Exclusive: When, almost exactly a year ago, the Minnesota Film Arts board hired Jamie Hook as their executive director, many were excited that this bombastic character would have the savoir-faire to turn the Twin Cities film scene around. But despite (or perhaps because of) his succinct decisiveness, Hook almost immediately became a controversial figure on the scene, issuing totalizing decrees that were probably accurate, but were also potentially divisive. And so, to everyone’s surprise (and yet not), the board last week “asked him to resign,” which he did. Some might say that the board wisely tried to avoid creating an Al Milgrom protege, while other will say that’s exactly the kind of rabble-rousing that the arts scene needs. I personally don’t know where I stand on this, but, as always, if you have opinions, use the comments.
Off The Hook
Sep 8 2005 — 2:00am
6 Reader Comments
8:38 am
I’m really curious to hear what folks have to say about this, especially the film people.
11:49 am
I also would like to know what the film team feels about this. As an avid film-goer, I really felt that last years Int’l Film Fest was phenomenal, and I personally don’t see a problem with an Al Milgrom “protege,” so to speak, if it means maintaining the same high and ever-growing quality of selected films and accompanying events. But the entire team seems great. Is there someone that’s replacing Jamie?
1:08 am
Wow. Well he’s still on the Soap Factory board….
I’ll see what I can do about that. Bwahaha.
12:56 pm
It just occurred to me that several of the people from MFA are in Portland right now, where Sound Unseen has recently taken root. How this didn’t occur to me sooner is funny, since some of you know I live with one of those MFAers. (Hey, gimme a break! I’ve been outta town most of this week.)
4:35 pm
I thought his piece in the Rake on Al Milgrom was really weird, and said so at the time. But his “Point Break Live” play at the BLB this year was really hilarious and smart. Somewhere between those two poles there’s an interesting guy.
http://blogs.citypages.com/ctg/2005/03/what_kind_of_co.asp
2:45 pm
Well, Hook is/was a jerk. Funny guy, but not someone you’d want running anything. Had the chance to see his movie in Seattle a couple years back, and it sucked. Looks like he’s doing some writing now, but he doesn’t seem to really have much depth as a person. I just get the impression that’s he’s never thought about anything important, ever.