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BLOOD DIAMOND MOVIE - NEW RELEASE DATE - DECEMBER 8, 2006 | | by Fran Goldstein www.diamond-key.com | On October 30, 2006, Chaim Even Zohar wrote, "The weak controls put in place to deal with the reality of conflict diamonds should be concerning the diamond industry and the governments that benefit from diamonds as opposed to the Blood Diamond film that is to be released later this year."
However, I believe that the earlier release date of the film should make the message from the film and the message form the Paper Tiger report both contenders for importance and consideration.
Consumer Confidence:
The film will have more appeal to the consumer base and effect consumer confidence - like it or not.
NGO Report - Kimberley Process:
On his internet site, www.diamondintelligence.com, the headline was "NGO: Kimberley Process Had Large Blind Spots".
The article noted "that the message in a new report by non-governmental organization Partnership Africa Canada "Killing Kimberley? Conflict Diamonds and Paper Tigers."
Partnership Africa Canada believes that the Kimberley Process can be an effective regulatory system for the eradication of conflict diamonds, but only if it is prepared to become more vigilant, more pro-active, and more insistent that its standards be enforced in participating countries. Killing Kimberley details the problems, and spells out what is required, if governments and industry are serious about ending conflict diamonds.
Partnership Africa Canada believes that the KPCS can be an effective regulatory system for conflict diamonds if it is strengthened, and most importantly, if its provisions are enforced.
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Paper Tiger:
Without significant and urgent change, it will be little more than what it has shown itself to be during 2006: a paper tiger.
Conflict diamonds do not represent a huge proportion of the world diamond trade today, but they do exist, and without effective controls, they could erupt again in any one of a dozen places.
The KPCS is a remedial undertaking, but it is also a preventive mechanism.
It is worth preserving, but only if it is done well.
The KPCS is a remedial undertaking, but it is also a preventive mechanism. It is worth preserving, but only if it is done well, says the report.
"In some ways, the KPCS has been very successful. But during 2005 and 2006, it started to become clear that the KPCS had large blind spots," says Ian Smillie, Research Coordinator at Partnership Africa Canada.
| PAC Report
http://www.pacweb.org/e/images/stories/documents/killing%20kimberley.pdf
Blood Diamond:
In response to strong reactions from early screening audiences, Warner Bros. has moved the release date for action drama Blood Diamond to December 8, 2006, one week earlier than previously slated.
It's all about marketing and distribution:
"We have seen the positive buzz on the film building, so it made sense to put it up on screens as early as possible to take advantage of what promises to be excellent word-of-mouth. We also want to give Academy and guild members every opportunity to see Blood Diamond on the big screen in anticipation of a very competitive awards season," says Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
"Everyone involved in Blood Diamond, on both sides of the camera, believed in this movie and worked very hard to make it happen. On behalf of all of them, I am very pleased that the studio is demonstrating so much faith in our film," adds Blood Diamond Director Edward Zwick.
| It's all about promotion:
Patrick Goldstein, in an article in the Los Angeles Times, explained why.
Oscar fever!!
"The industry's obsession with the Academy Awards, which began as a symbol of achievement and are now a high-powered marketing tool, has transformed the end of the year into the Oscar Follies, offering a legitimate batch of award contenders surrounded by a scrum of hapless pretenders being released at year's end only because of studio delusions, blind adherence to conventional wisdom and arm-twisting by narcissistic stars and filmmakers."
Inspirational stories:
Warner Bros. chief Alan Horn acknowledges that Oscar hopes play a big part. "If we're going to spend a significant amount of money on a thought-provoking film, as we've done with `Blood Diamond'' (an upcoming Leonardo DiCaprio film), you really get a lot of help from Oscar consideration. And Oscar voters, like all of us, have a better memory for recent films, so it helps to put them out in the fall."
| SOURCE: Chicago Tribune - article
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-0610310203oct31,0,5878291.story?coll=mmx-movies_heds
SOURCE: www.diamondintelligence.com
PAC REPORT - 12 PAGES:
http://www.pacweb.org/e/images/stories/documents/killing%20kimberley.pdf
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