The Film Industry Has a New Definition of PR

Variety editorial director/longtime man-about-town Peter Bart has a problem with Hollywood’s new communications strategy.

What, you didn’t realize that the major studios were conspiring to neuter the press?

Here’s the gist of Bart’s complaint:

In short, the faces populating a new crop of chief executives at top studios apparently share a common goal: keeping media relations as dull and buddy-buddy as possible.

In Bart’s words:

“Maintain an aura of Corporate Calm whatever the circumstances, avoid all public appearances unless they’re carefully scripted and stay aloof from the press.”

This