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My Lipstick Is Not A Camera - Why Hollywood Is Going Too Far

from the going-too-far dept

Mon, Aug 18th 2003 2:00pm — Mike Masnick

Found over at BoingBoing is this great "open letter" from a movie critic to Hollywood complaining about how far overboard they're going in trying to prevent anyone seeing early showings of movies from taping them. She points out that she has no problems being subject to a search for getting on an airplane, but to write a review of "The In-Laws" seems like it's a bit much. No matter what they do, people are still taping movies, and they're still showing up on the internet. If the movie is any good, people are still going to the theaters to see them. Yet, studio execs are wasting time and money - while annoying the critics, because they think it will stop online copying of movies. She makes a pretty compelling argument that Hollywood is spending a hell of a lot more money doing this than they're "saving". She also points out that for all their complaining about people stealing movies, they still seem to send her press releases every day about just how much money this or that movie took in. As she says: "It's unseemly to claim poverty while you're bragging about your riches."

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Anonymous Coward, 18 Aug 2003 @ 3:43pm

Inside Jobs?
I recall reading somewhere that a lot of taped movies are done by "insiders" - i.e. some guy working at the theater invites his buddy over for a screening in order to tape it for the black market. Perhaps it won't be out as early as when the reviewers see it, but fast enough.

Also, in the vein that all of life can be compared to Seinfeld episodes (there is also a Simpsons theory), there is that one where Jerry is forced to film a movie he is watching for the black market...
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Oliver Wendell Jones, 19 Aug 2003 @ 7:16am

Re: Inside Jobs?
I have seen lots of these 'taped' films and the vast majority have absolutely no background audience noise, nor do you see people standing up in front of the camera, etc. The one or two that are being done during a live showing are very obvious.

This almost proves that the films are being taped by someone at a time that the movie isn't 'officially' being shown.

If not, then I want to know where the theater is that I can watch first run movies the first weekend they are out without having a crying baby, an hyper-active 5 year old and someone who has read every spoiler on the internet and wants to discuss what's coming up next with the person seated next to them (and why does that guy always sit behind me?).
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WK, 17 Jul 2006 @ 11:20am

People on the inside leak and sell and/or share internal information with the rest of us. Sometimes people from the outside manage to get inside and steal said information, afterwhich they sell and/or share it.

When it comes to audio/video, the information that came directly from the inside is much better quality. Due to the laws of natural selection, this content survives better than that which was taped from an outsider.

The movie studios are obviously approaching from the wrong direction. But really, why don't they want us to get free previews? Hollywood always forgets to mention how this negatively affects their profits.

Does anyone else think that Hollywood / RIAA is only complaining about movie/music sharing for publicity itself? Is there a better explanation?
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