Open Letter To RKO Pictures

I have tried to email this directly to Ted Hartley, the current head of RKO Pictures, however emails have been returned and phone calls have born no fruit.  Now I’m posting it on my blog.

Mr. Hartley,

I am writing you today because I have an interest and a proposal for RKO Pictures.   

When most movie fans think of RKO Pictures they are thinking about the classics that were produced by your company in the 1930s and 1940s.   Movie fans who know of RKO think of classics like King Kong and Citizen Kane.  However, what most movie fans are not aware that RKO Pictures exists today.

Today the internet is a treasure trove for movie fans.  There is information and content readily available at a moment’s notice.   Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter keep fans in close touch to what is going on with their favorite actors, directors and studios.   Yet, RKO Pictures has yet to utilize any of these free resources.

I personally am a huge movie fan and I have a tremendous appreciation for RKO’s contribution to the movie industry.   Additionally I host an internet radio talk show called The Radio Dan Show that uses the movie business the main part of its show.   Five nights a week I talk about the goings on in the movie business, refraining from getting into gossip about stars.   The show is broadcast on TalkRadioX.com and has been syndicated by several small town terrestrial stations as well.   Additionally each show is archived on TalkRadioX website and available as a podcast.

What I would like to do is to collaborate with RKO Pictures and help spread the word that your company is still here and still relevant.   I would accomplish in several ways.

1.       DVD giveaways – Once a week (or month) I would give away to a listener either a classic RKO Pictures title or a contemporary one.   Under a title such as ‘RKO Spotlight’ I could highlight one film a month to discuss the history of and give one copy away.  Additionally we could also make an RKO Pictures shirt or hat with the classic ‘Transmitter’ logo on it the prize.

2.       Interviews – I would love to do interviews with RKO related talent.  Either people who are involved with new RKO releases or classic ones.

3.       Social Networking – I would run an RKO Pictures Twitter account.  Several studios have accounts that inform of new releases, special screenings, or even DVD sales.  MGM and Screen Gems are two examples of studios who are using Twitter to connect to today’s movie fans.

I would also like to discuss the possibility of hosting screenings in the future of some of RKO Pictures classic movies as well.  That is something that perhaps could be discussed in the future.  I would like to thank you for your time in reading my proposal and due hope that you consider it.

As a lifelong movie fan it would be a thrill to be affiliated with RKO Pictures and I would proudly to whatever I could to help promote it.  If you have interest please contact me at your earliest convenience. 

Thank you,

Dan Delgado

Dr. No and the Movie Theater

I was excited about yesterday.  Wednesday night to be exact.  You see, as apart of United Artists 90th Anniversary a local theater was showing Dr. No (the first James Bond film).  The UA thing has been going on for a few weeks.  Movies like The Apartment, The Magnificent Seven, and Some Like It Hot have been on the schedule.  Unfortunately all of these classics have been relagated to one day only affairs, and the one day is taking place on either a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.  So while I would have loved to taken my daughter to see Some Like It Hot, this middle of the week business kind of ruined that.

So while at my miserable job yesterday I say to my boss/co-worker Mark, “There’s a screening of Dr. No tonight.”  Probably sounded excited and dorky about the whole thing.  Mark then asks the question I always get when I mention I’m seeing some old movie in a theater.  “Why?”  Why go see something that you’ve seen a 100 times already and is readily available on DVD?  Why indeed.

It’s a valid question I suppose.  However for me seeing a movie in a theater is an experience you just can’t beat.  I don’t care how good your home theater system is, I will pick going to real theater any day of the week.  The big screen, the slightly uncomfortable seating, the loud speakers, the whole deal.  Not to mention the aspect of a group reaction to what is going on.  My pal Antubert would say it’s the shared experience.  And he’s right.  Movies were meant for big screens, they were filmed specifically for it in mind.  No one makes a movie with the idea of how great it will look on your plasma screen television.  No one thinks, “I can’t to see this movie I’ve been working on for months to premiere on DVD!”

Of course being a cowardly theater booker doesn’t help. Playing something like Dr. No on a Wednesday is an automatic kiss of death.  There were three other people in the audience with me and Jessica.

As for the movie itself?  I’ve seen Dr. No at least twice before last night and to be honest there was plenty I did not remember about it.  As a James Bond film what really stands out are the things that aren’t there.  No gadgets.  No catchy theme (other than Bond’s theme by John Barry).  It has to be the quietest Bond film made.  In it James Bond (Sean Connery) is dispached to Jamaica to investigate why a fellow agent and his secretary have seemingly disappeared.  Once there he discovers a plot that has something to do with the evil mechanically handed Dr. No attempting to destroy US space rockets.  It’s a pretty straightforward plot and Bond actually does some detective work in it.  He goes here and there asking questions and being pretty straightlaced.  He sleeps with at least three women in Dr. No and a few others are seen checking him out.  I must admit, his sexual prowess is pretty damn amusing to say the least.

Dr. No is a bit slow but overall a lot of fun none the less.  Personally I would have chosen Goldfinger as the Bond movie to show since that is the quintessential Bond film.  Girls, gadgets, exploisions, all that good stuff.  But with Dr. No you are seeing Bond at his true beginning.   And that in itself was worth the trip to the theater.