Jack Valenti, Studio Lap Boy, and his pursuit of a screener free world!

Hey folks, Harry here... Thus far, I've remained fairly silent on the whole Jack Valenti / War on Screeners campaign that is going on, but ya know what... Here's where I come down on this. Every year, on the nose... when Academy Screeners hit, the web is hit with really pristine copies of all the studio films that they wish to consider for end of the year Awards. Without fail this happens. As a film critic that makes a top ten (or 40) list, each year I get sent tons of these screeners for consideration. Admittedly, I would much prefer private / exclusive screenings here in Austin for every quality film released or set to be released, but at the same time... when dealing with indie distributors... the folks with a far smaller budget in terms of being able to A) Rent the theater. B) Send that heavy ol 35mm Print via FedEx - two ways. and C) Hire security to make sure that nobody is taping the screening of the film.

Of course, the problem is, somewhere in Hollywood, amongst the thousands of screeners that were being sent out was somebody that thought putting these things online would be cool, that wanted to profit by selling the pristine dvds to Asian Piracy groups and ultimately... they are the cause for these pristine copies getting out.

Of course, what is the problem with expecting the entire memberships of all these voting organizations to attend all the screenings of all the films? 1st off, how many of the Academy Voters want to be out seeing 3 movies a day for the next 4 months, trying to find parking, get good seats and find time for a regular social life? They won't. So what will this do to the process... in particular, the Academy Awards? Very simply... the marketing campaigns will end up ruling. In the very same way that films tend to become successful in the "mainstream" the success of these films will become reliant on motivating voters out of their houses and into a theater to see the film in question. This will definitely affect the films without the bigger stars, without the bigger buzz and without the bigger advertising campaigns.

Essentially, it means that RETURN OF THE KING will definitely win BEST PICTURE, because there is no way that a film like LOST IN TRANSLATION will possibly be seen by a big enough portion of the Academy Voting public to compete. Because there is no way that TRIPLETTES OF BELLEVILLE or MILLENIUM ACTRESS will be able to compete against FINDING NEMO, if screeners are not allowed into the mix. Does this mean that Paul Giamatti and Bill Murray both won't have a prayer this year? Basically. This means that the little guys lose. The little films won't be able to compete.

Is there another answer? Absolutely. Each screener that goes out could have a visual marking that isn't the type that just stays on the bottom of the screen, but a specific marking that appears at a specific predetermined point that marks the print to the individual it was sent to. It would appear for only a fraction of a second, but if it was determined that the academy member in question leaked their copy... or a critic leaked their copy... then they would be prosecuted to the highest extent of the law, plus be thrown out of the academy and off of any future lists.

Then, in a very high profile fashion, you humiliate and prosecute. Because this isn't teenagers, these are ACADEMY MEMBERS and FILM CRITICS that are leaking these things. They should know better.

And, if this really is all about Piracy - MR. VALENTI... perhaps you could explain the following....

Jack Valenti faxed a clarifying memo to the studios today regarding the ban on Oscar screeners. It reaffirms that no screeners, for any movies regardless of the status of their DVD/video release, are to be sent out. Jack's memo reads:

"Questions by some of the companies' subsidiaries have been quoted in the newspapers. It has been reported that some subsidiaries believe it is ok to send out screeners if the film has been released in home video form. This is incorrect. The policy is - no screeners of any kind are allowed to be sent out. Once an exemption is made, the barn door is wide open.

I hope you will instruct your subsidiaries that no screeners are to be mailed, whether they have been released in home video/DVD or not.

Jack"

Ok, JACK.... If the policy is to STOP PIRACY - then explain why you don't want screeners of existing home video and dvd releases sent out. The pirates already have those. Nothing new is going to be caused by their being sent to Academy members. If you really wanted to stop piracy altogether, you should just instruct the studios to cease making or releasing films. That'd nip it in the bud. I mean, if there is no product, then there is no problem. Right? Jack - it is your job to stop piracy and to work with the F.B.I. to protect the studio's investment. This policy actually hurts smaller films and smaller filmmakers.