Wednesday, May 5. 1976
Critics critiqued
From page one
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The announcement I had received from the studio had stated that Dino DeLaurentis would be available for interviews, but he wasn't listed on the schedule. The runner for the race was wooing Ingar Bergman for a multi-picture contract. It turned out to be true.
By the time the buses arrived to transport us to the screening, there were several well-lubricated editors. I soon discovered, too, that the reporters from this practice for the sober reporters.
BEFORE THE SHOW it was announced that the print we were about to view as a "first light" copy, which meant that it wasn't color corrected. Furthermore, the soundtrack Kansas was only temporary. I had come Kansas to see a semi-completed movie.
The group of reporters and reviewers with which I saw "Buffalo Bill and the Indians" was one of the worst audiences it has ever been my misfortune to sit with. They talked loudly during the film, smoked excessively and were generally inconsiderate
The advantage of the hospitality suite was that several of the most obnoxious of these persons fell asleep shortly after the lights went down in the theatre. Small wonder that none of the major critics had been asked to share the room with us barbarians.
After the film was over, though, everyone was sufficiently composed to begin playing the complex "Critic's Game" with the men from the studio. The rulls of the game are quite simple: don't let any of the P.R. staff know your feelings about the film.
BEFORE THE SCREENING the publicity agents are the power brokers; afterwards, the critics hold the upper hand. Suddenly, the U.A. agents are all nervous and willing to do anything to accommodate their guests. A skilled player may hope to get an eyefacility if he can convince the right agents that he hasn't made up his mind about the film.
This strikes me as essentially false. There wasn't a person who watched the film who hadn't formed his opinion before the house lights came up, and only the most overtly corrupt crit would shift his review more than a few degrees in exchange for these awards. Nonetheless, Dave, Bill and Kay, a novice from Ann Arbor, set off on this gambit.
HE WAS GIVING a demonstration in how to steal ashtrays from restaurants. Before he got back to the hotel the next morning, he'd accumulated 18 ashtrays from five different restaurants those that gave to admiring bystanders and walked back to the hotel and read a book.
The bus took us to dinner at one of New York's more famous restaurants. There, reviewers attempted to discuss the film in general terms that wouldn't reveal anything to their listeners. I gave up and watched Sam.
By morning I was ready for another onslaught of bad behavior. Instead, I had an agreeable breakfast with Linda, a pleasant "Amusement Editor" for a paper in Colorado Springs. She told me stories about the location shooting for that Brandon film
By the time of the interview, though, those who had been out until 5:30 that morning, began to filter into the room. I excused myself and went into an empty room on the same floor to get a few moments of quiet.
the U.S. people had been so eager to mention the day before.
A MINUTE OR TWO later, a man entered through another door. "Just give me a minute alone," he whispered to the person on the other side of the door. Then he came over and sat down in the large, padded chair next to mine.
He evidently noticed the packet of press material on the floor beside me. "Don't tell us where."
In truth, I was afraid that he'd attract attention and ruin my repose. We talked for a moment about Reagan's win in Texas the year before. He asked me if I prised to find out that he was no taller than I, but I said nothing. He's probably known what it means that he isn't 40 feet tall in real life.
It was Paul Newman.
Lengthy Senate session may be necessary tonight
I watched as he slung his sunglasses so that they hung from one ear and dangled comically below his skin. "I do this so they can be seen," he explained with a laugh. Then he was gone.
Student senators apparently are in for a marathon Senate meeting 6:30 tonight in the Capitol.
Twenty pieces of legislation are on the agenda, but Juli Anderson, StudEx chairman, said yesterday she doubted that all of them could be considered.
That might necessitate a meeting tomorrow night.
Among the pieces of legislation is a bill that would allocate $4,500 for the women's field.
Four other bills involve additional funes to student organizations next year. If the bills are passed, Black Tects would receive an additional $613; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; $233; American Society of Civil Engineers; $155; American Society of Civil Engineers.
Also to be considered is a bill that would eliminate four Senate seats now held by the presidents of the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Association, the association of University Residence Halls and the All-Scholarship Hall Council.
On another bill that will probably be voted on
one which would create an office of STAFFS.
A BIT DAZED. I walked into the interview room. It was another five minutes to leave and he worked to work his way to the podium 30 feet back. Robert Altman walked in just behind me and had no better luck than Newman. In the commotion, I got to one of the best seats in
Culture series closes with play of Kiowa legend
"Saydayn is Coming Along," a dramatization of Kiwai Indian legend, will be performed at 7:30 tonight at the KU Museum of Natural History.
This is the last of the museum's Wednesday evening programs on Indian
According to Ruth Gennerick, director of public education at the KU museums, the play is a series of short vignettes about teenagers who were a long-awaited aaw legend, was the first person on earth.
The play was written by Matthew Jones,
Derby junior, who also appears in the play.
The press conference was a disaster. The questions were generally dull, and far below those asked by students in audiences at the University of Kansas. The topper was the university's old editor from someplace in Connecticut for Paul Newman's autograph.
At the conclusion of the meeting, which Altman and Newman wisely cut off early by bringing in the actor who plays Grover Cleveland in 'Buffalo Bill' to stage a mock press conference, I began to wonder why this strange practice persevers.
Flying 1,400 miles to see a movie is ridiculous. However, there's no other way for most journalists to reach major movie personalities. But if that's the reason for these junkets, why do the studios go to so much excess trouble?
MOST OF THE more experienced publicity people must realize the futility of their scheming, but they do it to look right. One staffer, an older man whose territory was private, told me, "It's not the same as it was 20 years ago. Then, it seemed like nobody listened to critics, but we coursed them like royal whores. Now they're more influential, and it seems like we do much less." He didn't get obvious irony of his own statement.
I savored the thought of pointing it out to him for a moment, then decided against it. Not now. He didn't.
University Daily Kansan
Mike Davis, University general counsel, said Monday the OCR committee had to make reports on three other schools before finishing the KU report.
Discrimination report delayed by federal team
University of Kansas officials are not expecting to receive a U.S. Office of Civil Rights (OCR) investigative report compiled at KU for two or three months.
by two black former KU students who said James Rosso, a black, was discriminated against in his application for the position of vice chancellor for academic affairs.
The other complaint alleged violation of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination because of nationality or race. The third complaint alleged sex discrimination against a female student denied admission to the law school.
OCR investigated three complaints against KU. One of the complaints was filed
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