Sicko Watch: Moore's 'Sicko' a hit...with pirate community
If the pirate community is any judge of movies, Michael Moore's Sicko is sure to be a hit.
On the day that the documentary about the health care industry is scheduled to debut, unauthorized copies continue to flitter across the Web. Illegal downloading of the film began gathering steam last week when copies appeared at The PirateBay, YouTube and Google Video.
What started with just a few hundred people a week ago, has mushroomed into the tens of thousands. A review of torrent search engines Mininova, TorrentReactor.net, The PirateBay, Isohunt and Torrentz on Friday showed that thousands of people were downloading the movie throughout the day (thanks to Richard for the tip).
There were unconfirmed reports that the film also reappeared briefly on Google Video over the past few days before being pulled.
If you recall, I am trying to discern what kind of impact file sharing has on ticket sales for a movie that has yet to open widely. While the Weinstein Co. issued public threats about prosecuting those responsible for leaking the movie, the controversy has sparked lots of valuable media attention for the film.
A CNET News.com reader named Seth argued that Hollywood shouldn't forget that file sharers are a trend-setting demographic. He said that often when the sharers download a good flick, they act as an underground marketing arm by spreading the word to friends.
"That is a huge profit and free advertisement," Seth wrote. "Eventually everyone will download movies...hopefully by then the big movie companies will have become smart enough to find a way to profit off the new way movies are watched."
The file-sharing community may feel more entitled to share Sicko than other movies. In an interview three years ago, Moore voiced his support for file sharing, saying that he didn't agree with copyright laws and that he just wanted people to see his movies. He didn't care how they saw them. (Played back in court, that interview would make a nice defense, no?)
More recently, however, Moore has sounded less supportive of copyright violators.
He told the media this week that he thinks whoever was responsible for distributing the DVD copies that apparently were the source of much of the file sharing, is trying to undercut his film. The Weinstein Co. has not responded to requests to interview Moore or the Weinsteins.
Next week we'll continue to track ticket sales and talk to marketing experts to see whether file sharers can take a bow for helping promote Sicko. But beware those of you who might have downloaded the film.
Should it tank, you might make a convenient scapegoat.
Greg Sandoval covers media and digital entertainment for CNET News. He is a former reporter for The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. E-mail Greg, or follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sandoCNET. 
especially creative things like music and movies. I mean - geez -
nevermind that someone actually spent a whole hell of a lot of
time in CREATING something - it should just be free- right?
WRONG! I applaud Michael Moore's change of heart/thinking in
regards to file sharing. A big Bronx raspberry to Seth and others
who believe it's their God-given right to download copyrighted
material ad nauseum for free. I say Seth and those of his ilk
should offer their services for free - in fact - I hope his boss (if
he's working that is) takes away his paycheck. After all - what's
good for the goose should be good for the gander.
I plan on seeing "SICKO" and I plan on paying to see it! Michael
Moore is an artist and artists need to be paid for their work!
Lorrie
Lizard Dance Productions
Healing Sounsdscapes Inspired by the Sonoran Desert
now. I also intend to buy the DVD when it is released. I have
bought all of Michael's movies. So he will get his money.
I also plan to rip the DVD once I buy it, convert it to H264 and
store it on my media box for easy playback. All of that is also
ILLEGAL by the way. Yes, I cannot make backups of my own
purchased material. Hell, I cannot even PLAY that material
without paying an extra license for the player!
Now, as a good little corporate slave you will that that all of that
is JUST FINE. You will bemoan the poor artist, who in actuality
only get a pittance for their work while the movie and music
oligarchs pull down 98% of the profit. You will say that if I do not
like the system I should change it, it is a democracy after all. Or
is it? Do I have the hundreds of millions that the RIAA and
MPIAA spend on lobbyist and congressional bribes? Hell no I
don't.
This is a broken political and economic system that screws the
little guy in favor of the wealthy few. The digital world has upset
this system and given the little guy tools to fight back for a
change. The nobility is upset, they cannot have this. And you, a
good little slave, play right along with them, knowing your
subservient place as a dog at the table and happy for it.
I say Hail to all the Robin Hoods and Merry Men (and Women)!
Hail to those who fight a corrupt system. Hail to those who
realize power does not equal justice! Pirate on Batman!
I can't pay for everything out there in full copy price.
Does that mean I shouldn't see it? No. Information demands freedom. From cost? Not necessarily- from limits on distribution? Yes. It will escape. Everyone should be able to experience everything. What are you going to tell me? That there's a limited number of copies of these things?
I happen to have a 2.8 GHz replicator. Scarcity doesn't work here.
- If One is Smart..
- by georgiarat June 22, 2007 7:40 PM PDT
- They would not pirate, nor buy, nor watch another Moore
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(10 Comments)propaganda film. However we have some people who have
become so "well-educated" that their thoughts have become
detached from common sense. Then there are just the weak
minded that know no better.