. It got me out of home, thinking for myself, and seeing the world. It brought me so much joy and happiness! I completely recommend it to everyone.
The girl i knew in high school was angry and powerless. The girl who graduated college was much calmer and so much more in control of herself and her destiny. Maybe that is how most people feel about their teenage years, angry and powerless. I was just wise enough to surround myself with wonderful people who helped me grow out of that.
and maybe high school me would be a little disappointed that i'm not massively famous or a serious force in theatre (or some thing)...but i think she'd be really glad to know peace was only a few short years away.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
the end of the long ackward pause
Sorry for the lack of posting for like...FOREVER. I do intend to return. While you wait for another post, check out this video of my daughter crawling around with a sock in her mouth...weird....i think she learned this from the dog...
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Joss's response to new Buffy movie
I'm glad you asked for my thoughts on the announcement of Buffy the cinema film. This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths—just because they can't think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my Avengers idea that I made up myself.
Obviously I have strong, mixed emotions about something like this. My first reaction upon hearing who was writing it was, "Whit Stillman AND Wes Anderson? This is gonna be the most sardonically adorable movie EVER." Apparently I was misinformed. Then I thought, "I'll make a mint! This is worth more than all my Toy Story residuals combined!" Apparently I am seldom informed of anything. And possibly a little slow. But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?
I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death. But, you know, AFTER. I don't love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I'm also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was. And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly. I can't wish people who are passionate about my little myth ill. I can, however, take this time to announce that I'm making a Batman movie. Because there's a franchise that truly needs updating. So look for The Dark Knight Rises Way Earlier Than That Other One And Also More Cheaply And In Toronto, rebooting into a theater near you.
Leave me to my pain! Sincerely, Joss Whedon.
Full story here
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
baby scoot
My daughter does the cutest scoot. She hasn't quite got the crawl down, but she'll still chase the dog...it just might take a bit to get there...and she might get distracted by carpet.
waffling...
A few years ago it felt like all my friends were getting married. This year, it feels like they are all having babies. In a few more years i'm sure it will feel like they're all getting divorced. But the truth is they aren't "all" doing anything.
It seems that all it takes is for more than 2 people to do something in the same year and i'm suddenly 'swamped with friends who are [insert mile stone here]'. This year i've got a few friends who are having children. I also have friends who just gotten married, friends who have just started their careers, friends who are purchasing a house...Everything doesn't happen to all my friends all at once.
I need to remind myself of this a few times a day so i don't disregard or ignore the mile stones many of my friends are making that i am not currently making. Because (as my mother taught me) no one has to live their life just like you do.
It seems that all it takes is for more than 2 people to do something in the same year and i'm suddenly 'swamped with friends who are [insert mile stone here]'. This year i've got a few friends who are having children. I also have friends who just gotten married, friends who have just started their careers, friends who are purchasing a house...Everything doesn't happen to all my friends all at once.
I need to remind myself of this a few times a day so i don't disregard or ignore the mile stones many of my friends are making that i am not currently making. Because (as my mother taught me) no one has to live their life just like you do.
Monday, October 04, 2010
soap box: immigration
i hate the way illegal immigrants are treated. For some reason every country seems to think that lurking just outside their borders are hordes of people who want nothing more than to take the jobs of the countries citizens, rob the tax payers blind, and sit around and laugh at how easy they have it in their new 'gullible' country.
This isn't true. No one leaves their home country, travels in secrecy to another country then sits back and thinks "wow, that was easy!". Changing countries is expensive and gut-wrenchingly difficult; even if you do so legally.
Emotionally you must leave family, friends, and places you love behind. You leave favourite foods, music, and cultural events behind. You strip yourself of everything you have and prepare yourself for the biggest fight of your life.
To travel to another country is expensive. Flights, accommodation, and visas can cut a huge hole in your annual budget. If you want to stay in a new country, you can easily double your expenses, because your new country is going to have a huge stack of paper work for you to go through and in your new country, each sheet of paper can cost upwards of $100 per page.
So why would anyone choose to leave behind themselves and embark on such a journey? How about reasons of personal safety? What about reasons of religious freedom? Maybe the idea that THIS country will be more tolerate, less filled with hate? Maybe this country will provide resources so their children won't have to starve to death.
It saddens me that countries are so willing to treat those who are desprate as criminals. My heart aches even more when those leading the call to "secure our borders" are Christians who push Christian ideology. They go to church and listen to sermons called 'turning the other cheek' and 'what would Jesus do?'. Yet they can not practice these concepts are the needyist of the needy. Perhaps churches could solve the issue by focusing on less 'practical' concepts of faith, like prophecy.
Immigration is hard. Illegal immigration is an act of desperation...
This isn't true. No one leaves their home country, travels in secrecy to another country then sits back and thinks "wow, that was easy!". Changing countries is expensive and gut-wrenchingly difficult; even if you do so legally.
Emotionally you must leave family, friends, and places you love behind. You leave favourite foods, music, and cultural events behind. You strip yourself of everything you have and prepare yourself for the biggest fight of your life.
To travel to another country is expensive. Flights, accommodation, and visas can cut a huge hole in your annual budget. If you want to stay in a new country, you can easily double your expenses, because your new country is going to have a huge stack of paper work for you to go through and in your new country, each sheet of paper can cost upwards of $100 per page.
So why would anyone choose to leave behind themselves and embark on such a journey? How about reasons of personal safety? What about reasons of religious freedom? Maybe the idea that THIS country will be more tolerate, less filled with hate? Maybe this country will provide resources so their children won't have to starve to death.
It saddens me that countries are so willing to treat those who are desprate as criminals. My heart aches even more when those leading the call to "secure our borders" are Christians who push Christian ideology. They go to church and listen to sermons called 'turning the other cheek' and 'what would Jesus do?'. Yet they can not practice these concepts are the needyist of the needy. Perhaps churches could solve the issue by focusing on less 'practical' concepts of faith, like prophecy.
Immigration is hard. Illegal immigration is an act of desperation...
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