[Fmpro] a new world odor...

[Mark McKee]

1.  In American public schools basic music appreciation was eliminated almost 20 years ago.  How does this affect what actually happens when this new audience hears carefully composed music?

2.  The newest generation of American film makers are also products of this system.  With few notable exceptions, visual artists as a group, have historically been developmentally disabled as far as music goes.  So you've got directors, the studios and the audience, who are actually physically incapable of appreciating anything you are doing.

3.  And as for Peter Jackson...jeez...I finally saw Kong and it was as bad as I predicted, on every level.  The guy is not a filmmaker, he's a glorified manager of special effects.  He claimed to understand LOTR for example, then cuts out the most important character in the trilogy, Tom Bombadil, who laughs at the ring, and makes it disappear, explaining that he is the master of nothing, and nothing is the master of him.  How can anyone take Peter Jackson seriously, when he doesn't even have a clue about his own medium?  Good luck working with a guy like that.

4.  As for teaching PROs a lesson by trying to show them what there products would be like without great artistic composers,  see points 1 - 3 above, and good luck with that.  As far as getting mechanicals, uh...wouldn't you need an actual guild as opposed to a PRO?  Has anyone seen a union formed recently?  Does anyone remember what it takes to actually form a union?  In other words who among us would like the job of breaking John Williams' kneecaps with a tire iron?  Not me.

I take great solace in what is happening now to the major music labels.  They are getting what they deserve.  I believe this new internet paradigm will actually be the salvation of serious composers, who someday will be able to reach that narrow band of listeners that have some appreciation for monumental works that you create.  Here's to You Tube and direct licensing.  Here's to making our own game.

 Mark McKee
Multimedia Development Specialist
Course Development Group
New Media & Extended Learning
The University of New Mexico
505-277-0691

"We are a nation of laws, poorly written and randomly enforced."
Frank Zappa - American Composer