You can catch most of the main hall events, and some of the smaller forums, on both CSPAN and via the web here.
My time there last year was very positive and reinvigorating. I’m truly sorry I wasn’t able to make it this year.
Month: August 2007
ARLINGTON, Va. – A 19-year-old woman is facing up to a year in jail and a fine up to $2,500 when she goes to trial this month on charges of illegally recording part of a motion picture.
Jhannet Sejas readily admits she used her digital camera last month in an Arlington theater to film about 20 seconds of the climax of the hit movie “Transformers.” She said she wanted to show the clip to her little brother and had no intention of selling it.
But minutes after filming the clip, police showed up in the theater, shining a flashlight in her face. Sejas and her boyfriend were ordered out, and the camera was confiscated.
Just an overzealous usher and bored police, right? Well:
Arlington County police spokesman John Lisle said the theater wanted to prosecute the case, which is a first for the police department.
“They were the victim in this case, and they felt strongly enough about it,” Lisle said.
That’s right. A crappy 20 second video clip victimizes Regal Entertainment Group (Second quarter 2007 gross revenues of $684 million). Another blow to the beleaguered forces of overbroad copyright claims. How will they ever survive?
This is the closest theater to me, and while it’s not my favorite in the area, I’ve often used it out of convenience. In fact, I’d made plans to see a movie there tonight. Forget it. For tonight and every other night. I’d urge you to do the same.* Better environments and movies can be found at Landmark’s E Street Cinema, Arlington Cinema and Draft House, or even the AMC Theatre in Courthouse.
Update: check out the WaPo story for additional details and some choice quotes. From the general counsel of the theater owners’ association: “We cannot educate theater managers to be judges and juries in what is acceptable[.]” Well, there you go.
*And let them know why. You can contact Regal Entertainment Group corporate offices at:
7132 Regal Lane, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37918.
Corporate phone: 1-865-922-1123
Fax: 1-865-922-3188
Customer relations number: 1-877-TELLREGAL or 1-877-835-5734.