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October 04, 2007
Why Won’t They Tell The Indy IV Theft Story Accurately?
Another day, another half-ass version of the Indiana Jones IV sting in “Mainstream Media.” What is the problem?
Well, part of the problem may well be that the studio and producers involved want to make the whole mess go away. And it surely will in time. Having been contained – for now, as there are a number of people out there will photos from the movie who may decide as the weeks and months pass that they can safely leak them – the story is not, in and of itself, terribly important.
However… Traditional Media has backed off of TMZ, which published on their syndicated TV show material that clearly came directly from this theft. There is no mention of TMZ in “wrap-up” coverage from the AP, The Hollywood Reporter or the Los Angeles Times. (Variety didn’t even bother to cover the arrest.) Keep in mind, the details of TMZ’s running of this material has not only been pointed to by this blog, which is closely read by reporters and editors at all of these outlets, but aired in syndication, making it easily tracked. And the original version of the story, by IESB, from which all this came, clearly pointed to TMZ… which has yet to run/keep a story on any of this on their website.
As so often is the case, it’s that darned web. The phrase of choice – “The goods had been advertised for sale through emails sent out to entertainment-gossip Web sites.”
But of course, none of these outlets bothered to point out that the ONLY purveyor of gossip that ran anything from the stash was – again – AOL’s TMZ. And not on the web, but in their TV show.
The question of whether TMZ paid for this information – a rumor amongst the webmasters – is not settled. None of us really know. But it does seem like something really self-important journalists should at least be asking about, no?
Finally, the untold part of this is that the sting involved an internet gossip purveyor. This is someone who runs test screening reviews and script reviews and all the crap that I so hate. In fact, this person, who continues to want to keep his name out of it (it’s not anyone at AICN), has had very dramatic run-ins with Paramount in the past and here, came to their rescue, fronting this sting operation and getting it done for the studio and the FBI.
That’s called a Heroic Action by a geek, standards-not-ours gossip website owner/operator. And you, Traditional Media, are on notice. You can not report this story, but you can’t say that no one told you. If you are really in the truth business, you will at least acknowledge these details… even if Paramount and the FBI lets TMZ off the hook… even if you don’t want to name the site or the guy who was in the middle of the sting (though I don’t see how you can keep stealing his story and running it as your own without acknowledging him). You owe The Truth to your readers, not some we-don’t-like-the-web-so-sod-off version of it.
Of course, the LA Times took the opportunity to do a timeline of IJ4 for fun... just not including an interneter saving the day or no one from Thise Darn Websites publsihing any of the material that so many have in their possession.
Meanwhile… I’m pretty sure that Anne Thompson is outing a Variety colleague’s little secret name on AICN. The colleague is both writing an AICN review and dishing on a movie in production. What’s that all about?
Posted by poland at October 4, 2007 10:57 AM
Comments
On what planet is that SEX IN THE CITY thing a scoop? That was reported in the British press a week or two ago - it's just that the geek sites don't follow a movie like this closely.
And MiraJeff works at Variety? I remember when he was a student in NYC who didn't know where the cool places to drink were at the ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL junket! They grow up so fast.
Posted by: Devin Faraci ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 4, 2007 12:22 PM
MiraJeff also fought Uwe Boll, I believe. And no, I don't know him.
Posted by: Alan Cerny at October 4, 2007 12:30 PM
And he was the one who puked, right? It was tragic :(
Posted by: Devin Faraci at October 4, 2007 01:01 PM
This Indy 4 story is so strange and I think it starts with the fact that the filmmakers are trying to be so mysterious with the fourth chapter of a film series that pretty much follows a formula. I mean, we know Karen Allen is in it and Cate Blanchett is the bad guy and Shia is the son, what are they going to spoil exactly? Either way, TMZ is just a better-funded Perez Hilton and it's fun to read but it rots your teeth.
As for MiraJeff, that surprises me that he works for Variety, but good for him. And Devin, there's always a cool place to drink in NYC if you just walk a few blocks.
Posted by: Noah at October 4, 2007 01:02 PM
TMZ loathsomely takes the Wild West standards of the new media (internet) and applies them to the Traditional (TV). And as much as you enjoy sticking it to TM, Dave, you have to admit, that is criminal. They are, as Chris Rock would say, the niggers who shoot at the theater screen and ruin it for black people. "Grand opening/Grand closing."
Anyway, five bucks says Spielberg will declare jihad on Levin and his slimeballs and wipe out their enterprise within a year. And God bless him.
Posted by: Crow T Robot at October 4, 2007 01:02 PM
Yeah, I didn't think MiraJeff's "identity" was a secret -- they ran his real name on that Uwe Boll boxing video, as I recall.
With the exception of "Vern" (who I tend to think is more than one person), none of the regulars at AICN are really secret any more.
Posted by: LYT at October 4, 2007 01:03 PM
Jeff's identity has never been a secret, and he's never been secretive about working at VARIETY, David.
Posted by: Drew at October 4, 2007 01:38 PM
Then thank you for clearing it up, Drew. Not sure why Anne would have played the game of not naming him then.
Also... The thing about TMZ, Crow, is that it IS Traditonal Media, just as LATimes.com or whatever. They are a corporately funded non-independent, which is a lot of my point about them. I don't much care about what Perez Hilton or whatever other independent does unless is it illegal. But for Time-Warner to be in the business of buying stolen goods about a Paramount movie...
Posted by: David Poland at October 4, 2007 01:42 PM
Further... to clarify... I am fine with Variety hiring anyone or everyone they want from AICN or anywhere else. All I ask for from EVERYONE, online or off, is transparency in journalism.
Posted by: David Poland at October 4, 2007 01:44 PM
Yes; Mirajeff has stated constantly he's from Variety over at AICN. Sure he has. Drew knowing is one thing. Myself discovering a dude who works for Variety also writes reviews for AICN... is a slightly trippy development. Everything moves so fast some times.
Posted by: IOIOIOI at October 4, 2007 02:07 PM
An employee of Variety has to masquerade around and pander to the AICN crowd? That's quite sad.
Posted by: NickF at October 4, 2007 02:36 PM
He's not "from VARIETY," IOIOIOI. He has been sending us stuff since he was in college. He only started working at VARIETY after moving to LA.
And he's been more than open about it. Of course, nothing short of signing every piece "Jeff Snyder who works at VARIETY but also contributes reviews to AICN and other outlets as a freelancer" will satisfy some, but at some point, you have to consider something disclosed and move the fuck on.
Posted by: Drew at October 4, 2007 10:39 PM
Drew; I was not trying to cause a razzle. My response simply stemed from curiosity. Nevertheless; nice of a guy from AICN to get a job at Variety. I swear... the net sure does seem to get everyone but me employeed :)!
Posted by: IOIOIOI at October 5, 2007 04:15 PM
Drew; I was not trying to cause a razzle. My response simply stemed from curiosity. Nevertheless; nice of a guy from AICN to get a job at Variety. I swear... the net sure does seem to get everyone but me employeed :)!
Posted by: IOIOIOI at October 5, 2007 04:16 PM
I have a feeling he isn't employed at Variety as a writer...correct me if I'm wrong, somebody.
Posted by: jeffmcm at October 5, 2007 04:35 PM
Thompson referred to him as a colleague. I would think that meant "writer", but the assumption may be off.
Posted by: IOIOIOI at October 5, 2007 07:12 PM
I'm guessing the intenet blogger involved was Jeffrey Wells. Am I right?
Posted by: Craptastic at October 6, 2007 10:33 PM
No. He received photos, I am told, but he was not the person who did the studio a solid.
Posted by: David Poland at October 6, 2007 10:36 PM
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