First off, I'm definitely NOT on Jack Valenti's bandwagon - I don't agree with a lot of what the MPAA has tried to do in recent years. However,... he DOES have several valid points. Comparing the internet to the SONY BetaMax lawsuit is comparing apples to oranges. They are NOT the same thing. It >couldanyone had a few hundred, let alone a few million people over at their house?
Let's be realistic here, people - and Valenti should take note of this too - it's not the people who use DeCSS to make a copy of a DVD for a friend - or even for those warezers who download them - that percentage is small. It's those who use it to mass produce illegal DVDs (in the same manner that some illegal outfits mass produce counterfeit MS software), that is the real problem. Right now, VCDs proliferate the net - however, since they are primarily of poor quality, most people use them only for a quick look before shelling out the cash to see the flick in the theatre (consider how many box office bombs there have been lately) - it is still a LOT easier to wait for a title to be released on VHS, then dupe a copy for yourself. I have a feeling that the DeCSS case will be handled in the same manner as the SONY BetaMax case was.
Perhaps the internet issue might be solved by the formation of companies/organizations who LEGALLY relay/re-broadcast events under secure, subscription channels. Sure, those will probably be hacked too (like the "live" adult website channels are), but those losses will only have a minimal impact.
This issues of copyright and licensing are legitimate and serious ones. Again, just because it's the internet, does NOT mean that you should get something for free.
We can only hope that the MPAA and other involved organizations look on the brighter side of the Net - as a way to expand their product audience - and that the internet community suport them in this, rather than vilify them.
Although it seems not many people have seen it, the "special" that the SciFi Channel had on BWP - called The Curse Of The Blair Witch - was one of the best "mockumentaries" I have EVER seen!
I didn't know anything about BWP when I saw it - and yes, until the end credits rolled, I was CONVINCED that it was all real. The level of detail in this one hour "after the fact" documentary-style show features interviews with the Sheriff that investigated the disappearances, "noted" historical authorities and university professors. It also includes "authentic" news clips regarding the search for the missing teenagers, as well as "footage of a serial killer from the 40s" who claimed that the Blair Witch told him to kill. The level of detail is so high, they actually have authentic-looking manuscripts and diaries from the 17 & 1800s recording some of the local accounts. They even go so far as to give the Blair Witch a name - Ellie Kantner, and trace her passage from Ireland to the States via a ship's log.
If you aren't convinced that this >could be real after watching CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH, then there's something seriously wrong with you - it is THAT good.
I wasn't that impressed with the film itself - I think that it would have been even more successful if it was done the way the special was. I didn't find it particularly frightening, but I did marvel at the "realistic" style of the actors and the "revolutionary" style of directing and scripting.
And for what it's worth, I happen to be a screenwriter myself.
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First off, I'm definitely NOT on Jack Valenti's bandwagon - I don't agree with a lot of what the MPAA has tried to do in recent years. However, ... he DOES have several valid points. Comparing the internet to the SONY BetaMax lawsuit is comparing apples to oranges. They are NOT the same thing. It >couldanyone had a few hundred, let alone a few million people over at their house?
Let's be realistic here, people - and Valenti should take note of this too - it's not the people who use DeCSS to make a copy of a DVD for a friend - or even for those warezers who download them - that percentage is small. It's those who use it to mass produce illegal DVDs (in the same manner that some illegal outfits mass produce counterfeit MS software), that is the real problem. Right now, VCDs proliferate the net - however, since they are primarily of poor quality, most people use them only for a quick look before shelling out the cash to see the flick in the theatre (consider how many box office bombs there have been lately) - it is still a LOT easier to wait for a title to be released on VHS, then dupe a copy for yourself. I have a feeling that the DeCSS case will be handled in the same manner as the SONY BetaMax case was.
Perhaps the internet issue might be solved by the formation of companies/organizations who LEGALLY relay/re-broadcast events under secure, subscription channels. Sure, those will probably be hacked too (like the "live" adult website channels are), but those losses will only have a minimal impact.
This issues of copyright and licensing are legitimate and serious ones. Again, just because it's the internet, does NOT mean that you should get something for free.
We can only hope that the MPAA and other involved organizations look on the brighter side of the Net - as a way to expand their product audience - and that the internet community suport them in this, rather than vilify them.
Although it seems not many people have seen it, the "special" that the SciFi Channel had on BWP - called The Curse Of The Blair Witch - was one of the best "mockumentaries" I have EVER seen!
I didn't know anything about BWP when I saw it - and yes, until the end credits rolled, I was CONVINCED that it was all real. The level of detail in this one hour "after the fact" documentary-style show features interviews with the Sheriff that investigated the disappearances, "noted" historical authorities and university professors. It also includes "authentic" news clips regarding the search for the missing teenagers, as well as "footage of a serial killer from the 40s" who claimed that the Blair Witch told him to kill. The level of detail is so high, they actually have authentic-looking manuscripts and diaries from the 17 & 1800s recording some of the local accounts. They even go so far as to give the Blair Witch a name - Ellie Kantner, and trace her passage from Ireland to the States via a ship's log.
If you aren't convinced that this >could be real after watching CURSE OF THE BLAIR WITCH, then there's something seriously wrong with you - it is THAT good.
I wasn't that impressed with the film itself - I think that it would have been even more successful if it was done the way the special was. I didn't find it particularly frightening, but I did marvel at the "realistic" style of the actors and the "revolutionary" style of directing and scripting.
And for what it's worth, I happen to be a screenwriter myself.
JMHO.
--- Dragon77