Director “Won’t think less of you” for Downloading Hit Movie on BitTorrent
Written by enigmax on January 16, 2008The director of the hit 2007 movie ‘The Nines’ says he’s been monitoring BitTorrent for its inevitable leak: “Sony, Interpol and the MPAA will do their best,” he says, “but as the guy who made the movie, I honestly want people to see the movie. If the only way you’re going to watch The Nines is illegally, so be it.”
According to many people who have seen it, ‘The Nines’ is a great movie. One reviewer on the IMDb said: “As I sat in the packed Sundance theater watching the final scene of John August’s, The Nines, I shuttered. The film had sent chills down my spine, and it lasted into the night. The script was brilliant beyond anything I have ever experienced, the character development between the three parts dissecting the film was astonishing.”
The director, John August, admits that he fully expected that his movie would get pirated in the end, but what he was really concerned about was the timing: If it leaked to the internet before the Sundance Festival he feared that potential distributors could be frightened. The other alternative - turning up online before the theatrical release - could result in reduced box office takings and increased difficulties selling into overseas markets, says John.
But of course, the movie did become available online yesterday, as John explains: “My Google News Alert feed showed the inevitable had come to pass: there was a DVD rip of The Nines online. Given the subtitles attached (Spanish and French), it was almost certainly the North American retail release, which I haven’t even held in my hands yet.”
Normally at this point, one could expect those involved in the movie to start shouting about how piracy is evil - and maybe back that up with a call to an anti-piracy outfit such as Media Defender. John August takes a more relaxed view about the leak. “That’s okay. Not ‘okay’ in the sense of ‘legal’ or ‘right’. But okay in the sense of c’est la vie” he says. Once a movie leaks to the internet there’s very little that can be done, something John is resigned to: “People are going to watch the pirated version, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Sony, Interpol and the MPAA will do their best, but as the guy who made the movie, I honestly want people to see the movie. If the only way you’re going to watch The Nines is illegally, so be it.”
We’ve seen similar attitudes from people in the movie industry before. Last year, John Wilkinson, producer of the movie ‘The Man From Earth’ actually thanked pirates for downloading his movie, claiming they added greatly to the success of the film.
Interestingly, John says that from his perspective, downloading can be seen as similar to renting. He explains: “In fact, for a writer/director, there’s not a meaningful financial difference between someone watching an illegal download and getting it from Netflix, which distributes a limited number of discs to a large audience. Discuss.”
Downloading aside, John says that as a director, he’d like people to consider buying the real thing when it comes January 29th because of the extras and unique features. He also suggests that if you buy the DVD it’s easy to share with a friend “without passing along that troubling knowledge that you’ve done something illicit.” He also believes there are other benefits to being associated with the movie: “If you’re seen buying (or renting) The Nines, you’ll immediately identify yourself as someone drawn to challenging, divisive movies. So make sure to put it at the top of the stack as you slide it across the counter.”
Of course, some people can’t be persuaded to spend money on a movie in any situation, something that John is pragmatic about.
“If these reasons and/or your conscience doesn’t persuade you, it’s not hard to find The Nines online” he accepts.
“And I won’t think less of you. Probably.”
Previously: Trading BitTorrent Tracker Invites – Commodity or Curse?
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46 Responses (Add yours or TrackBack)
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hmm. well.. I tend to think this is how a real artist thinks. They want people to see their creations.
MPAA just don’t give a damn, they just want a % of your wallet.
aside from the idiot teenagers that wouldnt shut their fucking mouths and i had to yell at in the movie theater whilst watching this film, i can say that The Nines is very, very much worth spending money on.
side note: if youre one of those people that talk during a movie, you DESERVE cancer at the very least. the movie theater is NOT your living room, shut the fuck up.
hey dude dont wish someone cancer FFS.
on-topic: I hope to see more directors/produces changing their view on piracy because in the end you create a movie to entertain people and if you dont like the fact that people are willing to download YOUR movie with all the risks attached than you are a bad producer.
than you simply do it for the money. :)
Yes … i have seen it. Great movie and i am going to buy it 5 sure.
Thats what i do with all the movies i like. Not immediately when it is released, but rather when the price has dropped or some special version comes available.
Use the new technology, mr John August, and let the big money machines (Sony, Interpol and the MPAA) die in hell. They are chasing YOUR public, realise that.
As always, you can grab it from FlixFlux: http://flixflux.co.uk/search.php?search=The +Nines
Ummm no, people who talk in the theater deserve worse, a kick in the face, or death. Whatever. Imagine, someone talking in the theater, they get taken outside, behind the building and shot. I like it.
This is why I pirate movies. I cant stand being surrounded by you stupid mouth breathers for and hour and half.
Awesome.
Like 3 people talked in ther phones last time i went to cinema..
I wish them AIDS since apparently we cant wish someone cancer.. LOL
Anyways i thought Directors were extinct since MPAA claims all movies as their creations and property..
“In fact, for a writer/director, there’s not a meaningful financial difference between someone watching an illegal download and getting it from Netflix”
So how much would a writer or director receive for a typical DVD hire?
Just in case I’d like to reimburse them after I download it…
To the director, before reading this i already came to the conclusion that i would be buying this movie anyway…99.9% of movies i watch are downloaded via bit torrent.. I have not seen a movie quite like this 1 b4..bravo.bravo.bravo… Ps i dont buy movies often….. thanks
The real problem is, that there is no way to donate money to the producers/actors/director of a movie.
I download a lot of movies from bittorrent.
Some I’m glad I never went to cinema for and didn’t pay any money at all.
Some I do like so much that I actually go to the cinema to watch them again or by the DVD later (very few indeed!).
Most movies I like but I don’t want to watch them again or even through senseless money into the MPAA-machinery of making money that doesn’t find it’s way to the actual producers, actors, director and writers(!) of that particular movie.
That’s where the system is ill down to it’s core:
There is no way to give money for those movies I liked to watch actually to the people who MADE it!!!
I’d LOVE to donate minor amounts of money for those movies/products I ENJOYED to consume (and millions of others alike would make a fortune!), because I liked the movie, I enjoyed it - and I WANT more movies to be produced by these people.
I WANT these people to make a decent living out of their art.
I WANT them to be able to continue their work.
And I WANT to give money to those who deserve it!
But the MAFIAA and the content industry takes and holds them hostage!
They don’t give me any opportunity to SUPPORT the artists and producers!
They want to force me to pay ridiculous amount’s of money (fantasy prices) for their plastic products of questionable content (DVDs and BRs) and almost none of the money goes to those who deserve it!
The same with music: I’d LOVE to BUY (single) songs I really enjoy and like to listen to - for a reasonable(!) price (50 cents!) that gets to the ARTIST and is worth it to me!
But I HATE to have to spent 15$ or more for an album compiled mostly of songs I don’t especially like at all (or pay the music industries fantasy prices (2$) on “legal” online offerings that for that amount not necessarily find it’s way to the artist and producers in a fair share!)
Consequently I don’t spent any money for music at all (and only now and then go to the cinema or buy a DVD if I really “WANT TO”
(and I will never “HAVE TO”! - that’s not in the MPAAs power to determine although they constantly try to force it (DRM), and fail miserably because IT’S NOT IN THEIR HANDS TO CONTROL OUR INTENTIONS! - But the just don’t get it.)
I understand that there are a lot of jerks out their that want to make money without deserving it.
If the industry would change to a content industry based on good will and support a lot of people would loose their income (as they already do today!) and the money would go more to those, who actually deserve it!
Of cause a lot of poeple don’t want that to happen!
And there are as well the artists that might fear this open system as well.
Some wouldn’t sell their albums anymore - they might have to realise that their customers only want selected products (songs) and NOT EVERYTHING they do unquestioned. That might be a hard lesson to learn for some immature artists as well.
And for the movie “the nines” in particular:
I probably would have failed it in the cinema anyway. It might be a good movie but I don’t know it and it’s probably not a “save bet” I assume I will enjoy beforehand and hence go to the cinema and spent quite some money to watch.
Hence without internet I wouldn’t know it and I wouldn’t spent any money for it in the first place!
Now I’ve learned about it (from the bittorrent community!) and I will probably download it and give it a try! I probably won’t watch it again in the cinema afterwards!
So with the internet nothing gained (exept my experience and the positive publicity!), but nothing lost either!
(No money lost, because you wouldn’t have gotten anything from me in the first place without internet! DO YOU GET THAT, MPAA!?!)
In contrary, if Johnn August would set up an internet site that enables me to DONATE MONEY I probably would drop in some dollars after I watched the movie and did enjoy it (as many thousands if not millions of others as well!) IF I ONLY HAD BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE!
Therefor with the internet present there would be a great potential for both, the consumer (me) and the artists (John August and his coworkers in this case) to benefit mutually - if only they would be smart enough to make it possible on their side!
I’m for my side learned to use the new opportunities to profit from.
It’s the content industries and artists obligation to mature and to learn to profit from it as well.
And of cause some will just have to learn to vanish and make their living in more decent ways - but believe me, they don’t deserve otherwise! As for that: MPAA you SUCK, GO DIE!!
Why doesn’t the artists start to open up internet sites to collect money directly for their work! Yes, the MPAA wouldn’t like that: the intellectual “property” industrie would be short cutted.
But maybe it’s time for the artist, directors, writers and producers to become more illegal!
I’d like to see the first directors and actors beeing sued by the industry for collecting donations from their fans and voluntary supporters (who might actually happen to have enjoyed their products from illegal sources free of charge. Oops, but who knows (and who can prove) why there happen to be donations?).
Wouldn’t it be interested, if both systems would coexist and the best system would prevail?
Maybe even both would have their fair share of the market and enable people to make their living (like open source and propretary software?)
Actually: wouldn’t it be interesting if directors and actors start to share their public income by donating (and paying) writers and producers who made their work possible but are not standing in the front line of publicity to make their fortune?
What kind of freaky world would that be, based on suppporting and giving voluntarily?
What a frightening world of sharing and contributing?
Thank you Mr August.
Hope it lives up to the hype.
Director looks good person and intelligent & mentioned the truth.
As i already downloaded this movie, i will definitely buy his DVD and support who created the movie.
Thanks for da great movie Mr.John August!
Someone should set up a paypal donating thing for their torrent for the director and force it upon them when it has built up a substantiale amount of money.
But how to manage it? How to keep the uploaders identity secure?
Just watched this movie last night. I’d never heard of it before it showed up on TPB, but I thoroughly enjoyed it even if it was a little wonky.
Downloading this movie just because of what he said! Now lets see how good it is and if it’s worth spending a few bucks on..
To Director
Good attitude, we will spare you come our revolution. Haha jk
Your smart in the fact that you know we cannot be stopped, you have accepted the truth and you will benefit from it in the future.
Understand that some people simply dont have the money or dont want to see it at a big screen.. also understand that some people (Like me) hate those organizations that protect your movie and I will do anything to see them fall. I would rather download your movie then pick it up brand new for free.
Think about that, thats what our community is trying to change.
I just wish there were some way we could support movies like this (the producers, writers, directors, actors…) without also supporting the MPAA. I would do it. But I will simply never give the MPAA one cent, period — hence, I won’t be seeing this in the theater or buying the DVD.
after acquiring the pirated version, watching it, and being thoroughly amazed, i honestly went over to google to see when the DVD was released as now I have full intentions of going out and buying it.
I agree with his view of the renting aspect. After the last four movies i’ve… watched… i’ve made the decision and go out and buy them when they are available.
it’s unfortunate that some of the money spent on the purchase will find it’s way to the MPAA
and by amazed, i meant impressed.
caffeine isn’t quite kicking in yet.
At #3 (TheOneX)
[quote comment="264734"]
In the end you create a movie to entertain people and if you dont like the fact that people are willing to download YOUR movie with all the risks attached than you are a bad producer and you simply do it for the money. :)[/quote]
C’mon,cut creators some slack! Sure people do things because they like to do them, but we also do things because we HAVE to do them (to get money; a necessary part of life, try living without it).
At #11 (poster)
[quote comment="264826"]The real problem is, that there is no way to donate money to the producers/actors/director of a movie.
…
I WANT these people to make a decent living out of their art.
I WANT them to be able to continue their work.
And I WANT to give money to those who deserve it!
[/quote]
EXACTLY!!! i COMPLETELY agree, and I think this is one of the single most important concepts, with the single greatest significance to all involved (especially prosecutors!). To all other creators out there, please take note!
[quote comment="264826"]
But the MAFIAA and the content industry takes and holds them hostage!
They don’t give me any opportunity to SUPPORT the artists and producers!
[/quote]
Exactly! I mean, even assuming that everyone in the support crew has been paid ($50,000 to this guy to be lead soundmixer etc.) the musicians and creators should still get money - I WANT to give them money; they’re doing a great job!
[quote comment="264826"]
They want to force me to pay ridiculous amount’s of money ($18-25) for their plastic products of questionable content (DVDs and BRs worth physically $0.25) and almost none of the money goes to those who deserve it!
[/quote]
True! But sad. _Is_ the content worth that much of a mark-up? Is it necessary for them to charge us so much? The costs for the project were finite; once its paid off, PLEASE drop the price/markup on your product to something reasonable (heck, do it sooner!).
[quote comment="264826"]
I understand that there are a lot of jerks out their that want to make money without deserving it.
Of course a lot of people don’t want that to happen!
[/quote]
Here’s a picture for your imagination: record companies that invest an initial fee in the music, then release it online; no more law, no more lawyers. Tell me a record company wouldn’t save boatloads of money if it only employed a tenth (or less) of the lawyers it does now!
No sirree bob; of course the lawyers are against simplifying the media, freeing the artists, and accepting the 21rst century!
[quote comment="264826"]
So with the internet nothing gained (except my experience and the positive publicity!), but nothing lost either!
(No money lost, because you wouldn’t have gotten anything from me in the first place without internet! DO YOU GET THAT, MPAA!?!)
[/quote]
Fuckin’ A bubba! Fuckin’ A!!!!!
[quote comment="264826"]
In contrary, if Johnn August would set up an internet site that enables me to DONATE MONEY I probably would drop in some dollars after I watched the movie and did enjoy it (as many thousands if not millions of others as well!) IF I ONLY HAD BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE!
[/quote]
Hell yes I agree; in a heartbeat I would give some of my expendable income to the creators of the tv, movies, and music I like - I want more of it, don’t I ?!?
[quote comment="264826"]
Therefor with the internet present there would be a great potential for both, the consumer (me) and the artists (John August and his coworkers in this case) to benefit mutually - if only they would be smart enough to make it possible on their side!
[/quote]
True.
You know what poster / #11?
I didn’t add any new information to your article, and I couldn’t; its just to complete, simple, perfect and true. And can’t even think of a closing statement, so I’ll just say:
You are bang - on!!!
*Shuddered.
Never heard of this movie until now, I’ll definitely be giving it a chance though.
http://musicforhumans1.blogspot.com/
i wonder if we can buy direct from the makers of the movie to support them and not all the greedy middle guy’s with no guts and with no b@lls
where are my little balls ?
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