Posts Tagged ‘Macworld Expo’
Kevin Smith Rains F-Bombs On Mac Nerds
Kevin Smith stood me up.
I was scheduled to interview him one-on-one, but he skipped out on our date so he could go ogle the booth babes and tchotchkes at the Belkin booth here at Macworld Expo, apparently. Snootchie bootchies to you, too, jerk. (Sob.)
So I had to sit in the audience with all the other sweaty Mac nerds and listen to him tell us how the iPad might change the future of movies.
Will it change filmmaking? Smith said during his question-and-answer session at Macworld Expo 2010 on Thursday. Im sure itll be used to kill somebody in a movie at one point. Some guys got an iPad sticking out of his head. And Steve Jobs is like, thats not what I wanted.
At least he put on a good show. Hailed by many as the man who made comic-book-loving Star Wars geeks cool, Smith sprinkled words of wisdom in between smatterings of F-bombs and references to his genitalia in response to questions posed by audience members.
Smith was the only celebrity to appear at Macworld Expo now that Apple led by that guy who wears turtlenecks and granddaddy jeans has permanently backed out of the 25-year-old trade show.
The writer and independent director, well known for his films Dogma, Chasing Amy and Mallrats, shared his thoughts on Avatar, the drama between Conan OBrien and Jay Leno, and the future of independent filmmaking in a troubled economy.
I enjoyed it for what it was, Smith said of James Camerons Avatar. Im totally with the big blue fucking cats. Especially the one cat that was sexy and I wanted to fuck her.
As for the Tonight Show, Smith snarkily replied that nobody watches either of the hosts shows anyway, as shown by their ratings. He admitted he never watches TV, because, he said, I smoke a lot of weed so I fall asleep at like 8 oclock at night.
Filmmaking students in the audience asked Smith what they should do to succeed as film creators after college.
Id make one, he said. Make one that everybody likes. What do you think happened? Think I was standing over a virgin holding a necronomicon? The trick is to make something everybody digs.
However, Smith, whose mainstream movie Cop Out, starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, is due in theaters Feb. 26, acknowledged that the independent cinema scene has fallen on hard times. He mourned over Disneys recent shutdown of art-house production company Miramax Films.
I was very sad when Miramax shuttered, he said. It shows you the state of the business right now. Hate to throw that out to the independent filmmakers, but the market is fucked.
Updated 9 p.m. PDT: Smith and I have clarified over Twitter that he did not stand me up; our inability to connect was likely a failure between public relations flacks.
Source: www.wired.com
Macworld Expo 2010 Caters To Apple Fans
Like a Star Trek convention minus Leonard Nimoy, Macworld Conference and Expo 2010 kicks off Tuesday at San Francisco’s Moscone Center with no official presence from Apple.
Though the event will lack a Steve Jobs keynote and won’t have an Apple product introduction to generate buzz, 250 vendors will be showcasing Apple-related products at the convention, and a few key members of the Apple community will be giving speeches and presentations to the estimated 30,000 Apple fans who are expected to attend.
“The really important thing with Macworld is that it’s popular, and it’s one of the last bastions where just a regular old user can come, go shopping and go to conference sessions,” said Paul Kent, International Data Group’s general manager of Macworld Expo 2010. “Macworld in the absence of Apple becomes a fan fest.”
Apple in 2008 announced it was pulling out of Macworld because its retail presence had grown strong and trade shows were no longer necessary to connect with customers. Apple has expanded from just two retail stores in 2001 to 280 retail locations worldwide to date.
Ross Rubin, an NPD Group analyst, said Apple’s move symbolized its focus on a mainstream audience of consumers.
“It reflects Apple’s move beyond a core community of Mac enthusiasts through a very broad multiproduct company,” Rubin said.
Without Apple, Macworld remains a community event for Apple enthusiasts, developers and entrepreneurs to mingle and talk shop. This year’s show will highlight iPhone apps with a mobile apps showcase hosting 70 iPhone developers, according to Kent.
Attendees can also watch keynote presentations featuring members of the Apple community, such as New York Times technology columnist David Pogue, film director Kevin Smith, former Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki and Daring Fireball blogger John Gruber.
Nonetheless, Macworld Expo’s future remains in question. In the past when Apple has pulled out of other Macworld trade shows, they each subsequently shuttered.
“Take a quick look at the history,” writes The Loop’s Jim Dalrymple, who has been attending Macworld Expos since 1996. “Apple pulled out of Macworld Expo Boston/New York — it failed; Apple pulled out of Macworld Expo Tokyo — it failed; Apple pulled out of Apple Expo Paris — it failed.”
As was expected, exhibitor numbers have seen a decline. Macworld Expo 2010 will feature about 250 registered vendors. 2009’s Macworld Expo saw 400 vendors.
IDG expects 30,000 attendees at Macworld Expo 2010. However, this number is not comparable with attendance in years past, because IDG made “basic admission” to the Macworld Expo 2010 show floor free. Previously, IDG charged $25 for a floor pass.
“We don’t pretend it’s not a big a deal that Apple is not participating in the show,” Kent said. “But the Mac marketplace continues to grow, and so has the value of having an independent company that serves as an advocate for the customers and the developers.”
Macworld Conference and Expo runs from Feb. 9 to Feb. 13. For the full schedule, visit the Macworld Expo website.
See Also:
Macworld Already a Bummer, With Or Without Apple
Jobs Won’t Appear at Macworld — 2009 to Be Apple’s Last Show
Apple’s Big Macworld Announcement Is a Big Disappointment
Apple Says Farewell to Macworld, Hello to the Big Time
Photo: Laughing Squid/Flickr
Source: www.wired.com