On the DEWLine 2.0: Dwight Williams

That blog is now on hiatus. Details here:

https://www.artofthetitle.com/news/editors-note-2024/

Also, their syndicated feed to Dreamwidth has now been taken by what looks like a Vietnamese footwear company...?

Sorry for not noticing until just now. I missed this for six months!

What do you think of the idea of reviving intermissions at cinemas?
Someone on Twitter brought up the subject, so...

Details here:

https://apt613.ca/the-bytowne-cinema-welcomes-patrons-back-to-the-theatre/

My comments, here as there: congratulations, good luck and screen safely!

(Interesting sidebar: today on Spark on CBC Radio, the topic of discussion is the lens, and how that technology has affected humanity across the centuries...)

I went to see Black Widow at the cinema last night, finally, because reasons of mental health. I masked up, sanitized as best I could remember to do, and as preparation for that, finally set up a Cineplex account for myself.

The show was pretty much what I expected to see. Natasha still died on Vormir in an alternative universe to save the universe she originated in, and we're not getting any revivals here. The Johansson v. Disney lawsuit over the hybrid release via Disney+ has seen to that, if nothing else has. (Disney HQ just had to pick that particular fight, didn't they?)

So, I got my money and time's worth. I will recommend the movie to anyone interested. I still left the theatre on a sad note, because of the above-noted factors, but that's not the fault of the story told in the movie.

If you want a living Natasha working with Yelena on a continuing basis? Go read the comics series currently being published, written by Kelly Thompson, illustrated by Elena Casagrande most issues, with covers usually by Adam Hughes. Strongly recommended.

Searching and researching resumed this morning.

Although, to be honest, the job alerts I've subscribed to via Indeed, Jobilico, Workopolis and the Canadian federal job bank never stop, not even on statutory holidays. So I find myself spending at least an hour a day on weekends and holidays looking at those alone, no matter if I click on any links or not.

I went down to the ByWard Market on Sunday. It's been over a month since my last visit, and I worried that Globe Mags and Cigars and Mags Plus were both finally defunct. I am pleased to report that the first of these is still in business selling newspapers, magazines, and (not so pleased to say the same about) assorted smokeables and related gear. Google Maps tells me Mags Plus on Rideau Street - about a block or so east of ByTowne Cinema - is still active, and I wasn't about to push my luck by personally confirming that as well.

I was amused by the displays currently active at the LEGO Store at the Rideau Centre: the Disney Castle, a replica of a classic Adidas running shoe(!), the apartments of Friends, and a four-story Marvel-authorized Daily Bugle playset, with twenty-five figures of assorted Marvel characters. Both Spider-Men, Parker and Morales. "Spider-Gwen" AKA Ghost-Spider from Earth-65. Daredevil. Firestar. Even Spider-Ham! Venom, Carnage, Doctor Octopus (Otto, not Carolyn), Sandman, "Green Goblin" Osborn, and a few others. Probably runs to C$500 to take that one home, and Marvel fan though I am, I am not that fanatic nor anywhere near that wealthy.

Still waiting for the advisory to go to the pharmacy to get dose # 2. I'm on their e-mail list for this, so that notice should be soon. Perhaps before the end of the week?

Have received word from Lloyd Penney that there will be physical and online components to "Third Monday" tonight, the latter for those of us unable/unwilling to visit Orwell's in Toronto in person. This is good news, I think.

Hoping to see Black Widow next week, finances and health/safety rules permitting. I do continue to read the current ongoing comics series that inspired the movie. Both Natasha and Yelena are core cast members in the comic book series, which is currently set in San Francisco. You should be able to just drop in on the story arc in progress without too much trouble.

More as it occurs to me.

This is as much a statement of opinion as a pulling-together of what facts I know. I want to believe that the announcement is premature. Therefore, I've written this to see if I can help make it become so.



Today, Bruce White, owner of the Bytowne Cinema, announced that he was closing it down effect New Year's Eve, 2020. For myself, I found out via Twitter from "NotBruce" who runs the Cinema's Twitter account, like just about many others who knew to care.

As Mr. Whyte explained, the Pandemic's knocked the stuffings out of the Bytowne's finances and business model. We can and will leave it to other threads here, on Twitter, Facebook, and elsewhere across the Web to better explain or debate the reasons why the Pandemic stretched out as it has.

My first visit would've been back in the winter of 1986-'87, to see Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. I think I saw it with my brother, but I can't be sure at the moment. It would have been operating as the Nelson Theatre back then. Since the change of name and management in 1988, I've been to see several other movies there across the decades. The ones I can remember with certainty include:

• Good Night, and Good Luck
• In the Shadow of the Moon
• Inside Job
• The Way
• Particle Fever
• The Death of Stalin
• Dark Waters

(Possibly Akira in 1990 as well, because of the Animation Festival that year, and Algonquin Animation students got passes to that. Whether that was for volunteer work or as a benefit of attending Animation History class, I'm not sure. I do remember seeing it. Just not sure where right now.)

(And that was a lot of documentaries and docudramas there, right?)

Anyway, I'm getting bogged down in the specifics of what I saw, instead of noting the reactions to it. Like City Councillor Shawn Menard arguing - dare we hope - for some sort of support from Ottawa City Hall via Twitter.

Like former Capital Ward councillor David Chernushenko posting similar sentiments.

Another Ottawa resident suggesting that the Bytowne be reorganized as a co-op.

We also know that Mr. White is looking for a buyer to revive the place post-Pandemic. If any of you know someone with the cash and the will to do this, now would be a good time to send that e-mail or make that phone call.

This place is worth either saving or reviving. And it's not just my thinking here, as you've seen.

I've read the news about this one being delayed to November. If we're all careful and lucky.

I've been looking forward to this one with both hope and dread since Endgame. Dread, mainly because of Endgame. No use in threatening/bribing anyone involved over the quality or lack of it; the thing's in the can and if I live long enough and if I have the money by that point and if the cinema houses are open again, then I'm going to see it. Disney-Marvel can bank on it.

I'd like to get the dread out of this equation. But I'll have to do without that.

To everyone who recommended this movie to me: thank you. As with The Good Liar, I feel a little guilty over having paid less than full first-run fare to see it because discount cinema chain.

To all the people who worked on both sides of the cameras on Knives Out, thank you all! No idea if any of you will read this here, but I'm saying it anyway.

I love reading about this kind of stuff.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/25/from-fake-maps-to-golden-tickets-the-film-props-of-artist-annie-atkins

https://www.theguardian.com/film/gallery/2020/jan/25/props-given-the-film-artworks-of-annie-atkins-in-pictures

https://guardianbookshop.com/fake-love-letters-forged-telegrams-and-prison-escape-maps-9780714879383.html

I think the first I saw of her work was in Uppercase Magazine a couple of years ago...?