Uh, many forums let you edit and delete your posts more than 30 minutes after submission. In any case, I was just responding to what Fraser wrote which appears to assume the idea of strict self-ownership that you find so ignorant. Pre-Mubi it wasn’t really an issue. But now it is since the people who have run this site have shown their cards. And if you think people are upset by this because this is just about “expanding good films to a larger audience!”, you’re ignorant. And I don’t mean that as an insult either, but merely as a fact.
Ari: Well, there’s nothing in the Mubi terms to say that they have ownership over anything we post. Without a statement like that, standard intellectual copyright law applies, which is basically “If you came up with it, it’s yours”. If you want your property off this website, Mubi will have to take it down.
Josh: If you had a job, would you give one of them up? Which one?
Huh, Fraser. You appear to be right. Since they sell themselves as a “social networking site”, I’m quite surprised that they don’t have anything claiming propriety over user generated content. Not that anything I’ve posted is worth more than $0.10 but it’s good to know.
Ari and Fraser, you might want to visit some other threads (STL! or Why MUBI) we were just discussing that very topic.
@Ari,
And if you think people are upset by this because this is just about “expanding good films to a larger audience!”, you’re ignorant. And I don’t mean that as an insult either, but merely as a fact.
Well then, explain it to me. Are people upset because MUBI/Criterion are making some money from it? Or is it strictly because people feel like their privacy has been “sold”? Assuming it’s either one of these options (which I could very easily be wrong about, of course, but it’s the gist I’m getting), I have to ask a few serious questions: How is this place now different than it was just a few weeks ago? Do people pay for a subscription here? Why would you ever post anything on a forum, knowing it can’t be edited at a later time (I mean, if that’s the sort of thing that bothers you)?
I agree with you in that MUBI should allow for more options when it comes to editing posts, but knowing the parameters this site operates within, I continue posting under the assumption I’ll never be able to edit a single post in the future. If I wasn’t comfortable with it, I wouldn’t post. So, why do you?
Soy: Thx for that, turns out I was wrong:
http://mubi.com/terms_of_service
“By using this site you acknowledge and agree that any communication or material you transmit to this Website, in any manner and for any reason, will not be treated as confidential or proprietary. Futhermore, you acknowledge and agree that any ideas, concepts, techniques, procedures, methods, systems, designs, plans, charts, or other materials you submit to InBev through this Website will become and remain InBev’s property and therefore may be used by InBev anywhere, anytime and for any reason whatsoever, without notice, compensation or any other obligation to you or any other person.”
Well, shit.
“Well, shit.” x 2.
Does that mean they own everyone’s fake Criterion covers too?
Am I the only one who thinks this whole thing is a great deal? We just got Agnes Varda’s entire fucking filmography to watch whenever we want, with presumably more and more on the way, and we’re mad that Sony’s getting money for it?? What’s wrong with trying to bring good cinema to a wider audience?
Hopefully this will start a new generation of Godards – American New Wave, anyone?
Fraser—Neither. But film is a part of my soul. Games are just entertainment.
“Hopefully this will start a new generation of Godards – American New Wave, anyone?”
It might also start a new generation of Tarantinos – content stealing, anyone?
So now I can watch films from the Auteurs in my comfortable living room with my family on my big TV easily without having to lug my computer downstairs every time. And this is a bad thing? Hmmm…
A whole generation of geeks squinting at their monitors trying to watch great art – now that sounds like something to worry about.
Ari: I’m not sure. I wouldn’t think so, since they weren’t posted directly to this site but on a separate hosting service which was merely linked to.
Josh: See, I would think anyone with film in their soul would already have discovered Netflix or Bittorrent. I don’t know if anyone who has gaming in their soul could be turned on to movies through the Playstation. Still, we’ll just have to wait and see.
What’s wrong with trying to bring good cinema to a wider audience?
It just doesn’t happen that way. I’m pleased as punch to see all these Agnes Varda mubis now available for watching, but how many PS3 users are going to watch Varda? More likely they will pick up Tarantino and Luc Besson mubis. So, I imagine this is where Efe will be heading with MUBI. If you want to succeed in this business you inevitably follow the money.
Miramax did the same thing a few years back. They initially peddled themselves as an independent movie company that would put indie movies on the map, which they did, but when they managed to score a few hits, it all became about commodity, not quality, and Miramax is now owned by Disney. It seems Miramax is no longer such a hot property as Disney is looking to unload, but Weinstein did well, although his latest effort, the self-titled Weinstein Co, seems to be a bomb.
Personally, I don’t think indie and art house movies are that marketable. Sure there are niche markets, and film festivals seem to be all the rage these days. Even Vilnius has a number of festivals each year, including the very good Kino pavasaris, but there is only so far you can go with this, as the average mubi viewer has little interest in these types of films.
“to watch whenever we want”
that is debatable and a regional issue, is it really all about the “American” way? no wonder i despise empires but like all “good, ol’ empires”, the U.S. one will soon crumble and yet another equally despicable one will take its place…
(even if commercialism will still begin FROM “America”)
Speared by Morton’s fork, Dimitris?
And speaking of PS3, this has been called a masterpiece by the Paper of Record: “Red Dead Redemption”
“This is America, where any lying, cheating degenerate can prosper.”
The screen captures look great. What other platforms is MUBI looking at? Mobile apps, other connected devices like TVs or even a section of the iTunes store (though I understand the inherent difficulties of that – it would still be awesome).
Any other ideas in the pipeline?
geez, Dimitris… ouch
Someone said people who play video games are stupid, well, I play video games and I don’t think Im stupid. I bought a PS3 2 years ago to play Metal Gear Solid 4, because Im a fan of Metal Gear series for 11 years.
Owning a PS3 doesn’t mean you’re a kid. You’re even ignoring the fact that it’s a great Blu-ray player. The issue here is that TheAuteurs.com is little by little getting drowned in the place where all great websites get drowned, it’s expanding and as a result, its being popularized. I see a day in 1 or 2 years when all the great users abandon this website for a newer and better one while mubi.com is invaded by advertisement and even has opened a new part called movie quiz, where you can answer questions about Twilight saga; This would be the time they erase that BETA word off the banner. It’s all about cash for the site owners. The fall of The Auteurs is inevitable, although I hope it never happens.
Exactly.
I really disagree. What is going to draw Twilight fans to a site devoted to worthwhile cinema? I really doubt that the site’s going to lose its focus… just (hopefully) more people will know about it.
P.S. – I’d be pretty happy with a new generation of Tarantinos, too, Apursansar.
Jeez, the forum is starting to sound like it’s filled with people who won’t go outside in May because it might snow in December. C’mon people, right now it’s sunny outside, so go out and bask for awhile and save the talk about the need for parkas and mukluks until winter.
Perhaps you’re right, Greg. Or perhaps if “team mubi” had handled this better from the onset and acknowledged users’ concerns rather than completely ignoring them, none of this would have happened. Alienate your core user base with a ridiculous name change that seems to entail a rebranding strategy that might lead the place away from its original mission and then don’t even bother responding to these legitimate concerns when they are raised. To me this shows a basic lack of respect and an utter lack of business savvy. But, apparently, to say this makes me a spoiled child with a sense of entitlement having a temper tantrum. Makes sense to me.
I don’t feel alienated at all. I’m too worried about the directors I’m managing in the World Cup. I’m working on Fake Criterion covers for my director’s films. I’m researching my own film project.
And I’m not complaining. Mostly cause I don’t like to.
I think some feel too slighted about something that they never owned in the first place. It’s great that you love it so much that you’re taking it this personally, but at the end of the day there are bigger fish to fry and there are fantastic things going on on this site right now—outside of the Mubi threads.
You’re missing the point, Josh. And I’m not taking anything personally. I’m speaking completely matter-of-factly.
From my perspective, I could say the same thing, but to each their own. I don’t think you’re a bad guy I jut wonder how long you want to do this.
I don’t get it, Josh. What do I want to do? We’re just having a discussion. I thought that’s what these forums were all about. Is it any less productive than another thread on Tarantino? It’s not like I’m losing sleep about this but I believe in expressing dissent when I feel it and, like Dr. Frank said in another post in which he practically renounced Mubi, healthy protest is good.
Josh, I think what Ari is saying has merit. None of this would have happened if users were not completely ignored from the onset. And now we see this basic lack of respect continues with not a word in response to these legitimate concerns.
I’m trying to think where I heard this quote. There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest it. Yes, I do think it applies to us here. And on another level it applies to the Jafar Panahi case.
Well said, Nohea. I agree with you that protest is necessary in a case where a site disrespects and incapacitates its members. Some people on the forum might have overreacted and misunderstood the situation, because if the site wants to make business deals and earn money it has the right to do so, but the general measures to keep people uninformed, give false explanations or refuse them at all are unbusinesslike and obviously create distrust among the whole members community. Those who want to speak up against it should have the full right to do so, since it should be possible to expect certain etiquettes.
I was wondering if something like this was going to happen.. I’m against the name change and selling out.. but..
I do love being able to stream movies from Netflix on my blu-ray player.. so if I would be able to view films on this site on my TV that would be awesome (since my TV screen is much bigger). I don’t have a PS3, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this was expanded to blu-ray players in general.
I’m sure Mubi would make more mainstream films available for the PS3 users as well as art films and world cinema.. So I see it ending up kinda like the Netflix streaming thing.. I don’t think it would really change anyone’s film taste too much because there would probably be a wide variety of films available..
Anyway, just my thoughts.. But it probably would have made more sense to make a spin off site for that type of movie viewing instead of merging it with this one..
JAH
@Jardun,
It was definitely the bigger motivation in me buying a PS3. I figured, “Oh, screw it. I want to watch BDs. I may as well get the PS3 so I can play a game on it here and there.”
@Ari,
It’s 2010. Nobody should post anything anywhere on the Internet with the expectation it belongs solely to him- or herself, especially if it’s a forum. I’m not about to defend the increasingly shady privacy practices of sites like Facebook, but again, this is the almost-unfathomable Internet we’re talking about. Nothing you type or upload is subject to strict self-ownership, anywhere. If you believe otherwise, you’re ignorant. I don’t mean that as an insult either, but merely as a fact.