Opposition Grows to “Sceener” Ban

Actors, writers, directors, indie producers all oppose “screener” ban – who exactly supports it, Jack, you desiccated ancient freak?

Several prominent actors, including Sean Penn, Holly Hunter, Frances McDormand and Willem Dafoe, have joined the opposition to a recent ban on sending special DVDs and videos to Academy Award voters.

The Writers Guild of America also has added its voice to the argument.

Their protest follows a letter sent last week from 142 directors to Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, urging the MPAA to immediately repeal its anti-piracy plan.

The actors, writers and directors contend that asking Oscar voters to see films only in theaters will put smaller, independent features at a disadvantage, and will do nothing to stop piracy.

….An actors’ protest, to be published in the coming days, will include the names of Hilary Swank, Don Cheadle, Sissy Spacek, Ellen Burstyn, Nick Nolte, and Steve Buscemi, among others.

Screen Actors Guild president Melissa Gilbert also disagrees with the ban on screeners. “It creates a hugely inequitable and hugely unleveled playing field,” she said.

The MPAA reiterated Monday that it welcomed debate on the policy, but that the ban would remain.[AP]

I think for Jack and the boys at the MPAA, the “side effect” of the ban, that, in Gilbert’s words, “it creates a hugely inequitable and hugely unleveled playing field,” is actually their main reason for supporting it. After all, who’s in charge here anyway?