--- "Mandli, Ritu" <Ritu.Mandli@xxxxxxx> wrote: > It's a complex issue. I've only produced one argument from the > countless many, and haven't even done justice to it at that. But > it's hard not to present the black to the white, even if you > believe the truth is somewhere in the gray. I think you are on to something here - as an avid reader of Foreign Affairs magazine (http://www.foreignaffairs.org) I'm always amazed how folks on many a mailing list tend to over-simplify complex issues like global trade down to a "in favor of" or "against it" position. On reading up on the subject over the years one would be amazed on how many issues there are (example: regional trading groups like the EU or NAFTA vs. true global trade agreements like WTO/GATT). Most television doesn't help as it presents the world in a very simple sound bite point of view. Bring it back to being a producer, the issue of economics is a very important one for any medium. So I don't find exploring the topic too off topic unless it goes into rant mode. Other mediums face similar issues - for example in film and television you always face the choice of working with union or non-union talent, or if one should film a shot in NYC or go to Toronto where it's cheaper. I think the web and software industry is no different when it comes to these issues. I think one of the main talents of a good producer is making things happen on a low budget - this is a certain talent. Sure anyone with quite a bit of cash can produce "Gone with the Wind", but my love goes to those productions that are done on a low budget that show imagination. It's that punk rock sensibility (i.e. DIY) that I admire in the medium of the web. Just think of all of those dot.com operations that wasted so much money to produce poor websites while some kid sitting in a basement does a crude but effective (i.e. communicates an idea) on a low budget. By the way if anyone on the list is looking for inspiration you should check out the film "24 Hour Party People" which tells the epic story of on the birth of the music scene in Manchester in the 80's. Perhaps what this industry needs is an Ian Curtis (http://joydivision.homestead.com/) to shake things up. What's impressive is how the music scene in Manchester grew out of a very harsh economic situation. Michael PS Does anyone have the e-mail address of Michael R. at the New School Computer Center? ===== M I C H A E L J A M E S P I N T O ------------------------------------------------------------ Where I Work: http://www.vm.com Support My Book Habit: http://www.fanboy.com More About Me: http://www.michaelpinto.com My Favorite Music: http://www.thefall.org Japanese Animation: http://www.anime.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com __________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe send a blank message with unsubscribe in the subject to webproducers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To access our webform (instead of sending e-mail) for popular commands including subscribe, unsubscribe, digest, and vacation visit www.WebProducers.org. You can also access the list archive at the website. Questions and comments are welcome just e-mail me, morry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx