----------------------------Original message----------------------------
From: Tony Williams
English
SIUC
A jaded reply to Don. The Museum of the Moving Image represents one of those
jaded BFI attempts to be "with it" at present. It also is a desperate attempt
to gain tourist trade revenue in the light of government cut backs to the
Arts in Britain. If you're into camp presentation, with actors playing 20s
directors, 50s British female moviehouse ticket sellers etc etc (has anybody
ever considered the daily expenditure needed to employ these people?), seeing
the usual fanfare type of presentations, then the Museum of the Moving Image
is definitely for you. On the other hand, exploring film archives and other
historical sites may be more interesting. You may want to read an issue of
SCREEN some years back when Simon Frith took issue with Colin McCabe over
the London lack of support for SCREEN and the present policy of engaging
in mainstream revenue practices (e.g. Jodie Foster and Michelle Pfeiffer
seasons at the BFI as well as other box-office attractions). Forget the
MMI. There are far more important things to see and do. Tony Williams