] The movie industry announced a broad new anti-piracy
] public education campaign today, with commercials set to
] appear on all six broadcast television networks, more
] than two dozen cable channels and in 5,000 movie theaters
] nationwide.
]
] The ads are scheduled to launch at the same time on all
] participating channels during prime-time telecasts on
] Thursday. They also are slated to run between previews
] showing before Friday night's movies. Encompassing one
] 30-second and five 65-second spots, the campaign asks
] consumers not to digitally download unauthorized versions
] of movies they may find on the Internet.
]
] The spots feature actor Ben Affleck and "Titanic"
] director James Cameron, but they focus on
] behind-the-scenes movie employees, such as set painters,
] security guards, costumers, editors and theater
] concessionaires who make up the bulk of the industry's
] 580,000 workers. The point of the campaign is to persuade
] illegal downloaders that they are stealing paycheck money
] not just from multi-millionaire stars but from regular
] working folks -- folks like them.

Now, I understand that this may be the case. I sympathize with "the little guys." And when Hollywood puts out a film I like, I go to the theatre and see it, and later I buy it on DVD - I don't get a crappy pirated copy, I want quality. But if they're putting out the same old crap, well, I'm not going, and I'm not buying.

But this blatant heart-string-ing makes me ill. "Aw, look at these poor guys... but don't mind us millionaires/billionaires over here, though." If they really felt so bad about the little guy, they wouldn't fight union contracts so hard, and they'd be more open to independent filmmakers. And maybe some of these CEOs would take a pay cut to up the wages for the guys who aren't able to "put together 12 straight months" (from the article). There was a meme not too long ago about Keanu Reeves giving something like 75% of what he made back to his stunt crew because he didn't feel they were compensated enough - maybe Big Hollywood should take a cue.

Screw you, Big Hollywood. I don't buy your play.

Movie Industry Unveils Anti-Piracy Public Education Campaign (TechNews.com)