According to one report, British Government funds are being used to upgrade numerous movie theaters for 3D films. Interesting use of public money. If this was happening in the US there would likely be an uproar, at least from some. So far the only outcry across the pond is apparently coming from cinema owners who haven’t gotten their piece of the pie.
Lest you think this is peechy keen, remember that everything comes with a price. In Great Britain, government funds for 3D cinema conversions, funnelled through the UK Film Council, are supposed to permit theaters to exhibit ‘approved’ films. I guess that means films the UK Film Council has funded under current programs for script development, production or advertising. The US has arts funding also but whenever the government is funding arts, including movies, one has to pause and wonder who decides what gets funded with public money and what doesn’t. In any case, I can’t recall the last time anyone said: “Hey, let’s go to the movies and see the latest film approved by the House of Commons!”
Government funding for the arts raises interesting questions the signers of the Declaration probably never considered. I’m curious if Sam Adams and John Hancock would have been as gung ho to declare independence if King George was taxing the Colonies in order to procure funds to stage ‘approved’ plays for the benefit of his American subjects, rather than stuffing his pockets or using the bounty to fund other ill-advised ventures. I also wonder if citizens of Beantown would have dumped that tea in Boston Harbor if the British tax on tea was being used to entertain the colonists in comfortable theaters.
Historical considerations aside, 3D theater upgrades have set back the British people approximately £12 million ($18 million) to date. A small price to pay for the opportunity to shell out another £14.40 ($21.83) for a 3D ticket at the West End Vue Cinema in London.
The whole idea of government funding 3D conversions of movie theaters makes me feel like we’ve fallen down a rabbit hole. You know the rabbit hole I’m talking about. There’s a strange land down there, unlike anything we’ve seen before. A dark and worrisome place that’s ruled by a Queen and populated by strange creatures who talk funny. Some may call it Wonderland. But over here we just call it the United Kingdom.
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