A few day back, Sony CEO demanded ‘The Interview’ tone down assassination scene. So, does this mean, that each and every one of us, at some point will have to re-write the script because Catholic Church, U.S. Government or any other organization don’t agree with the way we described or what we said about them in the script. I know all this might sound like a joke but is this how things could go from now on. Because Sony caved and pulled the movie from the movie theaters solved nothing. It only created more problems, maybe not today but definitely in months to come. 1. At any given time someone can make a simple phone call, demand money or something else, ask for the movie to be pulled from the theaters because they don't like something in or about the movie. Not so long ago, this wouldn't even be considered seriously. It doesn't even have to be an act of terrorism any more, all some maniac have to do is say it. That's all it takes. 2. Because of this, studios will start toning or softening the scripts. 3. Consulting services regarding this problem will start popping-up, your script will be reduced piece by piece because someone, somewhere, might not like something in the script. Eventually, it will become a script for a short film. 4. Even if you manage to sell the script in original form, who's gonna be brave or stupid enough to produce it. Let's say you have a script or write one about WWII and you can't avoid mentioning Adolf Hitler. What now? Do you have to contact every Neo Nazi organization and ask for their approval. Here's a quote from today's headlines "FBI: Sony Hack Would Have Penetrated "90 Percent" of Companies" Then, how secured is everything else? Other studios, Movie and TV streaming sites, what about LOC? I hope none of this will happen and I do hope and pray I'm wrong about all of it, but if only one of these things takes place, Hollywood will produce about 30 movies next year, if they are lucky. Personally, I think this entire HACK is just a smoke-screen for something hackers or Sony are not telling us. It was never about the movie.
Screenwriting : HACKERS vs. WRITERS by Niksa Maric
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No? That's it? No what? Which part of is it all of it?
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I agree with Lisa - the answer to all of that is No. this was an anomaly and I'm sure there's more to it than we know still. But this isn't the first time - there's a reason no one can make a movie about the "prophet Mohammed". But I don't think this will lead to widespread censorship, maybe just a bit more sensitivity when it comes to really bad ideas.
I don't think what Sony is doing now is anything remotely like traditional censorship. If, God forbid, somebody actually bombs movie theaters, those audiences are going to sue Sony. For the lawyers, it's all about defining "foreseeable risks". The Catholic Church doesn't threaten massacres when it criticizes a film. If an organization threatens massacres, does a film studio have an obligation to assess whether it is a credible risk? That's the real question, and I believe the Sony lawyers are probably working feverishly (with the U.S. government) to assess whether this is really state-sponsored or just some blowhard hackers. If I were a theater owner, I would be a lot more worried about showing a film on Mohammad than showing a film critical of North Korea because I don't think we have that many pro-Kim North Koreans residing inside the U.S. That said, if I were a theater owner and saw death threats about showing any film, I might prefer to choose some other film in its place. People in Colorado sued a movie theater for one mentally ill person's rampage, so you can believe people would certainly sue if their "Interview" theater gets bombed. So, yes, there is some chilling effect, but 99% of the films going into theaters are not going to get that reaction. As for hacking in general, yes, the hackers of the world are winning. I used to think the world was pretty much at the mercy of computer programmers but they are fairly benign, so no big deal? I don't believe that anymore. We do not have enough people who understand cyber security programming to protect all of us from malevolent hackers--they will get through now and then. Major retailers are being hacked for credit card numbers--my brother got three replacement cards for one of his credit cards within a 2-month span because it was repeatedly compromised. There's no easy answer for any of this, and I'm still more worried about hackers going after the software that controls water supplies, air traffic control, nuclear power plants, and financial institutions. A new wave of censorship caused by threats is really not a major threat: Hollywood just does not produce that many controversial films, and when they do, they are often lower budget and quietly released. Even Iran, which is constantly accused of state-sponsored terrorism, does not threaten theater massacres when it objects to a film. This is, indeed, an anomaly--but a serious one.
No, no, no. Don't give up Lisa. Fictional characters, good or bad die every day, in all movies. Miss Aruda, Yes I agree with you. North Korea and many other countries were trashed or presented as the bad guys in the past and there was never, not once serious threat was ever posted or released. But because Sony caved in this case, every prankster with the burner phone can easily close theater or postpone projection. Could someone go through bombing that many theaters simultaneously or even one, I doubt it. To do that would require enormous amount of money, planning and don't forget the human factor. Where exactly they would found 10, 20 or even a single suicide bomber to pull this off. You can't hire someone to do it and people who are willing to die to stop the movie projection don't exactly live next door. Who cares about some comedy, which wasn't even based on real events. This part I'm telling you is based on 13 years of personal experience. I'm pretty sure all this was about the money, from day one. WE hacked you, pay up or we'll release the informations to public, Sony refused to pay and I don't blame them, somewhere down the line, the situation got out of control, hackers decided to raise the stakes, Sony had no backup plan to response to that and we all know the results. Plain and simple but again, this is just my opinion on what happened.
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Here's some other anti N. Korean films no one got into an uproar over... http://www.mediaite.com/online/6-other-movies-about-north-korea-that-no-...
Interesting...
Interesting in what way, Liz?
Food for thought!
There were several articles on the feedback on "The Interview" from Sony's overseas people. Sony's Taiwan HQ said the film was lousy and it would do poorly. Sony's British HQ said the film was so stupid and ferociously unfunny that they didn't want to have a promotional tour and they slammed Rogen and Franco. Of all the overseas folks, only Sony's Australian HQ loved the movie. The French office and other European offices gave it the stink-eye and said it was not funny and would lose money. Therefore, Sony did not pull it ONLY because of the HACKERS. It was also a financial decision. But who greenlighted such a lame movie anyway? My cats are funnier than Rogen and Franco.
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A very difficult position for Sony. They're damned if they do release the movie and someone gets bombed and damned if they don't because they've given in to blackmail. I haven't read the script, only seen the comments on TV and online but I have to say that Sony were ill advised to do a movie that makes fun of an attempt to assassinate a living person. That's bad taste even if the target is a lunatic. I do think he is fair game for satire.
This INTERVIEW thing is taking on a life of its own. It has been pulled from theaters; talking heads on tv like msnbc and fox say the Obama admin is going to decide if this is an act of terrorism or an act of war. Do the NKs not have a sense of humor? The uncle who was assassinated, I understand, had a great interest in the movies and the current leader does not.
about Rogen and Franco. Weren't one of both of them from SNL? Not near the talent today as from 40 years ago. It seems some do a year there then decide they are talented enough to take on the creative world. Not in this instance. BRIDESMAIDS and the HANGOVER series alleged to be funny? only if you are like 12 ...
Maybe the theater owners backed out just because they might get hacked too, and hey, next time I bet Sony won't forget to update its Norton. By the way, someone should hack Sony again and put the movie on You tube. That should settle the whole problem. I can't wait for the sequel; Kim Jong-un comes back from the dead and terrorizes Tinseltown.
Yeah, I'm sure Sony was also worried about additional hack releases. "Trade secrets" can cost a company a lot of money in future contract negotiations, and in Sony's case, might even make it more difficult to cast movies with desired stars. At the end of the day, there was a lot of financial risk, and a probably-small-but-hard-to-quantify risk to human life, for not a lot of projected benefit. I do NOT think this means studios or any other businesses will start caving to blackmail demands all over the place, and I also find it the worst form of political punditry to attack Sony publicly as a cowardly company letting the bad guys win. As for North Korea, young Kim probably has the world's most public case of borderline personality disorder, on top of narcissistic personality disorder, on top of being raised in a bubble. I am free to say that because I'm not under a death threat--nor are all those people slamming Sony on the Internet under a death threat. If you haven't walked a mile in Sony's shoes, I don't understand how people can get all high and mighty about condemning Sony's decision. People with nothing personally or financially at stake who bray online about free speech and censorship don't prove a lot. When the stakes are high, defending principles gets a lot tougher. And by braying, I'm not referring to anybody in this thread! I'm referring to things I've seen on Twitter and elsewhere.
Okay, what do we have on Sony repertoire today? The nightmare goes on for Sony and shows no sign of slowing down. I'm imagining a future where I myself and young lady Lisa Scott (photo available above) standing in front of the door which leads right into Sony Colosseum. Let's dissolve to 3 or 4 years into past. 1. A reality talk-show host or someone in that category makes $50.000 an hour, all signed and approved by Sony. The same person who wrote all that was probably asked to give it away for free or in exchange for bus fare. It could be someone you know or you, I don't write stuff like that. 2. Then, we have an actress who demands things, most of which haven't even been invented yet. How Sony will provide her with these gadgets, that's their problem. 3. This is from today, listen to this. "Sean Penn, in an email to Mother Jones, said: “This week, the distributors who wouldn’t show ‘The Interview’ and Sony have sent ISIS a commanding invitation. I believe ISIS will accept the invitation. Pandora’s box is officially open.” I used slightly different term yesterday " A prankster with the burner phone, but both statements leads in the same direction. 4. This one is from yesterday's headlines. "Sony Producer Says Black Actors Shouldn't Have Lead Roles Because International Audiences Are Racist". What gives him the right to say that about one of the best actors in Hollywood. At the same time, Lisa glances at me, slightly smiles and says: Let's go get them! I reply: Why not? And we are about to be lectured, directed, questioned by the same people, this unnamed producer, Michael Lynton and bunch of other racist pricks, how we must follow the certain rules and standards, how actors and actresses should be represented equally when it comes to race. The perfect definition of irony. Is this how things are in Hollywood at the moment. For the end, here's a thought. Why don't we all start writing a script about "Current Affairs". I even have a title, ONCE UPON A TIME IN SONY.
If you are working in the dysfunctional Hollywood realm, yes.