DVD Pirate Copying

[Engine]

I thought this letter from Eli Roth is interesting.

[HEADLINE: Last chance for a while to see one of my films...]

Hey Everyone,

I'm in Paris, doing press for the French release of Hostel Part II, and tonight I'm off to Rome for the last leg of the press tour. After that I'm going to take a long overdue break, since I've gone from one film to the next without stopping, just to recharge my brain a bit.

I want to thank all of you for your kind e-mails and incredible support for the film. However, piracy has become worse than ever now, and a stolen workprint (with uninished music, no sound effects, and no VFX) leaked out on line before the release, and is really hurting us, especially internationally. Piracy will be the death of the film industry, as it killed the music industry, and while it makes a smaller dent in huge movies like Spider Man 3, it really hurts films like mine, which have far less of an advertising and production budget. Not only that, critics have actually been REVIEWING the film based off the pirated copy, which is inexcusable. Some of these critics I have actually known for a few years, and while I wouldn't dignify them by mentioning them by name, I know who they are, as do the studios, and other filmmakers, and they will no longer have any access to any of my films.

What I'm saying is, this is your last chance to see one of my films for a while. If you haven't seen it, go now, because after next weekend the film will be gone from theaters. There are too many other summer movies coming in, so basically we get two weeks in cinemas, and then the film will live on DVD. I am not directing CELL any time soon, and I most likely will take the rest of the year to write my other projects. Which means I wouldn't shoot until the spring, and you wouldn't see a film directed by me in the cinemas until at least next fall. If everyone on my friends list went to see the film this weekend and brought a friend, it would make a huge difference. Bring a non-horror fan - try to convert them. It's the only way these films will live. But right now the R rated horror film is in serious jeopardy. Studios feel the public doesn't want them any more, and so they are only putting PG-13 films into production. The only way to counter this perception is to get out there and support R rated horror. It's the only message they'll hear. People love the movie, and even though it only cost $10 million dollars (as opposed to the other summer tentpoles which cost $300 million), and has already earned its money back, if it's not a massive money earner then they'll just continue to make the same PG-13 films everyone complained about a few years ago.

To counter piracy, fans can flood file sharing services with fake Hostel II downloads just so no one can ever actually get the movie, but the only thing that really makes a difference is supporting the movie in the theaters. Also - the theater OWNERS know this as well. If horror movies aren't bringing in customers, they're not going to program them. If we are going to send them a message, we have to do it with our wallets, and we have to do it now. I've done all I can to make a great film for the fans, as violent and bloody and fun as possible. The rest is up to you guys...

Thanks again for all your support,

Eli




Is Eli bitter and twisted or does he have a point?

Do you copy movies?

 

[Generalzod]

Hostel 2 has got to be one of the worst movies ever, Eli would have to pay me to watch it..

 

[McLovin]

 

[Dragon]

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

LOL ^^

Hostel 2 has got to be one of the worst movies ever, Eli would have to pay me to watch it..

agreed

 

[Cupid Stunt]

Piracy will be the death of the film industry, as it killed the music industry...

If piracy killed the music scene then I want a business that does as badly as a recording company! As has been mentioned, it wasn't piracy that ruined this flick...

 

[Razor]

If piracy killed the music scene then I want a business that does as badly as a recording company!

Look at the music industry today compared to 10 years ago.

Now it's all manufactured amateur crap, with singers who won't be around in 5 years time. You won't see a Meat Loaf, who's last CD came out 29 years after his first anymore(1977-2006) - and he hasn't ruled out another album.

The studios aren't willing to spend up big now. They sign up people who launched themselves on MySpace or a TV show.

Which top-class performer has emerged in the last 5-6 years? And I'm not talking about singers who went solo(like Dolores Oriordan), or newly formed bands that are made up of band members from broken-up bands(like Angels and Airwaves).

Piracy has totally destroyed the industry.

Hostel 2 has got to be one of the worst movies ever, Eli would have to pay me to watch it..

Haven't seen the 2nd one, but the 1st one was very crap. An unbelievably stupid story and plot holes a plenty. Not even close to the great horror movies like Nightmare On Elm street.

 

[Azkatro]

Which top-class performer has emerged in the last 5-6 years? And I'm not talking about singers who went solo(like Dolores Oriordan), or newly formed bands that are made up of band members from broken-up bands(like Angels and Airwaves).

Piracy has totally destroyed the industry.

Haha you would get laughed out of court with an argument like that. It'd be like standing in front of a jury "the defendant's brother-in-law was charged with public affray 17 years ago. Thus, this man is clearly guilty of murdering 38 innocent victims."

How would you like having a go at following that blistering argument up with some kind of even remote link between piracy and crap music?

 

[Razor]

Haha you would get laughed out of court with an argument like that. It'd be like standing in front of a jury "the defendant's brother-in-law was charged with public affray 17 years ago. Thus, this man is clearly guilty of murdering 38 innocent victims."

How would you like having a go at following that blistering argument up with some kind of even remote link between piracy and crap music?

Nothing like that. I said top-class performers; not good performers. There are plenty of top-class acts that I don't class as good. And plenty of performers, that I class as good, that aren't top-class. I'm using top-class as in very professional style - like U2, Meat Loaf, Elton John, Cranberries, etc. All the performers today are manufactured acts. Some are good though - like Jamestown Story. Top-class music is not economical now for the studios. Now you expose yourself on MySpace, etc. without having to do the hard work in getting recognised.

 

[Samwise]

Nothing like that. I said top-class performers; not good performers. There are plenty of top-class acts that I don't class as good. All the performers today are manufactured acts.

Please define the difference between top class and good performer? how can a performer be top class if they aren't good? and vice versa?

 

[Azkatro]

Please define the difference between top class and good performer? how can a performer be top class if they aren't good? and vice versa?

Lots of things transcend definition in Razorland ...

 

[Razor]

Please define the difference between top class and good performer? how can a performer be top class if they aren't good? and vice versa?

A top-class performer is the same as a top-class production.

Very professional.

It can suck believably, and still be top-class.

High school plays for example. Some might be good, but they certainly aren't top-class; they are very amateurish.

Some Broadway shows might not be very good, but they are all top-class.

I can't stand Elton John; I don't class him as good. But all of his shows are very top-class.

 

[Samwise]

A top-class performer is the same as a top-class production.

Very professional.

It can suck believably, and still be top-class.

High school plays for example. Some might be good, but they certainly aren't top-class; they are very amateurish.

Some Broadway shows might not be very good, but they are all top-class.

I can't stand Elton John; I don't class him as good. But all of his shows are very top-class.

oh well thats clear then. :roll:

 

[Razor]

oh well thats clear then.

The definition of top-class is professional. It does not mean good.

 

[Samwise]

The definition of top-class is professional. It does not mean good.

Then why is professional or top class a desirable thing then?

 

[Razor]

Then why is professional or top class a desirable thing then?

Good musical performances that are top-class, are even better.

I don't know who you like, but if you like one of these manufactured artists like Kelly Clarkson. Would you rather she is how she is; or would you rather her music had the production values of the artists from 5-10 years and earlier. Same music, but the production values so much greater. It costs far less to produce a CD these days, because the record companies spend almost no money on production because they lose too much to piracy. Most of todays artists music has the same production values as the local garage band.

 

[Samwise]

Good musical performances that are top-class, are even better.

I don't know who you like, but if you like one of these manufactured artists like Kelly Clarkson. Would you rather she is how she is; or would you rather her music had the production values of the artists from 5-10 years and earlier. Same music, but the production values so much greater. It costs far less to produce a CD these days, because the record companies spend almost no money on production because they lose too much to piracy. Most of todays artists music has the same production values as the local garage band.

lol, got any evidence of this? Your using very non specific terms here razor but i'll play along.

As for who i like i usually steer clear of over produced crap. I like my music raw and real. If the lead vocalist isn't that great, let me hear it and don't go putting their voice through a hundred different filters. It adds character and feeling. BTW fav band is Pixies.

 

[Razor]

lol, got any evidence of this? Your using very non specific terms here razor but i'll play along.

As for who i like i usually steer clear of over produced crap. I like my music raw and real. If the lead vocalist isn't that great, let me hear it and don't go putting their voice through a hundred different filters. It adds character and feeling. BTW fav band is Pixies.

A thesaurus. Top-class=professional.

Lots of people say "Top-class ???? is boring. I prefer watching amateur ?????". for many things.

 

[Cupid Stunt]

Look at the music industry today compared to 10 years ago.

Now it's all manufactured amateur crap, with singers who won't be around in 5 years time. You won't see a Meat Loaf, who's last CD came out 29 years after his first anymore(1977-2006) - and he hasn't ruled out another album.

The studios aren't willing to spend up big now. They sign up people who launched themselves on MySpace or a TV show.

Which top-class performer has emerged in the last 5-6 years? And I'm not talking about singers who went solo(like Dolores Oriordan), or newly formed bands that are made up of band members from broken-up bands(like Angels and Airwaves).

Piracy has totally destroyed the industry.

Compared to 10 years ago? What, quality acts like Aqua, Spice Girls, Hanson? :lol:

Most bands aren't around in 5-10 years time for reasons outside of piracy. The fact that people generally now have a much shorter attention span plays IMO a much bigger role. There's not the same "ownership" of bands from the fans like, for eg, The Grateful Dead has. If you want to blame anyone/anything I'd be more inclined to head over to the PayTV/MTV booth. Hendrix, Meatloaf, Led Zep & bands of a similar diehard following made their name through live gigs where people got up close & personal with the band, but with concerts being beamed live into houses along with 24hr music clips then people simply take whats on offer after the ad break. Also I very much doubt that the studios aren't willing to spend up big, it's more likely they would rather pick up a Myspace drone so as to save on marketing. No record house gives a sh*te what quality the music is going out as lon as the bottom line goes up.

Another reason I think record co. sales MAY not be hitting the dizzying heights they dream of is that the programs & equipment needed is becoming very much readily available at bugger all cost. Studios are on every other corner as well as in homes. This means a definite flood of crap onto the market BUT it also means the odd diamond may & does filter through.

So, IMO only, although piracy would no doubt attribute somewhat to a lack of profit it has much more to do with people being spoiled for choice & self sufficent. Piracy has never dictated what crap is heaped upon the masses, nor will it ever.

 

[Samwise]

A thesaurus. Top-class=professional.

ok, but i was more referring to what specifically makes a performance professional?

Lots of people say "Top-class ???? is boring. I prefer watching amateur ?????". for many things.

whats your point?