Unscripted | Charleston City Paper

The latest in net neutrality

John Stoehr — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:57:11 +0000

Kevin Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said last week he would seek “enforcement action” against Comcast Corp. for slowing down internet traffic due to users downloading movies and other media, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “You can’t limit consumers that way,” he told a news conference in Washington, D.C. The announced is seen as the beginning of a precedent to enforcing net neutrality — the notion of unmitigated free flow of digital information on the internet. For months, Comcast has dealt with accusations that it blocks internet traffic to gain a competitive advantage. Comcast admitted earlier this year that it targets people who use BitTorrent, a file-sharing software that consumes massive amounts of internet bandwidth. BitTorrent says its online video streaming is a threat to Comcast’s pay-TV service. The cable company opposes enforcement by the FCC, saying the federal agency is trying to enforce guidelines that do not exist. Consumer advocates, however, claim it’s necessary for the FCC to enforce net neutrality.

PBS synonymous with the ARTS?

John Stoehr — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:53:05 +0000

PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger told the TV Critics Association last week that she wants to bring the arts back to television. She said people with interest in the arts, and those with no access to them, are not being served by the rest of broadcast media, according to a report by the Canwest News Service. PBS will start its arts initiative with a fall performance of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s King Lear, directed by Trevor Nunn and starring Ian McKellen as the deranged old monarch. Soon thereafter, ballet, modern dance, opera, jazz, performance art, theater, and music recitals from various cultures will follow. The initiative, Kerger said, is part of PBS’s effort to remain relevant to contemporary audiences. —Caitlin Baker

Pearl goes national

John Stoehr — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:52:06 +0000

In 1976, Pearl Fryar moved to the all-white town of Bishopville, S.C., and ignored his close-minded white neighbors who thought Pearl, who is black, would fail to keep his yard maintained. According to The Washington Post, after becoming a self-taught topiary artist, Pearl wooed his neighbors with his magnificent backyard. He took unique plants not usually suited for topiaries and sculpted beautiful works of art. To honor his green thumb and his dignity in taking the high road, filmmakers Scott Galloway and Brent Pierson created a documentary called A Man Named Pearl (which screened in Charleston last year but is only now gaining national attention). The directors take a head-on approach to defy prejudice, and their efforts make their finished product both truthful and inspirational. —Caitlin Baker

“Green” video games

John Stoehr — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:52:13 +0000

Everything is going green, including video games. The series of the Sims video games are adding a new branch to their family tree, Sim Animals: Reach Out and Touch the World. The objective is to allow more creative design for players. Gamers will be able to acquire seeds, plant trees, and irrigate them all. Sim Animals is a forest-friendly world for cozy, furry animals. The game is set to release in January 2009 for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS Lite. Sims studio head Rob Humble promises that the game will lack conventional elements. The game will have both mischievous rascals as well as soft creatures. —Caitlin Baker

When kings drop their pants

John Stoehr — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:51:02 +0000

A performance of King Lear by Ian McKellen, 69, caught the attention of Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO, who scheduled it for broadcast this season. The only problem is whether the Federal Communications Commission will penalize PBS for allowing McKellen’s character to shed his clothing along with his sanity. Kerger suggested the play be broadcast on television, because “it’s the kind of thing people should be able to see.” Kerger says she will consider FCC regulations before deciding whether to show the play. —Caitlin Baker

Dude, where’s my 3-D?

John Stoehr — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:50:09 +0000

Journey to the Center of the Earth is poised to be the largest 3-D film release in history, according to The Hollywood Reporter. But Warner Bros. distribution fears the expansion of 3-D is moving at a snail’s pace. Since Beowulf, which aired on 660 3-D screens, only 204 more screens have been installed. Considering that 3-D is the future of movie-going, this fact does not sit well with head honchos at Warner Bros. Journey will still play on approximately 950 screens, including Regal Azalea Square Stadium 16 in Summerville, but that number is drastically lower what was originally expected. One thing’s certain. As rapid as the movie industry is moving, the exhibitioners of 3-D better get the ball rollin’. —Caitlin Baker

Hottie Search

John Stoehr — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:49:16 +0000

The new ABC reality show Great American Beauty is searching for gorgeous men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 to participate in a competition to find the most beautiful person in America. So, if you’ve got striking facial features, long legs, and a six-pack, the casting call will take place at 11 a.m. on July 26 at Mad River Bar and Grill. Participants will have the opportunity to win a hefty cash prize as well as become a reality television star. For more information, contact updyke.brian@gmail.com. —Caitlin Baker

The Future of Humanity

John Stoehr — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:48:10 +0000

Jean-Marie Mauclet and Gwylene Gallimard’s community-based art collaboration that began in 2003 is finally being shown to the public starting Sept. 12 at the Gibbes Museum of Art and on Sept. 13 at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park. The project, called The Future Is on the Table, began five years ago when Mauclet and Gallimard, the owners of Fast & French, handmade 56 three-legged stools painted with a world atlas, and sent them to fellow artists around the globe in hopes of generating conversations about the future of humanity. Special discussions will take place at 4 p.m. on Sept. 13 at the City Gallery and at 1 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the Gibbes. —Caitlin Baker

Mysteries on Folly

John Stoehr — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:46:42 +0000

The Lost Dog Café on Folly Beach is a prominent location in mystery novels The Pier and Folly, which makes it a great place for a book signing. Mystery author Bill Noel will sign copies of and discuss his two literary endeavors on Aug. 5 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The very next day, Noel will be at Bert’s Market from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Noel’s Folly Beach Mystery Series is not yet completed. The debut novel, Folly, was released in 2007 and The Pier was just released in May 2008. —Caitlin Baker

Cellular Alchemy

John Stoehr — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:45:33 +0000

Local painter and sculpture Alex Cox’s Rising Tide Studios will present a collection of his abstract paintings and wall sculptures at Alchemy Coffee this month. Cox visits scrap yards and collects parts from old cotton gins and diesel engines, whose “implied functions” then become the central figure of his sculptures. This series of paintings focuses on cellular, organic shapes, veering away from his typical fish and ocean themes to emphasize the “human connection to all things responding to stimuli.” Cox’s more functional metalwork is visible around town, from the signs at Barton and Burwell outfitters to the Tin Roof. The Alchemy show’s opening occurs July 25 at 7 p.m. (11 Magnolia Road, West Ashley) and will include drinks and music by DJ D-Rock. —Stratton Lawrence