Filmmaker Arrested, Acquitted For Selling His Own Movies
Whenever I go to Manhattan these days, I run into street vendors who promise to sell me hot new releases which are still in the theaters and who hastily but imperfectly cover their wares whenever a beat cop walks by. The cop, in turn, pretends not to see the transactions which take place.
Given this context, it is a little alarming to hear the story of John Fucile, an award-winning filmmaker and a theorist of digital cinema, who found himself arrested for selling his own movies on the streets of Manhattan. Over the next six months, he would find himself in a heated legal battle during which the prosecutors tried to argue that his films did not constitute artistic expression and did not enjoy First Ammendment protection. In the end, the courts upheld the rights of grassroots media producers and distributors.
Fucile shares some of his experiences in an interview currently posted at Braintrust.
Keep Reading
Most Popular

These materials were meant to revolutionize the solar industry. Why hasn’t it happened?
Perovskites are promising, but real-world conditions have held them back.

Why China is still obsessed with disinfecting everything
Most public health bodies dealing with covid have long since moved on from the idea of surface transmission. China’s didn’t—and that helps it control the narrative about the disease’s origins and danger.

Anti-aging drugs are being tested as a way to treat covid
Drugs that rejuvenate our immune systems and make us biologically younger could help protect us from the disease’s worst effects.

A quick guide to the most important AI law you’ve never heard of
The European Union is planning new legislation aimed at curbing the worst harms associated with artificial intelligence.
Stay connected

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.