Film Night

[erastes]

Alpha Dog
Hard to get into and hard to watch, as in tough to see a situation spiral out of control like it did.  I didn't know the story, one murder case in America doesn't stand out to English eyes, people are always gunning each other down, and it's happening here too now, more and more.

But great performances from just about everyone, the film - I don't know how true it is - gave the impression that it was a low budget effort, with "cheap" performances from A listers such as Sharon Stone and Bruce Willis.  I don't know if they DID "donate" their screen time to a small film like a lot of  

Romantic Times debacle update.  I've had a reply from Carol Stacey at RT who says she's not going to discuss it with me, but only Laura as she was the one involved - fair enough and fair play for at least replying.  I dare say I'm now black listed at RT's but I don't care - I'm unlikely ever to want them to review my books.  I'll stick with the Historical Novelists Society, thank you very much.  I don't agree with their policy of "buy some advertising and we'll review your book" because that makes any (het) romance eligible even it's the worst written thing in the world.

However, do email her anyway. These are the contact details I used.
rtnfo@romantictimes.com  
nancy@romantictimes.com,
webmaster@romantictimes.com,
cstacy@romantictimes.com,
giselle@romantictimes.com

Regarding the Hyatt - It's not easy to find out where to complain to - but I've found this

http://www.hyattpressroom.com/PressContactDetails.asp

Hyatt Regency Houston
Diane Knoche, Public Relations Manager
1200 Louisiana Street,
Houston, TX 77002
Tel: 713-646-6940
dknoche@hyatt.com 

This is their diversity site, boasting on how gay friendly they are.
http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/about/diversity/index.jsp
and this is the contact email there - mélange@corphq.hyatt.com

I may contact divervityInc and Advocate Magazine too, which seem to be praising them to the skies.

Comments

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Don't worry--buying advertising wouldn't get Standish reviewed anyway. They only take gay money--they don't review gay books. (And until Laura forced them to admit that in print, even my publisher didn't know about the unwritten discrimination.)

Affaire de Coeur takes ads and reviews books. And they're quite outspoken about not discriminating.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I knew that, and have been yelling for a long time, taht they say they will advertise if you send them a hell of a lot of money but then suddenly they are horrified and found that m/m are too scary.

I have moaned.

[julesjones]

Does anyone have a saved copy of the bit on the website where they used to say that small press authors could buy themselves a review by buying an ad? Because unfortunately I didn't bother to save it when I saw it on there a year or two back, I mentioned it on Smart Bitches, and I'll bet someone will be along shortly to deny that they ever suggested that buying an ad got you a review.

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

Go you! I hope you do write to The Advocate, especially since the Hyatt corporation is trying to make themselves look so queer-friendly. Somebody should actually inform their homophobic staff.