Allied Journal


The end of Hollywood screeners?
11 Oct 2003

Accusations of dirty tricks and shameful attempts to influence the voters have been made. But this is not the aftermath of this week's Californian gubernatorial race but a bitter row over next year's Oscars.

Prompting the dispute was the decision by the Motion Picture Association of America, which represents all the main studios, to ban "screeners" - the videos and DVDs of Oscar contenders that have routinely been sent out to members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The videos and DVDs, which would normally be arriving shortly on the doorsteps of the 6,000 academy members with the legend "for your consideration", are now forbidden. From now on, academy members who want to see the dozens of films competing, will have to seek them out at cinemas or specially organised screenings.

The MPAA claim that the screeners have led to piracy, with copies of new films appearing on the black markets across the world sometimes before the release of the films. But hundreds of academy members have claimed that the decision will seriously harm the chances of smaller, risky and independent films that may not have long runs in cinemas.

Yesterday some of the biggest names in Hollywood swung into action. A total of 142 members of the industry signed an open letter to the MPAA and its chief, Jack Valenti.

The names included Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Robert Altman, Francis Ford Coppola, Jodie Foster, Sydney Pollack, Ang Lee, Joel Coen, Pedro Almodovar, Nora Ephron, Arthur Penn and Spike Jonze. British film-makers, Mike Leigh, Stephen Frears, Michael Winterbottom, Sally Potter and Mike Figgis have also signed.

"Many great films, and in particular films that take risks, rely on critical acclaim and, when the film is fortunate enough, academy consideration to reach a broad audience," says the letter, published in Variety, the trade's daily newspaper. "The MPAA decision to ban screeners irreparably damages the chances of such films."

Accusing the MPAA of creating an "unwarranted obstacle", the letter says that the signatories oppose piracy but are not convinced by the MPAA's claims of a link between the screeners and piracy.

"It has been said that we in the film industry are honour-bound to go along with this ban," says the letter. "We believe that as film-makers we are honour-bound to oppose it."

The MPAA yesterday reiterated its decision. The president of the MPAA, 82-year-old Jack Valenti, a former advisor to President Lyndon Johnson who has held his post since 1966, is known for his autocratic style. An MPAA statement said that Valenti "welcomes the exchange of thoughts and ideas ... That said, the screener policy remains as it was announced".

Opponents of the ban claim that smaller films, like Boys Don't Cry, which won an Oscar for its star, Hilary Swank, and In the Bedroom, will be squeezed out of the nominations because they have short runs in cinemas and academy members will not all have a chance to see them.

DreamWorks have already announced that they will have to have special screenings for their new film, House of Sand and Fog, starring Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly, because of the ban.

Academy members who have also relied on having a bundle of DVDs and videos over Christmas, as gifts and holiday fare, are also irritated at the ban, which is widely seen as a way for the big studios to consolidate the power of their expensive blockbusters.

However, even with the new rules, Terminator 3 is still not regarded as a favourite for any of the main Oscars.

Accusations of dirty tricks and shameful attempts to influence the voters have been made. But this is not the aftermath of this week's Californian gubernatorial race but a bitter row over next year's Oscars.

Prompting the dispute was the decision by the Motion Picture Association of America, which represents all the main studios, to ban "screeners" - the videos and DVDs of Oscar contenders that have routinely been sent out to members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The videos and DVDs, which would normally be arriving shortly on the doorsteps of the 6,000 academy members with the legend "for your consideration", are now forbidden. From now on, academy members who want to see the dozens of films competing, will have to seek them out at cinemas or specially organised screenings.

The MPAA claim that the screeners have led to piracy, with copies of new films appearing on the black markets across the world sometimes before the release of the films. But hundreds of academy members have claimed that the decision will seriously harm the chances of smaller, risky and independent films that may not have long runs in cinemas.

Yesterday some of the biggest names in Hollywood swung into action. A total of 142 members of the industry signed an open letter to the MPAA and its chief, Jack Valenti.

The names included Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Robert Altman, Francis Ford Coppola, Jodie Foster, Sydney Pollack, Ang Lee, Joel Coen, Pedro Almodovar, Nora Ephron, Arthur Penn and Spike Jonze. British film-makers, Mike Leigh, Stephen Frears, Michael Winterbottom, Sally Potter and Mike Figgis have also signed.

"Many great films, and in particular films that take risks, rely on critical acclaim and, when the film is fortunate enough, academy consideration to reach a broad audience," says the letter, published in Variety, the trade's daily newspaper. "The MPAA decision to ban screeners irreparably damages the chances of such films."

Accusing the MPAA of creating an "unwarranted obstacle", the letter says that the signatories oppose piracy but are not convinced by the MPAA's claims of a link between the screeners and piracy.

"It has been said that we in the film industry are honour-bound to go along with this ban," says the letter. "We believe that as film-makers we are honour-bound to oppose it."

The MPAA yesterday reiterated its decision. The president of the MPAA, 82-year-old Jack Valenti, a former advisor to President Lyndon Johnson who has held his post since 1966, is known for his autocratic style. An MPAA statement said that Valenti "welcomes the exchange of thoughts and ideas ... That said, the screener policy remains as it was announced".

Opponents of the ban claim that smaller films, like Boys Don't Cry, which won an Oscar for its star, Hilary Swank, and In the Bedroom, will be squeezed out of the nominations because they have short runs in cinemas and academy members will not all have a chance to see them.

DreamWorks have already announced that they will have to have special screenings for their new film, House of Sand and Fog, starring Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly, because of the ban.

Academy members who have also relied on having a bundle of DVDs and videos over Christmas, as gifts and holiday fare, are also irritated at the ban, which is widely seen as a way for the big studios to consolidate the power of their expensive blockbusters.

However, even with the new rules, Terminator 3 is still not regarded as a favourite for any of the main Oscars.



 

 


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