I will start a historical fact that may or may not be relevant to this blog; the countries of South Korea and Japan do not like one another. They get along on diplomatic and business levels all right, but there is no secret to their long-standing mistrust. If South Korea has a problem, North Korea is over-the-top in their hatred. Of course, North Korea hates most everything and everyone because their culture is built on such emotions.
Sony is a Japanese company and they are heavily involved in the movie industry. They have a huge presence in Hollywood.
This may be where the Republic of North Korea meets up with Hollywood.
The Interview
Seth Rogen and James Franco are comedians and hot Hollywood commodities. Sony Pictures is about to release a movie called “The Interview.” The plot involves two bumbling idiots (Rogen and Franco) who are given the assignment of executing Kim Jong Un. The Sony Corporation, and their public relations department are telling us that the movie is hilarious.
However, what has happened behind the scenes is far from funny.
Hackers have been able to network into Sony’s computer files. The hackers, who go by the silly name of “The Guardians of Peace,” have released all kinds of salary records, confidential email, images and other what-not’s out of anger at the release of the movie. Many are saying that the hacking activity suspiciously links to North Korea. However, here is where the oil and water dynamic of Hollywood versus the world starts to really manifest itself.
Sony current and past employees are suing the company for having what they consider poor computer security. In addition, guys like Rogen want to sue the media for publishing the leaked information about things like Rogen’s salary. Good luck with that, Seth. You can’t control the media and Seth, do you understand what the “media” has become? The very same social, viral media, which you are using to promote The Interview, are also circulating Sony’s confidential email, those dumb nude pictures that Sony’s starlets are so “shocked” at seeing released, and the various salary charts.
This is a lesson for all of us: nothing is private any longer; not your email at work, the websites you visit, the pictures you post or any charts, graphs or other business-related data.
The Guardians of Peace
Here is the darkening problem. There has been a threat. If the movie gets released, the so-called “Guardians” say they will launch a 9/11 style attack on movie theaters showing the movie. The so-called counter-terrorism experts tell us there is no danger. However they do believe it is North Korea inspired.
This sets up a very troubling ethical problem. I might start by saying that Seth Rogen and James Franco are cancelling all of their public appearances in support of the movie. They epitomize all that makes Hollywood…Hollywood.
I can go to any movie theater and take my 9/11 chances, but Rogen and Franco won’t make any appearances. Nor will anyone from Sony’s executive offices I would presume.
I have another question and I would allow the two comedian-actors or anyone at Sony Pictures to answer the following question: Would you have agreed to make a comedy on the execution of an American president? Most probably not. Why then, this madman in North Korea?
Trust me, I am all for First Amendment rights but my yelling “Fire!” in a packed movie theater where “The Interview” is being shown is not covered by free speech. It would get me arrested. If Rogen and Franco are so intent on seeing this movie released, and are so damn sure the threat is a joke, why are they not filing into the theaters along with the rest of us?
A crazy country waiting to explode
North Korea is a country with no real purpose other than violence and suppression. They are a rogue state on the verge of explosion. They are outside the society of nations that are considered positive contributors to the world. They are looking for any excuse to do violence. So why mock them?
Hollywood’s answer would be something like: Because we’re free and we will not be intimidated. I get that. Such conviction is in the great tradition of Hollywood standing up to tyrants. However, always before, those making such movies were unafraid and backed up their movies with conviction. Apparently there is no conviction in regard to those making this movie.
So why give them my money and why even make the movie?