Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Irving Ravetch, 1920-2010.

Irving Ravetch was a screenwriter who wrote some pretty good movies. Including "The Long Hot Summer," "Norma Rae" and "Hud." His obituary appeared in this morning's New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/movies/21ravetch.html?_r=1&hpw

Bruce Weber wrote the obituary and I've noticed that over the years, Weber can get to the marrow of a man with a short quotation. Here's the quotation with which he ends Ravetch's obit:

“Movies can’t correct human injustice all by themselves, but they can show it, they can touch you while showing it, and they can seed ideas and wake up dormant minds...For a medium that began — pretty much in my early childhood — as a few flickering images on a nickelodeon machine, that’s pretty powerful stuff.”

As my agency struggles to believe in the power of television, I think about these words. "They can touch you..." "seed ideas and wake up dormant minds."

I'm all for any sort of medium that works.

I prefer the ones that work best.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The power of television" Not what it was, nor will it ever be again. Will there still be storytelling, brand building et al? Yes, but not on the back of a 30. Its a dying rhino geo, whether we like it or not.

You have kids. They relate to tv in a whole different way. Its just not that important.

Digital has changed everything.

FIlm too in time.
Pytka eat yr heart out

teo

george tannenbaum said...

Ah, Teo, of course you're right. But TV viewership is at an all time high.

To paraphrase and bastardize Twain: "Reports of TV's death are greatly exaggerated."

Anonymous said...

I've never met a person who has clicked on a banner ad.

Anonymous said...

I've never met a person who has clicked on a banner ad.

Anonymous said...

I've never met a person who has clicked on a banner ad.

Anonymous said...

Viewership of reality tv, dancing with the stars and such. Doubtful that commercials have the resonance and sticking power they once had. As for Anon, no one is making the case for banner ads. You post as if you're an angry Guild member.

Increasingly its about social media. Whether we like it, subscribe to it or not: Everyone under 25 does.

Teo