Canada hit by movie preview ban

[popopot]

http://www.slyck.com/newspics/mpaa2.jpg"A Hollywood studio is to cancel all preview screenings of its movies in Canada, in an attempt to clamp down on "rampant" film piracy in the region."

Warner Bros will halt all "promotional and word-of-mouth screenings" of new releases, says the Hollywood Reporter. The studio blamed the failure of the Canadian government to make camcording - videotaping a film directly off the cinema screen - an illegal practice. The preview ban will affect Ocean's Thirteen and the latest Harry Potter.

"We regret having to cancel our screenings in Canada," said Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution at Warner Brothers. "But our studio must take steps to protect not only our branded assets, but our commitment to film-makers and to our distributors." The ban was announced on Monday, as representatives from major film studios told a parliamentary committee in Canada that unauthorised recording of Hollywood films in domestic cinemas was rampant.

"Canada is the number one priority in terms of anti-camcording legislation," said Darcy Antonellis, a senior figure in worldwide anti-piracy operations at Warner Bros Entertainment. "Within the first week of a film's release, you can almost be certain that somewhere out there a Canadian copy will show up." Last year, Twentieth Century Fox threatened to postpone film releases in Canada to eliminate the threat of unauthorised camcording.

Cable talks
Meanwhile, the major studios are in talks with US cable company Comcast over plans to screen films on cable TV on the same day as they are released in cinemas. Comcast's Stephen Burke told a trade show in Las Vegas that subscribers could be charged between $30 to $50 (£15-£25) to watch a film release at home on its opening day in cinemas.

"We've talked to the studios about this and they're all interested," said Mr Burke, but added that there were no imminent developments. Studios, which make a large chunk of their profit from DVD sales, are eager to narrow the gap between big screen debuts and DVD releases, thereby reducing the need for a second promotional campaign. However, cinema owners have strongly resisted any effort to close the window amid fears their attendances would fall.

:source: Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6634173.stm

[Hairbautt]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/Hairbautt/News%20Images/Piracy1.jpgAccording to BetaNews, 70 percent of Warner Bros.’s films that are pirated have originated from Canada in the past 18 months which are then distributed around the world.

In turn, the Studio has enacted a new policy in Canada where “it would no longer hold promotional screenings of movies…and all press screenings would take place in a private room.”

A spokesman from the company explains that the new “policy represents the studio's response to the lack of legislation in Canada to curtail the growing wave of camcorder-shot ("camcorded") films being trafficked around the world.”

Quite obviously, blame (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blame_Canada)Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blame_Canada).

However, “Canada has not adopted a federal law making camcording illegal or permitting the confiscation of equipment…” therefore contributing to the growing movie piracy in the country as well as internationally.

As for the promotional screenings the upcoming films by Warner Bros. and Warner Independent Pictures films will be affected: Oceans Thirteen and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Guess you’re gonna have to check the eweb or some such.

:source: Source: BetaNews (http://www.betanews.com/article/Warner_Canada_Source_of_Film_Piracy/1178745751)
:view: Related: BBC News - Canada hit by movie preview ban (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6634173.stm)

Just added: Another move by Warner Bros. has been made in Hong Kong "to combat movie piracy by offering high quality downloads, for a price." Check it out at DailyTech. Seems as though they are stepping up their campaign.

:view: Related: DailyTech - Warner Bros. to Offer Movies Online in Hong Kong (http://www.dailytech.com/Article.aspx?newsid=7231)

[Darth Sushi]

…and all press screenings would take place in a private room.”

In a private room with drugs, hookers, and fire trucks! :whistling Those canucks are crazy! :D

[S!X]

So basically they've branded us as the source of all pre-screenings that are leaked on the net? Man that's weak...

[accat13]

Hmm local radio station say all there pre screening promotional viewings have very tight security...Are warner bros saying they can't even secure a few theaters for promotional viewing(very sad) Do you think this could be political in nature maybe, designed to put pressure on Ottawa...!!

[Hairbautt]

Do you think this could be political in nature maybe, designed to put pressure on Ottawa...!!
They do blame it on "lax laws." :unsure:

[Virtualbody1234]

Hmm local radio station say all there pre screening promotional viewings have very tight security...Are warner bros saying they can't even secure a few theaters for promotional viewing(very sad) Do you think this could be political in nature maybe, designed to put pressure on Ottawa...!!

Yup. It's pressure tactics for sure.

[lynx]

Let's see, these previews are invite only AFAIK (though I bet we could trade them :naughty: ) and are primarily for the movie company's benefit.

All I can see here is negative publicity for Warner, and lack of promotion of their own products. Sounds like a winner to me, for all the studios except Warner.

[1337shiznit]

So when these films inevitably find their way onto the net anyway, will Warner Brothers then apologise and change their policy?

(fat chance)

[peat moss]

Yep blame Canada , sounds like a future script for the Simpsons or South Park .

[tesco]

Cable talks
Meanwhile, the major studios are in talks with US cable company Comcast over plans to screen films on cable TV on the same day as they are released in cinemas. Comcast's Stephen Burke told a trade show in Las Vegas that subscribers could be charged between $30 to $50 (£15-£25) to watch a film release at home on its opening day in cinemas.

That's such bullshit. So instead of a shitty cam getting leaked onto the internet an sdtv-quality copy will be? :blink:

[Hairbautt]

Oh hell I just F*cked something up with merge :dabs:

Oh well...:rolleyes:

Anyhow you know its because of Canada being a major source of pirated content now don't ya?

Rossco...:shifty:

[tesco]

Yep blame Canada , sounds like a future script for the Simpsons or South Park .
Sheila: Times have changed
Our kids are getting worse
They won't obey their parents
They just want to fart and curse!
Sharon: Should we blame the government?
Liane: Or blame society?
Dads: Or should we blame the images on TV?
Sheila: No, blame Canada
Everyone: Blame Canada
Sheila: With all their beady little eyes
And flapping heads so full of lies
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Sheila: We need to form a full assault
Everyone: It's Canada's fault!
Sharon: Don't blame me
For my son Stan
He saw the damn cartoon
And now he's off to join the Klan!
Liane: And my boy Eric once
Had my picture on his shelf
But now when I see him he tells me to fuck myself!
Sheila: Well, blame Canada
Everyone: Blame Canada
Sheila: It seems that everything's gone wrong
Since Canada came along
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Copy Guy: They're not even a real country anyway
Ms. McCormick: My son could've been a doctor or a lawyer rich and true,
Instead he burned up like a piggy on the barbecue
Everyone: Should we blame the matches?
Should we blame the fire?
Or the doctors who allowed him to expire?
Sheila: heck no!
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Sheila: With all their hockey hullabaloo
Liane: And that bitch Anne Murray too
Everyone: Blame Canada
Shame on Canada
For...
The smut we must stop
The trash we must bash
The Laughter and fun
Must all be undone
We must blame them and cause a fuss
Before someone thinks of blaming uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!!!!
:whistling:

[kuzzel540]

Why wouldn't Canada make it illegal to film a movie in a theatre with a video camera?

[erRor67]

Sheila: Times have changed
Our kids are getting worse
They won't obey their parents
They just want to fart and curse!
Sharon: Should we blame the government?
Liane: Or blame society?
Dads: Or should we blame the images on TV?
Sheila: No, blame Canada
Everyone: Blame Canada
Sheila: With all their beady little eyes
And flapping heads so full of lies
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Sheila: We need to form a full assault
Everyone: It's Canada's fault!
Sharon: Don't blame me
For my son Stan
He saw the damn cartoon
And now he's off to join the Klan!
Liane: And my boy Eric once
Had my picture on his shelf
But now when I see him he tells me to fuck myself!
Sheila: Well, blame Canada
Everyone: Blame Canada
Sheila: It seems that everything's gone wrong
Since Canada came along
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Copy Guy: They're not even a real country anyway
Ms. McCormick: My son could've been a doctor or a lawyer rich and true,
Instead he burned up like a piggy on the barbecue
Everyone: Should we blame the matches?
Should we blame the fire?
Or the doctors who allowed him to expire?
Sheila: heck no!
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Sheila: With all their hockey hullabaloo
Liane: And that bitch Anne Murray too
Everyone: Blame Canada
Shame on Canada
For...
The smut we must stop
The trash we must bash
The Laughter and fun
Must all be undone
We must blame them and cause a fuss
Before someone thinks of blaming uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!!!!
:whistling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaRLjvWgAHs :D

[WHiKWiRE]

I wouldn't be too broken up if the Canadian government banned camcording in the cinema. I can wait personally for a decent TC, R5 or DVDSCR. Though I am glad that even though we are being pressured by big name studio's were sticking to our guns. Canada just got some cojones!! :lol:

[ulun64]

This won't hurt Canada, It's will hurt Warnes bros.

[cerote]

Now if Comcast would do the screenings in HD then it would not be to bad. Just invite over enough friends to make up for the cost and have a good surround sound and tv and you are set.

Comcast is digging it's claws into everything. They are now doing onDemand movies the day of their dvd releases.