[Fmpro] A newbie comment

[Nicholas Pavkovic]

And perhaps an oblique answer to Les' question about why the young- 
bloods don't seem so concerned about lost performance royalties.

1) I write mostly for festival films or projects that go direct to  
DVD. Substantial PRO checks sound as delightful and improbable as  
winning the lottery.

2) Nothing I've read on this list would lead me to believe that the  
PROs will change much before...

3) their demise. It appears that the prevailing ethos is that any non- 
live music should be free. Judging from YouTube, the same will be  
true for moving images. As long as movies have "live" performances,  
i.e., in theaters, it seems that there will be some piece of the pie  
for film composers -- and that would be a front end fee, of course.

A good friend of mine was recently let go from a long-time staff  
writing position at the Village Voice. Recall that the Voice used to  
be a newspaper that one purchased at the newsstand -- before everyone  
decided that no one should have to pay for a city paper. She's now  
working freelance for another free paper in New York. 60 years after  
Citizen Kane: This publication has only a few paid staff positions;  
freelance writers aren't receiving a living wage; all the major  
positions in the company are held (part-time) by academics or the  
independently wealthy. Sic transit media.

Cheers,
Nick

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Nicholas Pavkovic
http://www.myspace.com/nicholaspavkovic
626. 644. 8844. voice
206. 333. 1493. fax