We're going to keep moving forward
An extraordinarily odd end-of-the-week for us here at Acme.
Kevin Blatt filed a cease and desist against the film, trying to prevent it from being screened at Tribeca. Next thing I know, there are reporters and cameras outside Acme’s offices and Perry and I are scrambling, attempting to write a statement for the press. I haven’t been that uncomfortable since… since… Okay, I don’t think I’ve ever been that uncomfortable.
BELOW is the official statement that we read and disseminated to the press...
April 13, 2006
From: Acme Pictures
Re: American Cannibal: The Road to Reality premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival (Producers: Perry Grebin, Michael Nigro, Denis Jensen)
The filmmakers are sad and disappointed that Kevin Blatt has chosen to threaten litigation to prevent our documentary from playing at the Tribeca Film Festival.
His fears that the film will damage his reputation in the adult industry are unfounded. Kevin Blatt is presented in the film exactly as he is -- as a porn king who likes to push the envelope of entertainment. He's an vital but not the only part of the documentary, which follows the path of his ill-fated reality show "The Ultimate, Ultimate Challenge."
While we followed him –with his permission– for several months, KB blabbed a lot about the celebrity sex tapes he constantly buys and sells. We could not help but record his comments about Paris Hilton, Colin Farrell, Cameron Diaz, this film is not about the sex tape industry: it is a documentary about reality TV and the lengths people will go to for entertainment. It tells none of his secrets: that is a job he can do himself.
posted by ACME @ 12:55 PM
26 comments
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26 Comments:
I cannot wait to see this.
Just read the story in the Post. You guys stay strong.
Huh...a porn producer doing something skeevy and entirely about his own self-interest? What's the world coming to?
Anyway, I hope the movie succeeds despite his being a jerk.
Do we Europeen guys get any updates from the premier yesterday?
How about some press releases about the film. People looking to invest like to be informed. Tell folks at Pacificap to get a webpage and create some interest.
Agree with the prev. speaker.
We saw this film at the Tribecca Festival and were very dissapointed. Can you actually call this a documentary? The two main characters are actors, right? They didn't even use their real names. During the Q&A you didn't own up to manipulating the action at all. This was very deceptive and I think you will experience a backlash from this dishonesty. You clearly worked hard on this film. Why lie to your audience and treat us disrepectfully? This film is fiction, or maybe "part documentary" at best, and you need to be honest about how it was made. Don't think this publicity-seeking hoax is going to win you any friends, boys.
There 's a lot of buzz about this one- it seems to be the media's darling despite what the film seems to say about the entertainment industry and society in general. I was at the screening last night as well. I don't think this previous blogger got the movie. Nice going Acme..!
The documentary was GREAT! it was so raw and accurate. loved how it portrayed society's obsession and curiosity to see other people struggle....reality tv is such a masochistic genre. the title is great as well.."American Cannibal". makes you think who the cannibal really is...the contestants who think they are going to eat each other....or the producers/creators/writers/etc....they seem like more of the cannibals to me. America is a cannibalistic society...feeding on others pain. i LOVED it!
How can a thinking person actually not get this doc? The filmmakers admittedly are up against trying to get distribution (and they will) but only if they play close to the vest. us
But what really is astounding are lame comments on the tampon string being too gratuitous: That's the point, you sheep!
Keep it up ACME! I'm one of your biggest fans and will spread the word.
Stop posting comments on your own blog, Acme. You publicity seeking losers. Your "film" is not a "documentary" and the only buzz about it is that it is an annoying sham.
Stop posting comments on your own blog, Acme. "media darling"? I don't think this film has gotten one good review. You are publicity seekers even more loathsome than the characters in the film. Your "film" is not a "documentary" and the only "buzz" about it is that it is an annoying sham. How is a "thinking person" supposed to enjoy this feeble hoax, esp. when the filmmakers get up and lie about it afterwards? None of your self-posted comments address the fact that you LIED to everyone who bought a ticket for this movie.
whats that annoying buzzing noise. Isn't it great how every Luser who can access the internet from his Jr. high can leave comments no matter how dumb they are? Funny that the basher is posting Anon. and then complaining about someone in a FILM using a stage name.
I have read several good reviews. Hows the distro thing going?
Weak point in the above post. This is a blog comments section whereas the "film" is supposedly a documentary. There's a big difference between the two, though your friends who made this rip-off movie seem not to think so. How about if the two "stage name" using main characters just called themselves "anonymous" throughout the movie? I don't think people would be very satisfied, though that would be a more honest route than this sham.
Distribution? Are you going to lie to the distributor too? Who's going to get in bed with this kind of thing? Oh yeah, I forgot, pornographers. See you on straight-to-video, boys...in the "poorly executed hoax" section.
"Dave" you moron. If you knew thing one about any of this process or filmaking at all you wouldn't be so up in arms and you wouldn't be anonymous. Kindly keep your misdirected and poorly worded anger to yourself. I was lucky enough to work on this film and luckier still to work with the filmakers who are excellent craftsmen and even better people: honorable, dedicated, intellegent, engaged in what they do, and simply good folk. What's got YOU so riled up? If you don't like the movie then move on and make room for the obvious many who seem to truly enjoy it. Attendance doesn't lie - all shows are sold out.
I like the angry stalker blogger above... Protesting a little TOO much..? Is this actually the filmmakers goading us? Anyway, I saw the film and had to check out the website. The line at last night's show was impressive. Seems you've got a hit there...
attendence doesn't lie, but do filmmakers?
please, would someone explain to me why the main characters in this film are using fake names throughout? why isn't this addressed? why is everyone involved so cagey about the level of manipulation in this film? it's very annoying to feel that you are being duped for a publicity stunt.
and no, this is not the same disgruntled person who posted before.
The main characters in this film are writers, aren't they? Whoever heard of a writer using a different name?
How does the executive producer of this film,Pacificap Entertainment,
'PFEHE'otcbb expect to crawl out
of the depths of obscurity with
NO web page,contact,or investor info, NO press releases BEFORE, DURING, and now AFTER the ENTIRE Tribeca Film Festival ? People might like to know some attendance figures, sellouts, buzz, overall reaction to the film, distribution talks, publicity, ANYTHING !!!
How sad...
This film deserves better.
Excuse me but has anyone been entertained. This is, after all, the "entertainment" industry, is it not. The level of alleged manipulation should not be in question here, actually nothing should be in question save whether we are entertained and whether the craft is good. I was thoroughly entertained and the more I consider any kind of "manipulation" by anyone at all my appreciation for the thing grows. If you're angry at feeling duped then welcome to the world, jack. Be angry at yourself.
zzzzz.....
I believe you have the wrong month listed for the screening @ Provincetown. Should be June 14-18?
I believe you have the wrong cities for the dates listed on your web site for the New Zealand International Film Festival.
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I was wondering if anyone at ACME Pictures knows this author, of the following review, and if anyone would like to comment on his observations. Thanks.
A few problems, 23 June 2006
Author: AlexanderHastings from United States
There are a few problems with American Cannibal. I saw this movie at the Tribeca Film Festival just about 2 months ago. I thought it was a very entertaining movie but had no chance to win any awards and I was correct on that assumption. It did not.
The first problem is that 48 people have voted for this movie and it has a ranking of 8.3. Over 70 percent of the votes are either a 9 or 10 pushing the ranking up.
49 people voting is not out of the question for a film that has played a few festivals but this film has only from what I can tell played 2 festivals with a total of 7 screenings. Let's say in those 7 screenings there were a total of 1400 people. This would mean something like 1 out of every 29 people watching the movie came on here and loved it so much that they had to sign up for an IMDb account (like I just did) and vote! Second problem I see is that there were 8 User Comments, All VERY VERY positive reviews that seem to be placed there by the filmmakers or close friends. The first 5 comments were all placed about 3 weeks after Tribeca Film Festival ended and all of the users that published comments had never published a review before. In any normal situation reviews and voting would happen within days of the festival screening ending. Instead these people had to let this movie sink in for 3 weeks to write a review.
The last 3 comments have come in the last week and all first time reviews except one of the members decided to review Sideways and give American Cannibal a better review.
Why don't the filmmakers let the film talk for itself instead of trying to rig IMDb to make it look like the movie is a masterpiece, it just isn't.
Alex Hastings
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