The First Screener Has Been Leaked

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which decides the Oscars, consists of about 6,000 industry professionals of all fields: actors, directors, cinematographers, sound editors, etc. (AwardsDaily has a great breakdown of membership in their sidebar.) Thing is, a lot of these people are old and grumpy and don't necessarily go to the movies that often, so studios hoping to get their films nominated for awards send copies of each film called screeners directly to their house.

Sort of like Netflix, except you don't have to return them, you get dozens upon dozens of movies, they're almost all movies that are still in theaters, and it's free. (Well, except for AMPAS membership fees.) In other words, it's pretty awesome to be an Academy member.

The problem is, sending out free screeners of movies currently in theaters is a major security risk for piracy. Every year there are a few leaks; in 2004, the Academy even expelled member Carmine Caridi after sending a bunch of his screeners to a pirate in another state who then posted them online. Usually it's more innocent, of a I-let-my-grandson-borrow-my-screener-and-the-weasel-gave-it-to-his-friend-who's-a-computer-nerd variety.

Well, there's finally been a leak this year (to my knowledge, it's the first): a screener of Quantum of Solace, which went out to voters in late November, has popped up on some torrent sites.

Luckily, the studios have made each screener pretty easy to track, with watermarks and digital imprints, so apparently Sony Pictures already knows who leaked it, though they're not saying. Potentially, the person could be prosecuted.

Source: Goldderby

image source

Recent Entries:
· The Will Smith Factor
· Chicago Film Critics: Wall-E and Slumdog
· More SAG Winners and Losers

[ READER COMMENTS ]

Add your comments...

We kindly ask that you keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Abusive or inappropriate comments or comments that are specifically promotional in nature may be removed.

Your Name: (required)

Your Email Address: (required, will be kept private)

Your Website's URL: (optional)

Would you like us to remember your info for next time?
YesNo

Your Comments: