Toronto Mike

We're Pirates, Arrrr

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Canadians have become the international scapegoats for movie piracy.  As a result, anti-piracy campaigns and efforts are highly intense.

I don't attend many premiere screenings of films, but last night we attended the Toronto premiere for Underdog.  First they wave their wand over your body searching for recording devices.  If that wand beeps, you've got some explaining to do.  Then, if you've got a bag of any kind, they search it looking for the same.  They want anything camera-ish...

I actually had my 4mp Olympus with me and they wouldn't let me take it into the theatre.  I know the guy was just doing his job, but this camera takes 30 second clips that totally suck.  When nature called half way through the film, I couldn't get back inside without going through the whole ordeal again.  I'll give them props for due diligence, that's for sure.

During the movie itself, I saw a security guy walking the aisles taking video of everyone in attendance.  He was clearly shooting the crowd searching for Kramer and his camcorder.

Is all this effort because Canada is "a hotbed for film piracy" or is just because of all the hype surrounding the release of Underdog?

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