NORTH KOREA-CYBERATTACK/ THE INTERVIEW SCREENING Seth Rogen surprises fans at Los Angeles screening of "The Interview"

Record ID: 355100

  • Title: NORTH KOREA-CYBERATTACK/ THE INTERVIEW SCREENING Seth Rogen surprises fans at Los Angeles screening of "The Interview"
  • Date: 25th December 2014
  • Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CINEMA EMPLOYEES HANDING OUT WARM CIDER VARIOUS OF FANS STANDING IN LINE (SOUNDBITE) (English) TAMSIN HOLLOW SAYING: "You know, this is a film I would probably would not have come to see but because of the controversy I thought I would come out tonight to stand up for freedom of speech." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKE MANNERS SAYING:
  • Embargoed: 9th January 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA97FL4VZ8HHD7TE7ST07PQ8YRQ
  • Story Text: Fans holding warm cider cups patiently waited for a 12:30 a.m. Pacific Time screening of the controversial comedy "The Interview" in Los Angeles on Christmas eve (December 24).
    The Cinefamily theater was among some approximately 320 independent U.S. theaters screening the film on Christmas Day after Sony reconsidered it's decision to pull the film from theatrical release just last week. That decision was announced after threats of September 11, 2001 style attacks on major theater chains choosing to show the film from a group that has embarrassed Sony by releasing a series of emails and other confidential information.
    For some fans, the Sony cyberattack and film controversy was reason enough to attend the screening.
    "You know, this is a film I would probably would not have come to see but because of the controversy I thought I would come out tonight to stand up for freedom of speech," said Tamsin Hollow.
    Many fans, like Hollow, attended the screening in support of freedom of speech and freedom of choice.
    "I think that the movie theater chains were thinking with their pocket books more than with their patriotism. They were just deciding, what will make us the most money, they're scared that people are going to stay away but I don't think that people will do that. I don't think people are afraid of North Korea here in America, on American soil. We've got thousands of patriotic Americans missing Christmas with their families to defend our country overseas and we can't go to a movie at home? That seems kind of lame," said Mike Manners.
    Seth Rogen and co-director Evan Goldberg surprised fans inside the theater and briefly thanked them for their support before the film screening began.
    The 12:30 a.m. Pacific Time screening of the film was sold out but the theater has six additional film screenings scheduled throughout Christmas Day.
    On Wednesday (December 24) at 10 a.m. Pacific Time "The Interview" became available through the online video platforms Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video and a dedicated website, www.seetheinterview.com.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register