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Diminished Capacity
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson
We are Together
July 9
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August
Eight Miles High
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
July 18
A Very British Gangster
Before I Forget
Felon
Lou Reed's Berlin
Transsiberian
July 22
July 23
Mr. Bullshit
Only a week or so on the job and Disney production chief Oren Aviv has already defined himself as a disciplined dispenser of carefully composed (read: disengenuous) press statements.
First he told N.Y. Times reporter Laura Holson that he was "surprised when Disney chairman Dick Cook asked him...to succeed [Nina] Jacobson" and that he "never asked for [the] job." Now he's telling Slate's Kim Masters that he's ready to look past Mel Gibson's attitudes about Jews. "I've worked with Mel on several films over the years and we have a great relationship, " he said. "We all make mistakes and I've accepted his apology to what was a regrettable situation. I wish him the very best on his path to healing."
That's a nice Christian comradely thing to say, and also a necessary thing considering that Disney is stuck with the task of distributing Gibson's Apocalypto, but there's an art to bullshitting the press that Aviv hasn't gotten the hang of yet. You have to try and sound like someone who hasn't rehearsed his quotes ten times over before picking up the phone. Every now and then you have to just blurt something out that sounds tossed-off and what-the-hellish and and 90% true. If you say too many half-true, half-horseshit statements, reporters will get wind of your character sooner or later and then they'll stop listening.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 31, 2006 at 02:27 PM
comment #1
concerned reader says ...
Jeffrey, go for a jog or hit a punching bag or something. You're festering a lot of negative energy right now. It can't be healthy.
Posted by concerned reader at July 31, 2006 03:46 PM
Posted by Josh Massey at July 31, 2006 05:31 PM
comment #3
Nancy N. says ...
Aviv has jumped the gun, I'd say. He's too anxious to "forgive." Timing is off.
Posted by Nancy N. at July 31, 2006 05:35 PM
comment #4
Sam Jones says ...
Your computer is screwed because there are no italics!
Posted by Sam Jones at August 1, 2006 05:14 AM
comment #5
cadavra says ...
But let's not forget who founded the company.
Thank you! I'm here all week!
Posted by cadavra at August 1, 2006 04:07 PM
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