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Sony Cancels Movie, US Confirms North Korea Involvement, But Were Bomb Threats Empty?
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Marilyn Cohodas
Marilyn Cohodas,
 User Rank: Strategist
12/19/2014 | 10:02:15 AM
Re: Sony Cancels Movie
Alison, I agree that the best solution is to go to some sort of on-demand streaming or cable distribution. It's really sad to see the studios and movie theatres cave in to the threats of violence over a vigorous defense of free speech, but given recent history in Aurora Co and elsewhere, it is a precaution that will save lives... But definitely a loss for freedom of expession. In many ways, I think the loss is much greater than the typical retail hack of PII...

 
Technocrati
Technocrati,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/18/2014 | 8:29:27 PM
It's all about the Numbers

"...In January, Sony Pictures laid off an undisclosed number of employees in its technology unit." 

 

Ah yes the yearly pruning  of the ol' tech workforce.  So what's wrong with that ?   

Technocrati
Technocrati,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/18/2014 | 8:23:53 PM
Is this a Riddle or Something ?
"Where do you put 100 TB of data?"

 

How about in 100 - 1 TB drives ?
Technocrati
Technocrati,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/18/2014 | 8:22:05 PM
We Know where it came from. Now What ?

What gets me is that the FBI and Sony actually think they are going  to find these individuals and bring them to justice.   Talk about fiction.

Technocrati
Technocrati,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/18/2014 | 8:19:34 PM
Sony: Take Somber Responsibility

This issue is becomiing more bizarre by the day.   Now bomb threats ?   I am glad Sony did the socially responsible thing and chose not to place the movie in theaters.  ( which only makes one wonder what took so long ? ). This latest development does leave me a little more somber about this entire issue though.

This really has mushroomed out of control for the most part - but I hold fast to the fact that Sony has no one to blame but themselves.   We seem to hear everything from them but that.

Alison_Diana
Alison_Diana,
 User Rank: Moderator
12/18/2014 | 5:30:55 PM
Re: Sony Cancels Movie
Hear, hear. The American government talks all the time about it never negotiates with terrorists (which, I'd argue, is debatable) but in this case Sony simply capitulated to vague threats. Granted, many major movie houses succumbed to the threats before Sony made its decision -- but what a terrible precedent to set. We've seen picket lines and protests outside movie theaters before. That's fine. That's people using free speech to show that they disagree with a movie's theme, an actor, whatever. But caving in like this is really sad.

I had thought Sony would go directly to video on demand, at least, or some other format that allowed consumers to show support for the movie. Have seen many social media posts from people who had planned to buy the movie, whether or not they wanted it, as a show of support. 
GonzSTL
GonzSTL,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/18/2014 | 1:47:00 PM
Sony Cancels Movie
It is unfortunate that Sony caved and cancelled the Premier of "The Interview" because by doing so, they have set themselves up for future censoring of potentially any movie they plan to produce. The sad part is that this does not apply only to Sony, but also to any movie production company. There is now a precedent set, where any activist group can simply threaten mass killing of people if a movie that they do not agree with is shown publicly. Furthermore, there wasn't even any evidence that the threat would have been carried out, so essentially, Sony chickened out, and is now being attacked in the media for succumbing to a terroristic demand. Black eye for getting breached, another black eye for capitulating. Bad deal all around. What Sony should do now is to release the film globally online, charge a minimal fee for viewing it ($5 would do nicely), and pledge that half of the proceeds would go to help feed starving children around the world until they recoup their initial investment, at which time all excess proceeds will go towards that food effort. Although investors might not like that idea, it would at least save some face for Sony, and make it a good year for the kids in need!
Whoopty
Whoopty,
 User Rank: Ninja
12/18/2014 | 12:19:30 PM
Disappointed
Whether the bomb threats were real or not, I'm still quite disappointed that most of the major cinemas caved to the threats. Sony I can understand doing so a little more, since the theatres had already backed out, but still. 

I hope this doesn't set a precedent where all groups have to do to silence artists is to threaten people with violence. 


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