"Tellingly, Fox Searchlight, the distributor of Allen's last movie, "Melinda and Melinda," did not make a bid on "Point" because the studio is all too aware of his global numbers. They tell a harsh tale: $3.7 million in North America; $15.7 million worldwide; 25% of Allen's stateside audience are New Yorkers. Other distributors have stated the stone-cold truth: "Point" would be more commercial if it didn't have Allen's name on it. And by insisting on churning out a picture a year, Allen dilutes his currency. (By contrast, David Lynch retains his marquee value by keeping audiences waiting. France's Studio Canal was screening a Cannes promo reel for his new "Inland Empire," featuring a cast wearing rabbit heads.)"

This quote especially makes me shiver...

"Other distributors have stated the stone-cold truth: "Point" would be more commercial if it didn't have Allen's name on it. And by insisting on churning out a picture a year, Allen dilutes his currency."

Holy shit! Have we really gotten to the point where a filmmaker like Woody Allen, who has made multiple masterpieces, is actually damaging a film's marketability, rather than helping it? I'm shocked! When did the tables turn? Must be that string of bad films he made. That's a shame.

"You almost look at this year's competition films and don't have to worry about buying anything," says Warner Independent Pictures president Mark Gill, who, having viewed about 90 films at the festival and market, might not buy any. "They may be good, but none of them are remotely accessible to an American audience."

Fuck you, Mark Gill. I'm an American audience member, and I take offence to your arrogant statement.

What, is this guy trying to prove something? Is he punishing American filmgoers for not supporting Warner Independent's output so far? Why run an independent arm of a studio if you aren't going to appreciate your audience and good filmmaking? What is this guy's job? He's not running Warner. He's running Warner INDEPENDENT. How do you get jaded enough to see 90 films at the biggest and arguably best Festival in the world and decide that every single one of them is just too damn difficult for that dumb ass American audience? No wonder Warner Independent is doing so poorly.

I wonder if the dismal state of American indies has something to do with the fact that fucks like this are running the show? How much contempt for the American audience will it take before this dude quits his job? I can't wait.