Be heard with The Reminder’s Speak OutDate: 3/3/2016 In an effort to further engage our readers, we are introducing a new feature in all of our editions starting as soon as possible. We call it “Speak Out.”
At first glance, you may say it looks a lot like the predominant feature of MassLive – the anonymous comments from readers. There will be a substantial difference, though.
“Speak Out” will be a forum for readers who wish to comment on something, almost anything, but do not wish to put together a letter to the editor. You don’t have to respond to a story, for example. In this Twitter and social media world, many people wish to express their opinion, but find the process of writing letter to an editor daunting.
“With Speak Out,” we’ve streamlined that process. Go to www.thereminder.com and follow the link. After a brief registration requirement, you can submit your comments on just about anything that concerns you.
Yes, you will have anonymity.
There are some rules, though. In my role of managing editor I will not allow libel, profanity, or racism on our printed or the web pages. You want to criticize something, that’s great. Have a problem with an elected official? Don’t we all? Express yourself, but do it in a way that doesn’t appeal to the lowest common denominator.
By the way, we won’t be Yelp and comments either positive or negative about businesses won’t be published.
Will letters to the editor still be accepted? Yes they will and I will make every effort to print them as I do now.
For me there is an element of nostalgia in this new feature. I spent five years and about 10,000 hours before a microphone as a radio talk show host in this market. I’ve always been flattered when people recall my time on air.
In some ways this is like talk radio. People can express opinions without identification. I doubt I will be in the habit of writing responses – unlike talk radio – unless someone directly asks me a question.
And while there will always be space issues, the advantage here is that I won’t cut a call short to go to commercials.
Sign up today and start expressing yourself.
How to change Hollywood and it won’t be easy
Since high school I’ve been watching the Oscars and using the award show – which at its better moments calls attention to films worth seeing and is more typically just ballyhoo – for political and social expression is nothing new.
I do think that Chris Rock’s take on the latest controversy – a second year in a row in which no African-American actors were nominated for performances – was on target.
The Oscars is a partial reflection of the film industry – a business more and more reliant on the blockbuster. With any large business endeavor the stakes are higher and the people in charge prefer taking as few risks as possible.
This attitude ultimately involves using a fairly small pool of performers and filmmakers who have a positive track record at the box office.
In years past there was plenty of room in theaters for lower budgeted productions in which minority performers and filmmakers had the opportunity to hone their art and build an audience. The economics of the film business have changed and frankly although there are plenty of modestly budgeted films, they are not receiving widespread theatrical release.
With the demise of video stores, they are not even getting the attention of people renting films. In an on-demand streaming world, how do people even find new films of which they may know relatively little?
So if you’re talented African-American, Latino or Asian actor or filmmaker how do you get the chance to prove yourself? Through stereotypical roles or films?
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is barely equipped these days to influence the corporate filmmaking world. These are not the days when people who ran the studios owned them or partially owned them.
What’s the solution? Studios should take chances by producing solid films with a variety of talent that aren’t $100 million blockbusters. There are plenty of examples of this approach that have made considerable profits.
The only way to change the mindset in Hollywood is to change the economic model.
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