We’re in Los Angeles for the Grindhouse junket. I noticed something interesting on my way to my hotel. The offensive Captivity billboards have been removed. But that’s not that interesting. We already knew that was going to happen. This is the interesting part: The billboards were replaced with an all-white background with the following words scribbled across “Captivity Was Here”. The movie’s official website address is of course featured at the bottom. I didn’t bring a digital camera, so I am unable to capture an image at this time. Hopefuly someone will post one online shortly.
Personally, I think the replacement ad billboard is clever and funny. And I understand that Captivity has garnered a huge amount of free publicity from the controversy, but is it too much to expect the movie studio to at least pretend to respect the public? Replacing the billboard with a self referential message regarding the banned billboard is almost a slap in the face. It’s akin to them saying “look what we did.” Again, I’m personally all for this new billboard, but I’m just trying to look at it from the perspective of a parent who complained. Am I wrong?
March 25th, 2007 at 11:05 am
I don’t think you’re wrong… from the parent’s P.O.V.
BUT, I do think it’s a good idea from Lionsgate. The movie was so under the
radar before this and now it’s on the map.
Good for them to get some free PR.
March 25th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
You’re making mountains out of molehills. The offended parties had their say. Now the studio is having theirs. That’s how free speech works. Acknowledging that they removed a message due to outside pressure is hardly a “slap in the face,” and implying that they’re not even pretending to respect the public is ridiculous hyperbole. Even if the majority of public had been up in arms over the original (and it doesn’t seem to me that they were), disagreeing with them doesn’t constitute disrespect.
March 27th, 2007 at 8:44 am
I think it is great, I saw them too this past weekend driving in Hollywood. Nice and Simple and besides they probably paid for the billboard time that they needed to fill with something?