The 'Fanboys' Situation Gets Real Nasty
Filed under: Comedy, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom
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I shouldn't need to go through this whole thing again, so if you have no idea what's currently going on with the film Fanboys, read this, this and this -- and then come back. A little while ago I received the craziest email from a good pal, and that email contained three other email exchanges between director Steve Brill (aka the dude who took over for Kyle Newman during reshoots) and fans of the original cut of Fanboys. A couple of notes before I post these emails:
- No matter how cruddy the director is, I do not support attacking the man's cut when you haven't even seen it yet. I've made that clear before, and I'll say it again now. However, his other films are definitely fair game.
- I've confirmed with a source "in the know" that this is indeed Steve Brill behind these emails; that, originally, he confessed to them, but then tried to say someone hacked his email account when he realized how much of a complete idiot he came off as. But note that I have not talked to Brill myself (though I'm totally willing to do so, Steve, so email me), so I'm not 100% certain this was him. More like 96.5%.
- Also, I've tried to clean up the foul language as best I can, but do keep in mind that these email exchanges aren't exactly safe for work.
That said, head after the jump to read these hysterical exchanges ...
Email 1:
Fan's email to Brill:
Sent: Feb 23, 2008 5:25 PM
Subject: You suck for re-cutting 'fanboys'
You suck for re-cutting 'fanboys'
You really do.
Brill's response:
From: ******@******
Subject: Re: You suck for re-cutting 'fanboys'
U suck for e mailing me your bullsh*t whining. U r gonna like fanboys better because of me and then u can kiss my ass
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Email 2:
Fan's email to Brill
Dear Mr. Brill,
I had contacted my theatres booking agent when I first heard about "Fanboys. " I thought it would be an uplifting and funny change of pace for our theatres.
Now, I realize that it will be the same cut and dried mainstream junk that has been habitually littering our auditoriums.
I am going to contact my booker and suggest that as a company, we do not pick up this film for presentation. You have ruined a wonderful concept.
Sincerely,
Chris
Brill's response:
From: *****@******
No. Please god. No Chris... please no. Don't wield your power against us. I was just trying to help. Please Christopher don't hold it against the movie. We'll do anything to gain your trust. You seem so important and so knowledgeable, obviously you have formed a real considered opinion and the fact that you will not book us into your theatre is so unfair. I implore you sir please reconsider. Direct your wrath at me, but don't take it out on the movie..... What can we do to appease you Chris? You dumb cu*t. E mail me again and I will hunt you down f**ker... try me.
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Email 3:
Fan's email to Brill:
You're involved with Fanboys for nothing more than a quick buck. You don't give a damn about the movie, Star Wars or its fans, so why the f**k did you agree to the job? Do you sleep comfortably at night knowing that you've bastardised a film that has the potential to become a cult classic for years on end into a movie which will be forgotten about in less than 6 weeks.
Little Nicky was okay, the rest sucked.
Once more, f**k you!
Brill's response:
From: ******@*******
Hey Owen. You're kind of a big mouth tough guy over the internet. Wanna come say f**k you to my face? I'd be happy to give you the chance. How about this tough guy. You and I go head to head in a Star Wars Trivia contest. You think I don't care about the wars f**ker? I know more about it than you can imagine. I care deeply and have been immersed in Star Wars since it came out. I was there jerk off. I still have my stub. I have seen the trilogy probably a hundred times in the theater! And you dare question my caring. You think I would do it for the money!? I did it to get the movie released! So people like you could see it. But come on. Let's prove who cares more. Five thousand dollars to the winner of a trivia contest. I'll donate my winnings to the American Cancer Society...So get ready big shot... If you e mail me again, you better be ready to lose that five thousand.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-26-2008 @ 5:24PM
Mr_A said...
If it really is him, he sounds like a joke. It's really too bad that spectacles like this don't guarantee him being banned from any further productions. I wonder what Lucas would have to say about these shenanigans.
Reply
3-26-2008 @ 5:36PM
Blake said...
Brill fighting fan #3. Opinionated director vs opinionated fan. THAT would be a movie worth seeing!
Reply
3-26-2008 @ 5:53PM
Sam said...
"care deeply and have been immersed in Star Wars since it came out. I was there jerk off. I still have my stub. I have seen the trilogy probably a hundred times in the theater!"
Didn't an earlier post establish that he never saw it??
Reply
3-26-2008 @ 6:26PM
LRS62 said...
The only reason anyone would go see this pile is to see Kristen Bell wearing the Princess Leia slave girl outfit.
Any other reason is a lie.
Either that or you're a stupid nerd.
Reply
3-26-2008 @ 6:53PM
harosa said...
His argument about seeing all the films and having a ticket stub sounds like someone being called a racist saying they aren't because they have black friends. And to be honest, i find it refreshing someone answering back al these geeks who think the world is owed to them. Reading reviews of both cuts it seems the cancer plot is forgotten even in the original version.
Reply
3-26-2008 @ 7:17PM
Eric D. Snider said...
The alarming part is that someone thought "Little Nicky" was "okay."
Reply
3-26-2008 @ 7:20PM
The Addict said...
I'm a fan of artistic vision and creative control being given to said visionary. It's for that reason alone that I'm not inclined to rush out to the re-cut film. Studio execs know jack and as a result, creative visionaries' works get tarnished. Harvey Weinstein wouldn't know how to write, shoot, and cut a film properly if the finished film stock of Citizen Kane walked up to him and bit him on the ass.
Reply
3-26-2008 @ 8:19PM
GL said...
I love the responses. What else would you expect as a response? Seems like, if it is really him, he is just having fun with these emailers.
I also agree with Eric D. Snider.
Reply
3-26-2008 @ 8:53PM
Naf said...
Erik Davis, I honestly think fans are coming off really badly in this whole Fanboys thing. I guy gets a bunch of emails from random people telling him how much a film they haven't even seen sucks. I understand people wanting to see the original, but come on. Give the guy a break. He came on to direct some reshoots, and this is the shit that he gets. The guy is a director, he needs to work. And who are we to say why he took the job?
From the last post...
"And they're pissed that the new director brought on (Steve Brill) knows jack about Star Wars. Seriously. Word has it the dude never even saw the original Star Wars when he was hired to re-shoot Fanboys. "
Seriously, people actually believe the whole "He hasn't even seen Star Wars!" stuff? Who hasn't seen Star Wars? Of course he's seen Star Wars. And why report something your only not even sure is true? What is this, Perez Hilton? Why not let the film film come out before you crap all over it, why not watch the original version on DVD if the recut is released in cinema? How many people have even seen the original cut of Fanboys?
Reply
3-27-2008 @ 11:28PM
Ray said...
I know people who haven't seen Star Wars. Or the Godfather, either. Granted, they're not film directors, but still, it's certainly possible for the guy to have never seen them.
3-27-2008 @ 11:04AM
Riley Freeman said...
i know nothing about star wars and have never seen a movie but regardless i love the fact this director is not ignoring or taking the politically correct route and giving some typed up and edited response. You want to go at him hes coming right back at u. and its refreshing to not see a boring press release answer so i'll give him that.
but if fanboys is getting so much negative press because of the director switch why is the director getting the hate mail? shouldnt this be directed at the studio president ?
Reply
3-27-2008 @ 6:56PM
Jordan said...
here's the thing- the original movie probably wouldn't have been any good in the first place. it's tragic what the debacle represents- the death of artists at the hands of businessmen- but, really, shouldn't we be upset about the possible classics being butchered, and not some cute little comedy that, without all the controversy, would have been forgotten two months after it's release? let us get some perspective....and before people attack, i've been following all the hoopla over at AICN, and believe me...they are treating this like some guy took all the prints of Citizen Kane and started cutting them up.
Reply
3-29-2008 @ 3:45PM
Scott Weinberg said...
Doesn't a guy have to direct at least one good movie over the course of a 13-year career before he can behave this way?
Reply
4-01-2008 @ 4:37PM
harosa said...
In the end no one will either see or care about this movie a week after it goes straight to video-no matter what cut. I cant wait for the one honest review to actually say this movie sucks because anything getting this much Star Wars fan love cant possibly be any good.
Reply