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QuoteSony Pictures hack appears to be linked to North Korea, investigators say

By Ellen Nakashima, Craig Timberg and Andrea Peterson December 3 at 4:06 PM

Investigators say a crippling cyberattack against Sony Pictures Entertainment was probably the work of North Korea, in what would be the first known case of the reclusive nation using its growing hacking capability to cause major disruptions to a company in the United States.

The attack brought Sony, one of Hollywood's biggest studios, to a near-standstill last week, forcing employees to use paper and pens instead of their computers. Hackers also deleted files from hard drives, uploaded several unreleased films to the Internet and leaked sensitive personal information regarding thousands of Sony employees.

The cyberattack may have come in retaliation for Sony's upcoming movie "The Interview," a comedy built around a fictional CIA plot to kill North Korea's 31-year-old supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, say people familiar with the probe who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is not complete.

North Korean officials have repeatedly complained about the movie — which is due to open in theaters on Christmas Day — warning of "stern" and "merciless" retaliation. On Tuesday, a North Korean government spokesman declined to comment on whether it was behind the Sony incident, according to a report by BBC News that quoted the spokesman as saying, "Wait and see."

If investigators' beliefs turn out to be true, the hack on Sony would mark a troubling new development at the intersection of international relations, commerce and cyberspace.

"This is a step beyond what they've done in the past, but it's a logical trajectory for them," said James A. Lewis, a cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said he did not have definitive knowledge that North Korea was responsible for the Sony hack but noted that it shared characteristics of cyberattacks by North Korea against South Korean companies.

Banks in South Korea were hit last year by a virus that deleted data from hard drives in a cyberattack campaign that investigators dubbed "Dark Seoul." Jaime Blasco, labs director for the security firm AlienVault, said analyses of the malicious software used in that attack and the one against Sony show similarities. "The techniques and code are similar in both," Blasco said. Dark Seoul was attributed to North Korea by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which dubbed the hacker group Silent Chollima.

Foreign-government hackers for years have stolen information from U.S. companies and in some cases disrupted online operations, but the cyberattack against Sony Pictures has been unusually intrusive and seemingly vengeful.

Disruptions to computer systems began in the days before Thanksgiving, and this week private company records were made available online, according to various media reports. The records have included employee salaries, evaluations by their managers and Social Security numbers, the Web site Fusion has reported.

Sony Pictures, a U.S.-based subsidiary of a Japanese conglomerate, is the studio behind movies such as "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Fury."

The company did not comment directly on reports of possible North Korean responsibility for the attack but issued a statement saying: "Sony Pictures continues to work through issues related to what was clearly a cyber attack last week. The company has restored a number of important services to ensure ongoing business continuity and is working closely with law enforcement officials to investigate the matter."

The FBI, which is investigating the Sony hack, declined to comment on who was behind it. On Monday, the bureau issued a flash warning to businesses about "destructive malware," though it did not specifically link the alert to the Sony hack. The alert noted that the malware was written in the Korean language and was capable of overriding data on hard drives and erasing data files stored on machines.

In "The Interview," Seth Rogen and James Franco play a producer and talk-show host who are headed to North Korea for an exclusive interview with Kim and are then tasked by the CIA with killing him. North Korean officials also complained to the United Nations and the United States about the film.

A State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, declined to comment on allegations about North Korea but said: "We are of course aware of reports about North Korean concerns about this movie. While it may be difficult for [North Korea] to understand the concept, in the United States, entertainers are free to make movies of their choosing."

The investigation into the attack could take months, and some media outlets have pointed to the possibility that current or former employees could be responsible for the leaked information. A person familiar with the investigation said that is not likely.

The hack "sounds like one of Sony's own movie plots," said Jason Healey, director of the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative. "As crazy as the North Koreans are, most of us would have completely dismissed this as a ridiculous plot for a Hollywood movie."

Though disruptive, he said, the attack shows how cyberattack techniques are not "a strategic weapon that terrorizes societies and brings down infrastructure." But it also shows "that nations are increasingly comfortable with using cyber in this gray area between peace and war."

The State Department has attempted to establish norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace, aimed at promoting the use of cybertechnology for peaceful purposes, but rogue countries such as North Korea are among the most resistant.

Healey said the U.S. government should speak up if North Korea is proved to be behind the incident and establish the norm that civilian targets should not be subject to cyberattacks. "If we're saying it's okay to hack companies that are saying things you don't like, is Twitter going to be next? Is Facebook going to be next?"

The wave of cyberattacks against large U.S. retailers, including Target and Home Depot, over the past year has made hacks feel like a fact of life for many consumers. But the cyberattack against Sony was more strikingly disruptive.

"It is now apparent that a large amount of confidential Sony Pictures Entertainment data has been stolen by the cyber attackers, including personnel information and business documents," said a memo from Sony Pictures Entertainment chiefs Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal, according to a copy obtained by the Hollywood Reporter. "While we are not yet sure of the full scope of information that the attackers have or might release, we unfortunately have to ask you to assume that information about you in the possession of the company might be in their possession."

The posting of employee information online came a week after Sony employees reportedly were met with computers displaying images of a neon red skull and a message proclaiming the company had been hacked by "#GOP," said to stand for "Guardians of Peace."

"If it's true that North Korea was behind it, it almost seems to be taking a tool from the methods of terrorists who try to hurt innocent civilians to attack a country or a company," said Jules Polonetsky, executive director of the Future of Privacy Forum. "They've apparently gone to great lengths to personally hurt individuals who are working at the company to assert displeasure at the company."

Quote from: The Brain on December 04, 2014, 11:16:13 AM
A shamefur dispray.

Quote from: Tyr on December 04, 2014, 12:18:20 PM
Far more potentially damaging to Sony is the huge amount of personal data of former and current employees that has been released. In the US that is major law suit territory....

QuoteThe Sony Hack Gets Even Worse as Thousands of Passwords Leak
http://gizmodo.com/sony-pictures-hack-keeps-getting-worse-thousands-of-pa-1666761704

A new trove of documents leaked from the Sony Pictures hack is now out in the wild. And, somewhat astoundingly, it takes the whole debacle to a new level of absurdity since the data includes a file directory named "Password". Can you guess what's inside?

Yep, it's thousands of usernames and passwords. BuzzFeed rather easily found the "Password" folder in the newly released data and reports that it "includes 139 Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, zip files, and PDF's containing thousands of of passwords to Sony Pictures internal computers, social media accounts, and web services accounts." The kicker: "Most of the files are plainly labeled with titles like 'password list.xls' or 'YouTube login passwords.xlsx.'" Because when hackers go looking for sensitive information like login credentials, they would never think to search for the word "password".

Seriously, though, whichever cyber security whiz was keeping track of Sony Pictures' credentials didn't even try to hide it.

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BuzzFeed points out that the passwords aren't even good passwords. They're not just social media accounts either. At least one department's document included passwords for everything from its AmEx account to its Amazon account. That makes it pretty easy for a hacker to go on a shopping spree!

There probably weren't any shopping sprees happening in Pyongyang, though. North Korea denies any involvement in the attack, despite all the rumors that it was in retaliation for Sony Pictures making a movie about assassinating Kim Jong-Un. It's starting to look like a band of hackers just did this for the lulz. Sadly, this isn't even the first time that Sony Pictures has had passwords stolen for lulz. Some companies never learn.

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 04, 2014, 11:15:12 PM
You're assuming NK has the capabilities for this.  Maybe they do, maybe they don't.

Or was the remake of Red Dawn even too shitty for them to give a fuck?

Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 04, 2014, 11:18:10 PM
They shut down the biggest bank in South Korea last year, and the code for this attack is similar to what was used for that.

Quote Kenya arrests 77 Chinese over 'hacking'
Police say gang that lived near US embassy in Nairobi was "preparing to raid the country's communication systems".
Last updated: 04 Dec 2014 17:54
Al Jazeera

Kenyan police have arrested 77 Chinese nationals and are consulting experts to see if they used advanced communications equipment in several houses in an upscale Nairobi neighbourhood to commit espionage.

Kenya's foreign ministry has also summoned China's top diplomat in the capital Nairobi as it seeks to establish if Beijing was in anyway linked to the affair.

Police said they believed the gang was "preparing to raid the country's communication systems".

The Daily Nation newspaper said a series of police raids had turned up equipment capable of infiltrating bank accounts and government servers, Kenya's M-Pesa mobile banking system and ATM machines.

"The suspects are being interrogated to establish their mission in the country and what they wanted to do with the communication gadgets. They have been charged in court," said the director of Kenya's Criminal Investigation Department, Ndegwa Muhoro.

"We have roped in experts to tell us if they were committing crimes of espionage,'' he told the Associated Press news agency.

Police said many of those detained appeared to have been in the country illegally.

The arrests began on Sunday, when computer equipment in one of the upscale houses the Chinese nationals had rented near the US Embassy and UN headquarters caught fire, killing one person.

Kenyan foreign minister Amina Mohamed "made it clear that the Chinese government should fully cooperate on this matter," Kenya's communications minister Fred Matiang'i said, adding that China has promised to send investigators to Kenya to work on the case.  :lol:

Police said it appeared the group was also manufacturing ATM cards, and that the suspects may have been involved in money laundering and Internet fraud.

Quote from: Capetan Mihali on December 04, 2014, 10:49:53 PM
Bit of a provocation though, wasn't it?  Not that I'm saying "with a dress that short so late at night"... but the whole premise of the show is whacking this guy?

Quote from: Capetan Mihali on December 05, 2014, 03:17:45 PM
Kinda had it coming.

QuoteSony executive Amy Pascal apologizes for embarrassing e-mails that have leaked

You've really made it in Hollywood if a caricature drawing of you lands on the wall of the iconic restaurant in town, The Palm. And when The Palm opened its new location in Beverly Hills last month, Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal was picked for a drawing showing her striking a "Charlie's Angel" guns-ready pose.

Pascal was an obvious choice. She is among a handful of power players in a male-dominated industry who decide which big films get released to the world. Her studio's movies — including
"Spider-Man" and "Casino Royale" — have won numerous awards and brought in billions of dollars in box office sales over the years.

But all that success was overshadowed this week with the devastating leaks of private ­e-mails revealing often unsavory — and deeply offensive — thoughts never intended for public viewing.

In the latest batch of leaked notes, Pascal and movie producer Scott Rudin discuss a fundraiser for President Obama, Buzzfeed reported late Wednesday.

The two start guessing what movies and actors Obama might like, each one tied to black characters and moviemakers.

"Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?" says Pascal, according to the reported e-mails. Rudin writes back: "12 YEARS." Pascal responds: "Or the butler. Or think like a man?" Rudin: "Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart."

Thursday, Pascal apologized, breaking weeks of silence on the building and damaging leaks.

"The content of my e-mails to Scott were insensitive and inappropriate but are not an accurate reflection of who I am," Pascal said in a statement, referring to her exchanges with Rudin not only about Obama, but also about various movie projects. "Although this was a private communication that was stolen, I accept full responsibility for what I wrote and apologize to everyone who was offended."

It was a late response to an ongoing disaster that has been picking up steam since a hacker group that calls itself "Guardians of Peace" released data illustrating every conceivable aspect of Sony and its business, from sensitive salary information to personal feuds.

The episode casts doubt on the future of one of corporate America's most powerful women, whose decades-long relationships with Hollywood insiders have helped Sony Pictures secure some of its biggest film deals.

Pascal's rise is the stuff of movies. After graduating from UCLA, she entered the entertainment industry as a secretary to BBC producer Tony Garnett at Kestral Film. As she forged relationships and learned the trade, she became an insider and was named vice president of production at 20th Century Fox in 1986. Pascal's strength was the creative side — dealing with moviemakers and actors to find and develop films.

After she joined Columbia Pictures in 1988, she oversaw such hits as "Groundhog Day," "Little Women" and "Awakenings."

In 2006, after a string of critically acclaimed and financial successful movies, she was named co-chair of Sony Pictures. In an unusual arrangement, she shared leadership with Michael Lynton. Their division of labor was clear: Pascal oversaw the creative side, Lynton the business side.

When Culver City, Calif.-based Sony Pictures renewed her contract in 2010, Sir Howard Stringer, chairman of parent company Sony Corp., said, "There is no doubt Amy is making Culver City the center of creativity, and a home away from home for Hollywood's finest."

Pascal continued to release hits, including "The Social Network" and "The Amazing Spider-Man." Last year, the studio's biggest hits were "Zero Dark Thirty," "Evil Dead" and "Cloudy With a Chance Of Meatballs 2."

Bruce Bozzi Jr., executive vice president of The Palm restaurant chain, said, "It was an honor to put Amy Pascal on the wall. She is a trailblazer."

This year, though, Sony Pictures has lagged, ranking fourth behind 20th Century Fox, Disney's Buena Vista and Warner Bros. for total box office sales.

Leaked e-mails showed Pascal and Rudin agonizing over the making of a Steve Jobs biopic. Sony eventually lost the contract to develop the film to Universal.

In other e-mails that have been publicized, Rudin disparaged actress Angelina Jolie, calling her a "minimally talented spoiled brat."

Aside from Pascal's short statement, the company has remained silent as new leaks of sensitive information have emerged.

Public relations experts say Pascal needs to step forward as the crisis unfolds.

"I would go on a national interview after the statement and apologize to the public and make herself available to explain herself," said Jarvis Stewart, chairman of crisis communications firm IR+ Media, a Washington-based consulting firm that specializes in diversity.

There is also pressure for Sony to ensure investors, employees and others in the industry that it is taking every possible step to control the growing damage.

"Sony needs to convince talent that they can and should be trusted with content at all," said Janet Janjigian, a managing partner at the Carmen Group and former senior vice president of communications at MGM Studios.

QuoteThe hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment has escalated into a humiliating public crisis for the company as deeply held secrets — including business practices, pay disparities and ugly personal feuds — continue spilling onto the Internet in ways that experts say could damage the Hollywood studio for years to come.

The architects of the attack have shown little interest in the traditional targets of cyber-intrusions, such as credit cards, choosing instead to use information as a weapon of vengeance for supposed misdeeds by the company. The massive troves of stolen information have found a voracious audience online, where Sony long has been a favorite target because of its aggressive anti-piracy efforts.

The consequences for Sony have been swift and devastating since the attack became public last month, exposing the company to potential lawsuits and backlash from key Hollywood players.

The inside drama revealed this week was the unraveling of a high-profile project at Sony to produce a biopic of the late Apple founder Steve Jobs — the movie was eventually lost to a rival studio. Reams of e-mails were released showing one of the studio's top executives embroiled in a fight with a powerful movie producer, with the producer at one point calling actress Angelina Jolie a "minimally talented spoiled brat," according to ­e-mails published by Gawker.

In one exchange between Amy Pascal, Sony Pictures' co-­chair, and Scott Rudin, the producer who brought the Jobs project to the studio, the two are arguing over Jolie, who wants director David Fincher to direct her movie on Cleopatra, rather than the Jobs biopic. Rudin is adamantly against letting Jolie have her way.

"She's a camp event and a celebrity and that's all and the last thing anybody needs is to make a giant bomb with her that any fool could see coming," writes Rudin.

Quote from: MadImmortalMan on December 12, 2014, 01:22:17 AM
:lol:

Angelina wants to do an Elizabeth Taylor-esque Cleopatra egostravaganza for herself.

QuoteNone of it is tied to any particular employee, so it's impossible to determine where one man's griping begins and another's ends, but it makes it clear there's plenty of unhappiness at the struggling studio, even if it hadn't been hacked to hell and back. Above all: people who work at Sony are fucking tired of bad Adam Sandler movies. :lol:

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 12, 2014, 01:32:25 AM

Quote from: MadImmortalMan on December 12, 2014, 01:22:17 AM
:lol:

Angelina wants to do an Elizabeth Taylor-esque Cleopatra egostravaganza for herself.

Is that hilarious or what?

Check out the employee suggestion box--

http://gawker.com/sony-hack-reveals-25-page-list-of-reasons-it-sucks-to-w-1666264634

QuoteNone of it is tied to any particular employee, so it's impossible to determine where one man's griping begins and another's ends, but it makes it clear there's plenty of unhappiness at the struggling studio, even if it hadn't been hacked to hell and back. Above all: people who work at Sony are fucking tired of bad Adam Sandler movies. :lol:

QuoteThere is a general "blah-ness" to the films we produce. Althought we manage to produce an innovative film once in awhile, Social Network, Moneyball, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Quote from: The Larch on December 12, 2014, 05:15:07 AM
This is a real "look into the abyss" kind of feeling, Sony's marketing powerpoints for movie promotion:

http://gawker.com/sonys-embarrassing-powerpoints-are-even-worst-than-thei-1666403941 (http://gawker.com/sonys-embarrassing-powerpoints-are-even-worst-than-thei-1666403941)

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Quote from: MadImmortalMan on December 12, 2014, 01:22:17 AM
:lol:

Angelina wants to do an Elizabeth Taylor-esque Cleopatra egostravaganza for herself.

Quote from: Ideologue on December 12, 2014, 09:41:26 AM
Why can't an Egyptian woman play Cleopatra? :angry:

Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2014, 08:39:17 AM

Quote from: MadImmortalMan on December 12, 2014, 01:22:17 AM
:lol:

Angelina wants to do an Elizabeth Taylor-esque Cleopatra egostravaganza for herself.

Yeah that was news in... Summer?

Quote from: celedhring on December 12, 2014, 12:10:53 PM

Quote from: garbon on December 12, 2014, 08:39:17 AM

Quote from: MadImmortalMan on December 12, 2014, 01:22:17 AM
:lol:

Angelina wants to do an Elizabeth Taylor-esque Cleopatra egostravaganza for herself.

Yeah that was news in... Summer?

...of 2011.

She's been trying to get that movie off the ground for years.

Quote from: Ideologue on December 12, 2014, 09:41:26 AM
Why can't an Egyptian woman play Cleopatra? :angry:

Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 12, 2014, 12:55:17 PM

Quote from: Ideologue on December 12, 2014, 09:41:26 AM
Why can't an Egyptian woman play Cleopatra? :angry:

Or better yet, an inbred Greek woman.

Quote'The Interview' New York Premiere Canceled After Threat

The Interview's planned premiere in New York has been canceled, a Landmark spokesperson said Tuesday. The Sony film was scheduled to screen at Landmark's Sunshine Cinema.

On principle, Sony was not going to cancel the premiere, but ultimately Landmark made the call, according to a source.

The news comes after stars Seth Rogen and James Franco canceled promotional appearances slated for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The premiere cancellation is the latest development following a Nov. 24 cyberattack on Sony. On Tuesday, hackers released additional data, invoking the terror incidents of Sept. 11, 2011, in an email to reporters.

"Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made," the message from the hackers read in part. "The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.)"

Sony discussed the situation with theater owners Tuesday, telling those that had booked The Interview that though it would move forward with the film's release, exhibitors were free to decide not to show the film if they chose. On Tuesday evening, Carmike Cinemas decided to cancel its screenings of the film, as did the Los Angeles-area ArcLight Cinemas.

Also on Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security said it found no evidence that there was an active plot targeting movie theaters in the United States.

The Interview, which centers on a plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, had a premiere in Los Angeles last week.

Quote from: celedhring on December 17, 2014, 06:14:53 PM
Well, I guess I should be happy that North Korea finally puts an end to Franco and Rogen's reign of terror, but still, these hackers shouldn't have got what they wanted. It's a huge defeat and will only encourage more cyber-terrorism of the same kind.

Quote from: garbon on December 17, 2014, 06:14:40 PM
Just saw they have declared NK responsible.

Quote from: celedhring on December 17, 2014, 06:48:51 PM
I'm still shocked that in this day and age, threat of violence can stop freedom of expression in a western nation (the strongest of them all, too).

Quote from: celedhring on December 17, 2014, 06:48:51 PM
I'm still shocked that in this day and age, threat of violence can stop freedom of expression in a western nation (the strongest of them all, too).

Quote from: Ideologue on December 17, 2014, 06:56:09 PM

Quote from: celedhring on December 17, 2014, 06:48:51 PM
I'm still shocked that in this day and age, threat of violence can stop freedom of expression in a western nation (the strongest of them all, too).

You are? We're weak. I've been telling (the general) you that for years.

Quote from: Ed Anger on December 17, 2014, 07:10:24 PM
I'm so tired of Seth Rogan

Quote from: dps on December 17, 2014, 07:14:04 PM
Materially we're the strongest nation the earth has ever seen.  Too bad we're so dang weak-willed and spineless.

Quote from: celedhring on December 17, 2014, 06:14:53 PM
Well, I guess I should be happy that North Korea finally puts an end to Franco and Rogen's reign of terror, but still, these hackers shouldn't have got what they wanted. It's a huge defeat and will only encourage more cyber-terrorism of the same kind.

Quote from: Siege on December 17, 2014, 07:22:07 PM
So, when do we deploy to Korea?

Quote from: Siege on December 17, 2014, 07:22:07 PM
So, when do we deploy to Korea?

Quote from: alfred russel on December 17, 2014, 07:30:35 PM
Supposedly lawyers are part of the problem. There were concerns of legal liability if anything happened at the theaters.

Quote from: Legbiter on December 17, 2014, 07:05:46 PM
Stand up for your art. Jesus.

Quote from: Josephus on December 17, 2014, 07:28:59 PM
I can't really comment on his films cause, like, I haven't seen any.

Quote from: Josephus on December 17, 2014, 07:31:34 PM

Quote from: alfred russel on December 17, 2014, 07:30:35 PM
Supposedly lawyers are part of the problem. There were concerns of legal liability if anything happened at the theaters.

Lawyers. they take the fun out of everything,

Quote from: alfred russel on December 17, 2014, 07:30:35 PM
Supposedly lawyers are part of the problem. There were concerns of legal liability if anything happened at the theaters.

Quote from: alfred russel on December 17, 2014, 07:30:35 PM
Supposedly lawyers are part of the problem.

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 17, 2014, 09:39:38 PM
I dunno;  Netflix, as an online content provider, seems to be in a rather sensitive position against possible cyber terrorism.

Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 17, 2014, 09:50:54 PM
LOL, as if this hack didn't already prove Hollywood is clueless about technology.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/12/16/7402285/project-goliath-and-hollywoods-quest-to-control-the-web

Quote from: garbon on December 17, 2014, 06:07:42 PM
Film has been pulled completely. :hmm:

Quote from: Tyr on December 18, 2014, 02:13:13 AM
I was actually quite wanting to see it :(

Pretty weird for the company to bow to hackers like this.... Is it the start of something big?

Quote from: Tyr on December 18, 2014, 02:13:13 AM
I was actually quite wanting to see it :(

Pretty weird for the company to bow to hackers like this.... Is it the start of something big?

Quote from: Ideologue on December 18, 2014, 02:56:36 AM
There's talk of releasing it VOD, yeah.  But no one knows for sure what the plan is.  I'm sure the .ppt's are flying at Sony HQ tonight.

Quote from: celedhring on December 18, 2014, 03:30:09 AM

Quote from: Ideologue on December 18, 2014, 02:56:36 AM
There's talk of releasing it VOD, yeah.  But no one knows for sure what the plan is.  I'm sure the .ppt's are flying at Sony HQ tonight.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH
BRAVERY
MEN'S ISSUES/POTTY HUMOR

Quote from: alfred russel on December 17, 2014, 07:30:35 PM
Supposedly lawyers are part of the problem. There were concerns of legal liability if anything happened at the theaters.

QuoteRefusing to let terrorist hackers win, Texas theater will give out free toy guns and screen 'Team America' (http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/12/18/texas-theater-refuses-to-let-terrorist-hackers-win-so-itll-give-out-free-toy-guns-and-screen-team-america/)

When hackers give you lemons, you've got to make lemonade.

One Dallas-area movie theater refuses to take the fallout from Sony's epic data breach sitting down. In true Texas form, it's dialed up the patriotism to 15 and announced plans to host a screening of "Team America: World Police" instead of the embattled assassination comedy "The Interview" next week.

"With cap guns for everyone ... for free," said James Wallace, who programs the Dallas/Ft. Worth Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, according to the Dallas Morning News. "Because you can't spell freedom without free."

Or, isn't it "Freedom isn't free?" Either way, free is almost always a good thing.

Wallace and his theater plan to make the Dec. 27 screening a celebration of America and its greatness — complete with guns, American flags, red white and blue streamers, balloons, and outbursts of "America! F*** yeah!"

Sony cancelled the premier of the Seth Rogen and James Franco flick after hackers stole terabytes of data from the company's servers and threatened attacks on theaters that screen the movie. With the new threat, some of the biggest theater chains pulled out.

Sony and many news reports have pinned blame for the cyber attack on North Korea, whose government has been vocal about its opposition to the movie's premise, namely the assassination of its leader Kim Jong Un.

It just so happens that 2014 marks the 10-year anniversary of "The Interview's" cultural antecedent, Team America. And like father like son, Kim Jong Un's dad, Kim Jon Il reportedly  hated "Team America" too because of its portrayal of the communist regime.

"A lot of the brilliance in TEAM AMERICA is timeless," the theater notes. "Acting is still the greatest gift any human being can possess, and it's the only way to save America from the terrorists."

Not sure if that's entirely true, but why say no to a free movie?

"We're just trying to make the best of an unfortunate situation," Wallace told the Hollywood Reporter.

Quote from: Jacob on December 18, 2014, 02:12:27 PM
Apparently Sony Pictures is having difficulties doing their payroll because their data was obliterated. The attack was not just stealing data, it has - apparently - severely compromised Sony Pictures' ability to carry out its day to day functions.

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 02:55:33 PM
This cyber war is very serious stuff. An attack could bring down significant parts of another nation if it hit financial markets or utility production. Reports that the US could be crippled for months if the electrical system is hit and they've found embedded viruses/trojans in the systems, maybe tests or just waiting to be used. There's an international war going on in cyber land all the time.

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 18, 2014, 03:08:47 PM

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 02:55:33 PM
This cyber war is very serious stuff. An attack could bring down significant parts of another nation if it hit financial markets or utility production. Reports that the US could be crippled for months if the electrical system is hit and they've found embedded viruses/trojans in the systems, maybe tests or just waiting to be used. There's an international war going on in cyber land all the time.

Gee, I wish I had been telling people that.  Oh, wait--when I do, it's because I'm bitching about Evul Corporate America.

I suggest you monkeys get a really good generator.

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 18, 2014, 03:08:47 PM

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 02:55:33 PM
This cyber war is very serious stuff. An attack could bring down significant parts of another nation if it hit financial markets or utility production. Reports that the US could be crippled for months if the electrical system is hit and they've found embedded viruses/trojans in the systems, maybe tests or just waiting to be used. There's an international war going on in cyber land all the time.

Gee, I wish I had been telling people that.  Oh, wait--when I do, it's because I'm bitching about Evul Corporate America.

I suggest you monkeys get a really good generator.

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 03:20:00 PM
Won't matter if the electric grid is down - gas stations can't pump the gas to fill the cans for your generators. That happened in the big storm in NJ and NY a couple years ago.

QuoteThe attack that officials fear is an all out hit on the electrical grid that could bring down regions of the nation for weeks or a lot longer, for months. One report talked about the hidden hacks they found that would cause generators to burn out, needing to be replaced. There aren't necessarily a lot of spare generators sitting ready. And our main supplier is probably China, who may commit the attacks in the first place.  :huh:

Quote from: Ideologue on December 18, 2014, 03:29:58 PM
If only we had some sort of space age technology that did not rely on the Internet and would scare off attacks on the U.S., "deter" our enemies, if you will.

Quote from: Ideologue on December 18, 2014, 04:42:38 PM
Sony has apparently pulled back on plans for any release.

Great. Turns out Red Dawn 2012 was prescient.

Quote from: celedhring on December 18, 2014, 04:53:45 PM

Quote from: Ideologue on December 18, 2014, 04:42:38 PM
Sony has apparently pulled back on plans for any release.

Great. Turns out Red Dawn 2012 was prescient.

There's some dude from The Hollywood Reporter claiming that if the film gets no release at all they can claim insurance.

Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on December 18, 2014, 05:05:03 PM

Quote from: celedhring on December 18, 2014, 04:53:45 PM

Quote from: Ideologue on December 18, 2014, 04:42:38 PM
Sony has apparently pulled back on plans for any release.

Great. Turns out Red Dawn 2012 was prescient.

There's some dude from The Hollywood Reporter claiming that if the film gets no release at all they can claim insurance.

OK, now that would be the only reasonable, if jerkbagish, explanation.

Quote from: Josephus on December 18, 2014, 08:18:22 PM
Hopefully Languish will survive a cyber attack.

Quote from: Jacob on December 18, 2014, 08:36:14 PM

Quote from: Josephus on December 18, 2014, 08:18:22 PM
Hopefully Languish will survive a cyber attack.

But just in case, we should write our cyber wills.

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 18, 2014, 04:23:23 PM

QuoteThe attack that officials fear is an all out hit on the electrical grid that could bring down regions of the nation for weeks or a lot longer, for months. One report talked about the hidden hacks they found that would cause generators to burn out, needing to be replaced. There aren't necessarily a lot of spare generators sitting ready. And our main supplier is probably China, who may commit the attacks in the first place.  :huh:

Yes, I seem to recall that stuff being mentioned during all those DHS briefings and disaster recovery tabletops I participated in while working in corporate security for a power company.  But thanks for refreshing my memory.

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 09:21:32 PM
A lot of pundits, such as Alan Dershowitz, are saying that Sony should release the video on youtube, on the internet for free. Let millions see it, have N. Korea's actions backfire on them and also so that others don't get the idea that they can trash and intimidate other companies in future attacks like this. I tend to agree with that idea.

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 18, 2014, 09:29:38 PM

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 09:21:32 PM
A lot of pundits, such as Alan Dershowitz, are saying that Sony should release the video on youtube, on the internet for free. Let millions see it, have N. Korea's actions backfire on them and also so that others don't get the idea that they can trash and intimidate other companies in future attacks like this. I tend to agree with that idea.

I imagine they would like to see at least a couple dollars back on their investment.

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 09:33:53 PM
They're not going to make money on it, looks like a write-off on the movie, so they can make sure the movie is widely seen by just letting it go on the internet. That way at least they cause NK's ploy to backfire.

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 18, 2014, 09:36:10 PM
They can still make money on DVD, Blu-ray, cable, Netflix.

QuoteTexas Theater to Show 'Team America' In Place of 'The Interview'

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/texas-theater-show-team-america-759037

The Alamo Drafthouse movie theater in Dallas, Texas, will be showing Team America: World Police in place of The Interview on Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. Wallace says that the Dallas/Fort Worth location is the only location as of now that is planning to screen the replacement film.

In a note on its website, the theater added: "THAT is how true American heroes will be celebrating this year, but if you want to let the terrorists win...well, that's your prerogative."

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 18, 2014, 09:55:30 PM

QuoteTexas Theater to Show 'Team America' In Place of 'The Interview'

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/texas-theater-show-team-america-759037

The Alamo Drafthouse movie theater in Dallas, Texas, will be showing Team America: World Police in place of The Interview on Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. Wallace says that the Dallas/Fort Worth location is the only location as of now that is planning to screen the replacement film.

In a note on its website, the theater added: "THAT is how true American heroes will be celebrating this year, but if you want to let the terrorists win...well, that's your prerogative."

Quote from: garbon on December 18, 2014, 09:56:55 PM
Glad to see that you have read the thread, Timothy. :rolleyes:

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 18, 2014, 09:37:07 PM

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 09:33:53 PM
They're not going to make money on it, looks like a write-off on the movie, so they can make sure the movie is widely seen by just letting it go on the internet. That way at least they cause NK's ploy to backfire.

Sony spokesman came out today and said as much, saying it's the equivalent of a flop.  Mentioned how Disney lost $200 million on the Lone Ranger, and nobody batted an eye--so why should this be any different.

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 09:25:47 PM

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 18, 2014, 04:23:23 PM

QuoteThe attack that officials fear is an all out hit on the electrical grid that could bring down regions of the nation for weeks or a lot longer, for months. One report talked about the hidden hacks they found that would cause generators to burn out, needing to be replaced. There aren't necessarily a lot of spare generators sitting ready. And our main supplier is probably China, who may commit the attacks in the first place.  :huh:

Yes, I seem to recall that stuff being mentioned during all those DHS briefings and disaster recovery tabletops I participated in while working in corporate security for a power company.  But thanks for refreshing my memory.

Yeah, I figured that was nothing new to many people but I wanted to mention/remind us all of it since some of the scenarios are so damn scary and destructive. And quite possible to pull off, apparently.

Quote from: Ideologue on December 18, 2014, 10:59:09 PM
Has the White House made any sort of announcement about this?

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 18, 2014, 09:55:30 PM

QuoteTexas Theater to Show 'Team America' In Place of 'The Interview'

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/texas-theater-show-team-america-759037

The Alamo Drafthouse movie theater in Dallas, Texas, will be showing Team America: World Police in place of The Interview on Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. Wallace says that the Dallas/Fort Worth location is the only location as of now that is planning to screen the replacement film.

In a note on its website, the theater added: "THAT is how true American heroes will be celebrating this year, but if you want to let the terrorists win...well, that's your prerogative."

Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 19, 2014, 12:11:55 AM

Quote from: KRonn on December 18, 2014, 09:25:47 PM

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 18, 2014, 04:23:23 PM

QuoteThe attack that officials fear is an all out hit on the electrical grid that could bring down regions of the nation for weeks or a lot longer, for months. One report talked about the hidden hacks they found that would cause generators to burn out, needing to be replaced. There aren't necessarily a lot of spare generators sitting ready. And our main supplier is probably China, who may commit the attacks in the first place.  :huh:

Yes, I seem to recall that stuff being mentioned during all those DHS briefings and disaster recovery tabletops I participated in while working in corporate security for a power company.  But thanks for refreshing my memory.

Yeah, I figured that was nothing new to many people but I wanted to mention/remind us all of it since some of the scenarios are so damn scary and destructive. And quite possible to pull off, apparently.

Long story short, everything can be sabotaged.  Unless you're turning the crank yourself, there'll be some more or less likely way to remotely cut it off.  And if you are turning the crank, they can always try social engineering to convince you to stop turning the crank.

Quote from: Ideologue on December 19, 2014, 12:47:06 AM
Django Unchained or Ride Along?

Quote from: frunk on December 19, 2014, 03:24:55 AM

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 18, 2014, 09:55:30 PM

QuoteTexas Theater to Show 'Team America' In Place of 'The Interview'

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/texas-theater-show-team-america-759037

The Alamo Drafthouse movie theater in Dallas, Texas, will be showing Team America: World Police in place of The Interview on Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. Wallace says that the Dallas/Fort Worth location is the only location as of now that is planning to screen the replacement film.

In a note on its website, the theater added: "THAT is how true American heroes will be celebrating this year, but if you want to let the terrorists win...well, that's your prerogative."

Paramount stopped them from doing the screening (along with several other theaters).

Quote from: Ed Anger on December 19, 2014, 11:37:24 AM

Quote from: Ideologue on December 19, 2014, 12:47:06 AM
Django Unchained or Ride Along?

An Ayn Rand movie.

Quote from: Ideologue on December 19, 2014, 12:12:53 PM

Quote from: Ed Anger on December 19, 2014, 11:37:24 AM

Quote from: Ideologue on December 19, 2014, 12:47:06 AM
Django Unchained or Ride Along?

An Ayn Rand movie.

I'm thinking about setting aside a pain day to watch the Atlas trilogy.

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 19, 2014, 01:12:08 PM
FBI is now saying no doubt it was NK.

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 19, 2014, 08:35:45 PM
That was a joke, wasn't it.  :hmm:

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 19, 2014, 08:25:16 PM
I couldn't see how they could have done it in-house.  Only 50 people in the country have even been on the internet.

Quote from: sbr on December 19, 2014, 10:57:09 PM

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 19, 2014, 08:25:16 PM
I couldn't see how they could have done it in-house.  Only 50 people in the country have even been on the internet.

Would it matter if they did it in-house or subcontracted it out?

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 19, 2014, 10:58:03 PM

Quote from: sbr on December 19, 2014, 10:57:09 PM

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 19, 2014, 08:25:16 PM
I couldn't see how they could have done it in-house.  Only 50 people in the country have even been on the internet.

Gotta follow the trail.

Quote from: sbr on December 19, 2014, 11:00:11 PM
If we know NK was responsible, would it matter if they did it in-house or subcontracted it out?

Quote from: derspiess on December 19, 2014, 03:02:00 PM
The ironic thing about the Red Dawn remake was that they changed the villains from Chinese to North Korean.  But given that the North Koreans had somehow pulled off invading the US and wreaking a certain level of havoc, I guess the Norks weren't quite so bothered with it.

Quote from: sbr on December 19, 2014, 11:00:11 PM
If we know NK was responsible, would it matter if they did it in-house or subcontracted it out?

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 20, 2014, 02:13:38 AM

Quote from: sbr on December 19, 2014, 11:00:11 PM
If we know NK was responsible, would it matter if they did it in-house or subcontracted it out?

In terms of legality, I would expect not.  In terms of political theater, probably yeah.  You arrest the flunky and you can spin it like you've wielded your mailed fist against the wrongdoer.

QuoteSenior Manager, Content Security - Worldwide Tech Ops (4525) Los Angeles, California
 
This position will be responsible for managing various processes in the implementation and operations of Paramount's Content Security efforts.

Responsibilities to include, but not limited to:
*Partner with all groups within the Studio to implement, review, and assess compliance with established content security policies
*Work as a subject matter expert with internal and external partners to improve security processes and compliance
*Lead vendor assessments including physical security, digital security, management systems and related processes
*Support and/or manage all aspects of the assessment lifecycle, including planning, fieldwork, reporting and archiving
*Evaluate and test business processes and controls and identify areas of risk
*Apply current knowledge of IT trends and systems processes to identify security and risk management issues and opportunities for improvement
*Liaise with vendors and internal partners to report and remediate risks
*Conduct assessments of internal departments handling content to ensure the proper security controls and procedures are in place
*Develop and enforce implementation of project-specific content security solutions to meet production and workflow needs of each film
*Enable the implementation and enforcement of Paramount security policies through escalation to appropriate management and tracking of outcomes and timelines
*Identify, review and document potential future-use security products, architectures and technologies
*Provide guidance and training to Paramount staff and third parties to increase their knowledge and awareness of Paramount's content security requirements
*Function as an integral member of Paramount Content Protection team comprised of Legal, Technology, and Operations
*Occasionally work non-standard shifts and/or on-call to support the requirements of the organization

Quote from: KRonn on December 22, 2014, 02:50:43 PM
And supposedly the US is asking China to assist in preventing this kind of attack.

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 22, 2014, 02:52:50 PM
Do you mean Dennis Rodman?

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 22, 2014, 02:54:39 PM

Quote from: KRonn on December 22, 2014, 02:50:43 PM
And supposedly the US is asking China to assist in preventing this kind of attack.

It's more along the lines of asking China's help to tell the North Koreans to knock the shit off, as usual.

Quote from: KRonn on December 22, 2014, 02:59:36 PM
I meant OJ as when he was going to find out who killed his wife.

QuoteMy students were shockingly unaware of the outside world, which was a sad result of the regime's maniacal control of all information, both in and out of the country. Though most of my students were computer majors, they did not know the Internet existed, and I wasn't allowed to tell them. The North Korean hacking army, which is rumored to be a specialized government unit trained in China, is like mercenary soldiers that stand apart from the rest of the country's citizens who remain ignorant of any technological developments.

Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 22, 2014, 08:24:51 PM
Wacky

QuoteMy students were shockingly unaware of the outside world, which was a sad result of the regime's maniacal control of all information, both in and out of the country. Though most of my students were computer majors, they did not know the Internet existed, and I wasn't allowed to tell them. The North Korean hacking army, which is rumored to be a specialized government unit trained in China, is like mercenary soldiers that stand apart from the rest of the country's citizens who remain ignorant of any technological developments.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2014/12/north_korea_s_propaganda_victory_from_the_sony_hack_pyongyang_could_not.html (http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2014/12/north_korea_s_propaganda_victory_from_the_sony_hack_pyongyang_could_not.html)

Quote from: Ed Anger on December 22, 2014, 09:30:41 PM
Wacky

QuoteSony hack: North Korea threatens US as row deepens

North Korea has threatened unspecified attacks on the US in an escalation of a war of words following the Sony Pictures cyber-attacks.

In a fiery statement, the North warned of strikes against the White House, Pentagon and "the whole US mainland".

North Korea denies US claims it is behind cyber-attacks linked to a film that features the fictional killing of its leader Kim Jong-un.

North Korea has a long history of issuing threats against the US.

The latest statement comes days after the US formally accused the North of orchestrating a massive cyber-attack on Sony Pictures.

"The army and people of the DPRK [North Korea] are fully ready to stand in confrontation with the US in all war spaces including cyber warfare space," a long statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency said.

It accused US President Barack Obama of "recklessly making the rumour" that North Korea was behind the Sony attack.

Separately, North Korea said it would not attend Monday evening's UN Security Council meeting discussing the country's human rights record.

Last week, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling on the Security Council to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court to face charges of crimes against humanity.

A UN report released in February revealed ordinary North Koreans faced "unspeakable atrocities", including "deliberate starvation, forced labour, executions, torture" and political repression.

China, North Korea's main international ally, is expected to block any move against the country.

Sony details leaked

The Sony hack resulted in unreleased films and the script for the next James Bond movie being leaked online.

Details of corporate finances and private emails between producers and Hollywood figures were also released.

The eventual fallout from the attack saw Sony cancel the Christmas release of a comedy called The Interview, a film depicting the assassination of the North Korean leader.

That decision followed threats made by a group that hacked into Sony's servers and leaked sensitive information and emails.

The North has denied being behind the attacks, and offered to hold a joint inquiry with the US.

But the US turned down the offer, and President Obama said it was considering putting the North back on its list of terrorism sponsors, a move that further angered Pyongyang.

North Korea had been on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism for two decades until the White House removed it in 2008, as part of now-stalled negotiations relating to Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Mr Obama promised to respond "proportionately" to the cyber-attack.

"I'll wait to review what the findings are," he said, adding that he did not think the attack "was an act of war".

The US has reportedly also asked China to curb cyber-attacks by North Korea.

China is seen as the nation with the most influence over Pyongyang.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with his US counterpart John Kerry on Sunday in which they discussed the Sony row.

Mr Wang said China was "against all forms of cyber-attacks and cyber-terrorism" :lol: but did not refer directly to North Korea.

Correspondents say the issue of hacking is a sensitive one in Sino-US relations, with the two sides frequently trading accusations of cyber-espionage.

The Interview features James Franco and Seth Rogen as two journalists granted an audience with Mr Kim. The CIA then enlists the pair to assassinate him.

Sony says it made the decision to cancel its release after most US cinemas chose not to screen the film, following terrorism threats.

22 November: Sony computer systems hacked, exposing embarrassing emails and personal details about stars
7 December: North Korea denies accusations that it is behind the cyber-attack, but praises it as a "righteous deed"
16 December: "Guardians of Peace" hacker group threatens 9/11-type attack on cinemas showing film; New York premiere cancelled
17 December: Leading US cinema groups say they will not screen film; Sony cancels Christmas-day release
19 December: FBI concludes North Korea orchestrated hack; President Obama calls Sony cancellation "a mistake"
20 December: North Korea proposes joint inquiry with US into hacks, rejected by the US



Analysis by Stephen Evans, BBC Korea correspondent

North Korea frequently uses fierce rhetoric against both South Korea and the United States so there's no great step-up in fierceness. And it is for domestic consumption as well as for outsiders.

The statement has weight because it comes from the most powerful body in North Korea, the National Defence Commission, which is chaired by Kim Jong-un.

It has two arguments - essentially "we didn't do it" and "whoever did do it was right".

The statement goes into some detail about the FBI argument that there were signs in the computer code that North Korea was behind the Sony attack. it said such lines of code are commonplace and do not prove any North Korean involvement.

Quote from: Syt on December 23, 2014, 01:57:02 AM
Die Zeit argued that while there are some hints to a North Korean origin (like language settings on computers), they could have been faked and that it originally had the hallmarks of blackmail - e.g. releasing info piecemeal; and that the NK angle was only introduced later.

Quote from: Syt on December 23, 2014, 01:57:02 AM
Die Zeit argued that while there are some hints to a North Korean origin (like language settings on computers), they could have been faked and that it originally had the hallmarks of blackmail - e.g. releasing info piecemeal; and that the NK angle was only introduced later.

Quote from: Monoriu on December 22, 2014, 10:33:52 PM
I hope Sony screens this movie in theatres, and the Americans watch this in droves.  Just to spite North Korea.

Quote from: KRonn on December 23, 2014, 01:08:57 PM

Quote from: Monoriu on December 22, 2014, 10:33:52 PM
I hope Sony screens this movie in theatres, and the Americans watch this in droves.  Just to spite North Korea.

Sony said this week that they have some plans to release the movie. Hinted at DvD and video on demand, cable TV, etc. And a few small theaters just recently said they'll air the film on Christmas day, as was the original release plan by Sony.

Quote from: Jaron on December 24, 2014, 03:56:39 AM
They're showing this on Christmas here in local theatres! I'm thinking of going to see it...

Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on December 24, 2014, 07:38:29 AM
Now it sounds like a cheap publicity stunt.

Quote'The Interview' available online starting today

Starting Wednesday afternoon, you can watch the controversial Sony Pictures comedy "The Interview" via YouTube, Google Play, the Microsoft Xbox video game console and a special Web site.

The movie will cost $5.99 to rent and $14.99 to buy.

Sony said in a statement that it will become available at around 1 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve. Sony said its dedicated site, SeeTheInterview.com, will be done in partnership with Kernel and secure payments system Stripe.

A top Google executive said Wednesday that Sony reached out a week ago to begin talks about distributing "The Interview."

[A]fter discussing all the issues, Sony and Google agreed that we could not sit on the sidelines and allow a handful of people to determine the limits of free speech in another country (however silly the content might be)," senior VP David Drummond wrote in a blog post.

Wednesday's extraordinary announcement encapsulated days of negotiations between Sony and a number of potential Internet distribution partners.

As a result, "The Interview" will have a historic simultaneous release in both living rooms and about 300 independently-owned theaters across the United States.
Related: You won't get hacked streaming 'The Interview' online

An earlier plan to rent "The Interview" through Apple's iTunes store broke down, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter, but it could re-materialize sometime after Christmas.

As for the physical release on Thursday, the studio's list of participating theaters includes about 300 that will start showing it on Christmas and dozens of others that will start showing it on January 1 or 2. Some of the Christmas Day screenings are already sold out.

"With what looks like a seriously limited release, limited supply is yielding substantial demand," the fan web site Moviepilot said.

An online stream will provide more supply. YouTube has a two-year-old movie rental system that it has tested mostly with relatively obscure titles; "The Interview" will be its biggest yet.

The online distribution deals are groundbreaking in Hollywood -- but also awfully contentious. Owners of major theater chains have steadfastly opposed proposals for simultaneous physical and digital releases, a concept known in the industry as a same-day-and-date release.

It's been tried, with varying success, for some documentaries and niche dramas, but never for a big, broad comedy like "The Interview," which was originally meant to premiere on 2,000 to 3,000 screens.

But extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary movie release strategies. With independent art house theaters but not the big chains on board for a Christmas release, Sony became intent on screening the film online in some form.

Talks with YouTube and other potential partners were delayed by negotiations over financial terms and nagging questions about whether streaming the film will make digital distributors vulnerable to hacking.

The movie studio's CEO, Michael Lynton, hinted at the talks in his Tuesday afternoon statement about the limited theatrical release.

"We are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience," he said.

The independent theater release plan came almost a week after Sony originally canceled the Christmas release of "The Interview" in up to 3,000 theaters. Backlash to the decision was fierce, including from President Obama, who said the movie studio had made a mistake.

Since then, Sony executives have stayed in close touch with White House officials, appraising them of the studio's efforts to seek distribution.

Administration officials signaled that they were pleased with the theatrical and digital plans, and on Tuesday a White House spokesman said so publicly, with a statement that "the president applauds Sony's decision to authorize screenings of the film."

"As the president made clear, we're a country that believes in free speech and the right of artistic expression," the spokesman added.

On Wednesday the Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus concurred. In a followup to his Saturday message calling on theater owners to support the movie, he said the renewed Christmas release "was the right decision."

Priebus added, "Anything else would set a horrible precedent and allow our freedom to be ceded to the whims of a totalitarian regime."

A few minutes after Tuesday's theatrical announcement, the star of the movie Seth Rogen tweeted: "The people have spoken! Freedom has prevailed! Sony didn't give up! The Interview will be shown at theaters willing to play it on Xmas day!"

On Instagram, co-star James Franco called it a "victory" and said "the people and the president have spoken."

"The Interview" is about an assassination plot against the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. It is widely believed that Sony Pictures suffered a cyberattack last month partly due to North Korea's fury over the movie.

In light of last week's threat against moviegoers and ongoing concerns about security at theaters, an FBI official said "we are fully engaged with Sony on the decision" to release the movie.

--CNN's Pamela Brown and Michelle Kosinski contributed reporting.

Quote from: Tyr on December 24, 2014, 01:59:01 PM
So it seems it was the most elaborate advertising of all time then :p

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 24, 2014, 02:01:36 PM

Quote from: Tyr on December 24, 2014, 01:59:01 PM
So it seems it was the most elaborate advertising of all time then :p

I don't understand this line of reasoning.

Quote from: Ideologue on December 24, 2014, 01:57:09 PM
Yeah! I don't even have to see other people! This story has a perfect ending.

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 24, 2014, 02:01:36 PM

Quote from: Tyr on December 24, 2014, 01:59:01 PM
So it seems it was the most elaborate advertising of all time then :p

I don't understand this line of reasoning.

Quote from: Tyr on December 25, 2014, 04:14:51 AM

Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 24, 2014, 02:01:36 PM

Quote from: Tyr on December 24, 2014, 01:59:01 PM
So it seems it was the most elaborate advertising of all time then :p

I don't understand this line of reasoning.

The film would have flown under the radar otherwise.
Now it is the film North Korea didn't want you to see.  A super controversial movie.
I bet a lot of people who wouldn't otherwise have watched it will now.

Quote from: Razgovory on December 25, 2014, 05:52:12 AM
It's always been good business for a company to reveal the social security numbers of their employees.  Or make terrorist threats to the US.

Quote from: celedhring on December 24, 2014, 02:23:40 PM
The fact he used a ":p" made it apparent it was a tongue in cheek commentary, imho, I don't think Tyr literally believes Sony has orchestrated all this. I just don't think this publicity has helped the film at all.

Quote from: dps on December 25, 2014, 10:46:52 AM

Quote from: celedhring on December 24, 2014, 02:23:40 PM
The fact he used a ":p" made it apparent it was a tongue in cheek commentary, imho, I don't think Tyr literally believes Sony has orchestrated all this. I just don't think this publicity has helped the film at all.

His follow-up posts, however, strongly suggest otherwise.  Not so much "tongue in cheek" as "head up ass".

Quote from: Razgovory on December 25, 2014, 03:24:05 PM

Quote from: dps on December 25, 2014, 10:46:52 AM

Quote from: celedhring on December 24, 2014, 02:23:40 PM
The fact he used a ":p" made it apparent it was a tongue in cheek commentary, imho, I don't think Tyr literally believes Sony has orchestrated all this. I just don't think this publicity has helped the film at all.

His follow-up posts, however, strongly suggest otherwise.  Not so much "tongue in cheek" as "head up ass".

He makes all sorts of absurd statements.  I can't tell if he's kidding or not anymore.

Quote from: Brazen on December 25, 2014, 03:51:50 PM
So a bunch of charmless hackers called Lizard Squad, not content with helping NK hack Sony, have carried out massive DDOS attacks on PlayStation and XBox server, ruining Christmas like modern day Oliver Cromwells  :mad:

Quote from: Razgovory on December 25, 2014, 04:02:38 PM
The smiley didn't really show up, I think you used a lower case "p" and the board didn't register it.  And you say ridiculous things earnestly all the time.

Quote from: Tyr on December 26, 2014, 06:23:16 PM
Economically the film is of course a failure and one sony could have done without.
But I wouldn't put it past Rogan and co to be happy with how things have worked out- except for shutting themselves at the thought of nork hit squads anyway- a generic throwaway movie that would otherwise be destined to be forgotten has really made the history books.
Total every cloud has a silver lining stuff of course considering how crappy the general situation is though

Quote from: Razgovory on December 25, 2014, 04:02:38 PM
The smiley didn't really show up, I think you used a lower case "p" and the board didn't register it.  And you say ridiculous things earnestly all the time.

1: pot... Kettle....
2: I really don't.

Quote from: Ideologue on December 26, 2014, 06:19:08 PM
I've never actually seen it, I was just making a point that wishing acts of violence (even if of far lesser scope) upon people because they made (gasp!) a movie you personally didn't like is a shitty thing to do in the context of a real-life attack or accident.  E.g., it's one thing to say "Transformers 4 sucked! Burn down Paramount and Michael Bay's house!"  It's another to say, "Transformers 4 sucked!  I wish Michael Bay had been decapitated by that guidewire, too."

Quote from: Ideologue on December 26, 2014, 07:13:31 PM
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the DPRK falls under the category of "degenerated worker's states."

Quote from: Ideologue on December 26, 2014, 07:13:31 PM
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the DPRK falls under the category of "degenerated worker's states."

Quote from: celedhring on December 26, 2014, 03:56:30 AM
Anyway, early reports say that The Interview grossed 1m on opening day, which is pretty unspectacular even with so few screens.

Quote from: Ideologue on December 26, 2014, 07:13:31 PM
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the DPRK falls under the category of "degenerated worker's states."

Quote from: Ideologue on December 26, 2014, 06:29:25 PM
Cel: Anyway, I don't wanna really bag on Wags.  I know it's just hyperbole.  My only point is that you shouldn't wish specific (and realistic) harm on people just because they don't find the work pleasing.  I figured you'd be on board, since one day it'll be you that disgruntled audience members--few, I trust, but there's always a few--who will have harm wished upon him. :hug:

Quote from: NeilIsn't it just another postcolonial dictatorship?

QuoteYes, yes, I'm sure when you say that Buddhism is the native religion of Japan or the Japan is underpopulated, or some other nonsense you feel quite clever.

Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on December 26, 2014, 07:42:06 PM

Quote from: celedhring on December 26, 2014, 03:56:30 AM
Anyway, early reports say that The Interview grossed 1m on opening day, which is pretty unspectacular even with so few screens.

That's actually not too bad.  It was hitting more than $3,000 per theater, which would make some bucks (like 8 or 10 million) in a "real" release.

Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on December 27, 2014, 04:53:16 AM
Nah, $3100 per theater is pretty good.  Again, if they had actually released it like they had originally planned (10x more theaters), they'd be looking at $8-10 million on Xmas day, and would be #3 behind Unbroken and Into The Woods in the new releases category. 

It will be interesting to see if the simultaneous release is a success and if that will affect future releases.  Supposedly it was pirated 750,000 times though.  :lol:

QuoteRogen's previous film, Neighbors, did twice that PSA in 10 times the amount of theaters, in its opening day.

Quote from: celedhring on December 27, 2014, 04:58:27 AM

Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on December 27, 2014, 04:53:16 AM
Nah, $3100 per theater is pretty good.  Again, if they had actually released it like they had originally planned (10x more theaters), they'd be looking at $8-10 million on Xmas day, and would be #3 behind Unbroken and Into The Woods in the new releases category. 

It will be interesting to see if the simultaneous release is a success and if that will affect future releases.  Supposedly it was pirated 750,000 times though.  :lol:

PSA's dillute as you expand; it wouldn't have got 8-10 milion. If all the film can muster in a 300 theater release after all the hype the film's had, on Christmas day (one of the biggest moviegoing days of the year) is just 3000 PSA, it really isn't a great result. It's not "terrible", but given it probably will go away quickly, there won't be that much money to be had for Sony (in theaters, at least).

Rogen's previous film, Neighbors, did twice that PSA in 10 times the amount of theaters, in its opening day.

Quote from: The Larch on December 27, 2014, 12:01:39 PM

Quote from: celedhring on December 27, 2014, 04:58:27 AM

Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on December 27, 2014, 04:53:16 AM
Nah, $3100 per theater is pretty good.  Again, if they had actually released it like they had originally planned (10x more theaters), they'd be looking at $8-10 million on Xmas day, and would be #3 behind Unbroken and Into The Woods in the new releases category. 

It will be interesting to see if the simultaneous release is a success and if that will affect future releases.  Supposedly it was pirated 750,000 times though.  :lol:

PSA's dillute as you expand; it wouldn't have got 8-10 milion. If all the film can muster in a 300 theater release after all the hype the film's had, on Christmas day (one of the biggest moviegoing days of the year) is just 3000 PSA, it really isn't a great result. It's not "terrible", but given it probably will go away quickly, there won't be that much money to be had for Sony (in theaters, at least).

Rogen's previous film, Neighbors, did twice that PSA in 10 times the amount of theaters, in its opening day.

You also have to take into account that it opened in small independent cinemas only, no multiplexes for it.

QuoteNorth Korea slams U.S. over Internet shutdown, calls Obama a 'monkey'
By Simon Denyer December 27 at 11:16 AM
Washington Post

BEIJING — North Korea on Saturday compared President Obama to a "monkey in a tropical forest" as it blamed the administration for disrupting its Internet access amid a hacking dispute related to the movie "The Interview."

The North Korean government has been fiercely critical of the film, a comedy involving a plot to assassinate its leader Kim Jong Un, but has denied responsibility for a recent cyberattack on Sony Pictures.

Facing a threat of terrorist attacks from hackers, and the subsequent refusal of large cinema halls to screen the movie, Sony initially canceled its release earlier this month.

But after Obama criticized the company for caving in to pressure from North Korea , Sony released the movie Christmas Day in selected independent cinemas. It played to packed houses and took in nearly $1 million in opening day ticket sales.

In a statement on Saturday, North Korea's ruling body, the National Defense Commission, said Obama was "the chief culprit" for the movie's release.

"Obama always goes reckless in words and deeds like a monkey in a tropical forest," an unnamed spokesman for the commission said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

It wasn't the first time North Korea has used racist language to refer to Obama or indeed used crude insults against other top U.S. and South Korean officials. In May, its official news agency called Obama a "crossbreed" and "a wicked black monkey," while referring to South Korean President Park Geun-hye as "an old prostitute."

In August, it called Secretary of State John F. Kerry a wolf with a "hideous lantern jaw."

Obama had threatened retaliation against North Korea over the cyberattack on Sony, but it is not clear if last week's disruption of the country's Internet access was carried out by the U.S. government or by independent hackers.

North Korea on Saturday demanded evidence that it was behind the attack on Sony, while blaming the United States for its own Internet problems.

"The United States, with its large physical size and oblivious to the shame of playing hide and seek as children with runny noses would, has begun disrupting the Internet operations of the main media outlets of our republic," it said.

The U.S. administration, it said, had "feigned ignorance" of the attack.

Earlier, it had warned that any U.S. punishment over the cyberattack on Sony would lead to retaliation "thousands of times greater."

The United States has also requested China's help in punishing its ally North Korea, but Beijing has appeared reluctant to get involved, condemning cyberattacks but arguing there was no proof of who was responsible for the attack on Sony

The movie has proved a surprise success in China, with tens of thousands of people downloading it — most illegally — within hours of it being made available online.

Some Chinese netizens left positive reviews online, even without seeing the movie, as a gesture of protest against censorship, while others appeared to enjoy the lampooning of the North Korean regime. The country's leader is often mockingly referred to by Chinese Web users as "Fatty Kim III."

That popular reception was something of an embarrassment for the nationalist Global Times newspaper, which had earlier accused the United States of "senseless cultural arrogance" over the movie.

On Friday, the state-owned newspaper was forced to admit that some Chinese netizens had "criticized North Korea for lacking a sense of humor," and that they had called the movie's release an "act of justice."

Still, the newspaper insisted the movie's popularity would be short-lived, calling it "low quality." The movie, the paper insisted, represented the West's "distorted view of North Korea."

Quote from: celedhring on December 27, 2014, 12:07:18 PM
We are talking about PSA, though. Quite often an independent cinema will have larger screens than screen #37 of your local multiplex.

Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on December 27, 2014, 01:17:28 PM

Quote from: celedhring on December 27, 2014, 12:07:18 PM
We are talking about PSA, though. Quite often an independent cinema will have larger screens than screen #37 of your local multiplex.

Dude you just mentioned The Neighbors a couple of posts ago.  Why would the next Seth Rogan flick be relegated to the shittiest screen in the back of the joint at the multiplexes on opening day?

Quote from: celedhring on December 27, 2014, 01:36:33 PM
No, but it wouldn't get the biggest ones either, with the Hobbit and other family-friendly stuff around, those do better than stoner comedies in Christmas.

QuoteWhat I mean is that a lot of films that open in arthouses do pull off some pretty big PSA's, a lot of those cinemas aren't small at all, since they follow the old non-multiplex model. I just looked up and in NYC The Interview is, for example, being shown at the Walter Reade. That's the largest screen in the Lincoln Center; just filling up one showing is enough to get more than 3000 bucks.

How the fuck does a Seth Rogen flick get shown at the Lincoln Center?  :lol:

Anyway, we're talking a bit in circles. What I meant is that all the publicity hasn't really helped the film at all, and those numbers aren't really that big given the hype.

Quote from: celedhring on December 27, 2014, 02:02:13 PM
Sony was planning a 2500 screen release. If it ever kept the same PSA as now that's just 7.5m - not 8-10 million. And I'm pretty certain we'd be looking at a noticeably lower PSA in a saturation release.

QuoteBut I'm really interested in seeing the online numbers - if they are made public.  I'm open to the possibility that stoners preferred to watch it at home that to haul their asses to a place where they show European movies.

Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on December 27, 2014, 02:04:21 PM

Quote from: celedhring on December 27, 2014, 02:02:13 PM
Sony was planning a 2500 screen release. If it ever kept the same PSA as now that's just 7.5m - not 8-10 million. And I'm pretty certain we'd be looking at a noticeably lower PSA in a saturation release.

They mentioned "around 3000." Whatever, we'll take your $7.5.  #3.  Sony: Happy.  E2:  Hell, they were also planning on releasing it at a much more...appropriate...time (a couple months ago), which would have helped it along a bit, but lol

QuoteBut I'm really interested in seeing the online numbers - if they are made public.  I'm open to the possibility that stoners preferred to watch it at home that to haul their asses to a place where they show European movies.

There was some stuff about it being the most rented movie on YouTube currently, but.....do a lot of people tend to rent movies on YouTube? :unsure:

E:  With these online rentals, how much of that $5.99 typically goes to, say, Google/the service providing the movie?  Any idea?

Quote from: katmai on December 27, 2014, 02:15:12 PM
With Hallywood accounting the movie was going to be written up as loss no matter what. :P

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 27, 2014, 03:09:58 PM
Regardless of the box office, the true, lasting and measurable impact of all this is:  more Seth Rogan and James Franco movies.  :bleeding:

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 27, 2014, 03:09:58 PM
Regardless of the box office, the true, lasting and measurable impact of all this is:  more Seth Rogan and James Franco movies.  :bleeding:

Quote from: Neil on December 27, 2014, 03:16:54 PM
If Asians, who are often called monkeys, call a black person a monkey, is it like when black people call each other 'nigger'?

Quote from: Ideologue on December 28, 2014, 04:29:46 PM
Just because they have one of you does not mean the Korean people are particularly tall.

Quote from: jimmy olsen on December 28, 2014, 07:24:49 PM

Quote from: Ideologue on December 28, 2014, 04:29:46 PM
Just because they have one of you does not mean the Korean people are particularly tall.

Koreans are much taller than Japanese and Han Chinese, I was shocked when I got here.

Quote from: celedhring on December 29, 2014, 04:54:56 AM
Sony has revealed Interview's online sales: $15m so far. That's a lot. It's not going to be enough to make up the losses, but it will certainly cushion the blow.

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/sony-the-interview-has-made-over-15-million-online-1201388557/

Films, in general, earn very little on Digital compared to theatrical or DVD sales, but this one has had a rather unique story.

Quote from: Jacob on December 28, 2014, 11:57:46 PMNorth Koreans are not, as I understand it, very tall at all.

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 27, 2014, 03:09:58 PM
Regardless of the box office, the true, lasting and measurable impact of all this is:  more Seth Rogan and James Franco movies.  :bleeding:

Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 27, 2014, 03:09:58 PM
Regardless of the box office, the true, lasting and measurable impact of all this is:  more Seth Rogan and James Franco movies.  :bleeding:

Quote"A lot of malware is kind of like a Roomba -- it shuffles around the computer network, bumps into furniture and goes in spirals and looks for things kind of randomly," Stammberger said. "This was much more like a cruise missile."

"This malware had specific server addresses, user IDs, passwords and credentials, it had certificates. This stuff was incredibly targeted. That is a very strong signal that an insider was involved."

Quote from: Tonitrus on December 31, 2014, 06:46:28 PM
If true, it will discredit the FBI pretty severely.

Quote from: garbon on January 02, 2015, 10:52:48 AM
So now this is opening at more theaters? Ugh.

Quote from: garbon on January 02, 2015, 11:01:14 AM
Yes. The terrorists have truly won if good taste if sacrificed. :weep:

Quote from: garbon on January 02, 2015, 11:01:14 AM
Yes. The terrorists have truly won if good taste is sacrificed. :weep:

Quote from: KRonn on January 02, 2015, 02:38:15 PM
The Obama admin has announced a number of new sanctions on NK, which is good, except unless it does turn out that the Norks really aren't behind it then it gets awkward. But then the Norks have been doing this so they deserve a few sanctions. Of course then we have China hacking into everywhere, which is well known but seems little is done except for talking, or not enough desire to do something about it by US officials or other nations as I'm sure they hack everywhere.

Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 02, 2015, 07:38:00 PM
You think all governments should try to steal commercial secrets from other countries? :huh:

Quote from: Sheilbh on January 02, 2015, 07:31:41 PM
What's wrong with China hacking?

QuoteIt's like spying every country should do it and probably not kick up a fuss unless they absolutely have to. I'd be amazed if the US wasn't hacking into China with just as much gusto. So it's probably for the best if no one mentions it.

QuoteIslamist hackers break into Bristol bus website in plot to take down the West
'Arab Security Team' seemed to get the wrong kind of west — breaking into bus timetable site TravelWest.info
ANDREW GRIFFIN   Friday 02 January 2015
   
An Islamist hacker group took down a website providing bus timetables to Bristol residents yesterday, apparently mistaking what the 'West' in the site's name referred to.

A group calling itself "Arab Security Team" put a message on the TravelWest.info site on New Year's Day. The website was restored as usual this morning.

Local paper the Western Daily Press said that the group were believed to have thought TravelWest was "a more influential website promoting travel around the Western World — not the West Country".

The group uploaded a black page with large writing in Arabic at the top, and played music. The rest of the page claimed that the site had been "Hacked by darkshadow", and the group described itself as "Muslum Hackers".

They also linked to the group's Facebook page. Angry Bristol residents took to the site this morning to post messages to the group and ask for help with problems on the site.

On the Facebook page, the group claims to have broken into sites including that of Philippines Airlines and the El Salvador government, as well as a number of Russian pages. It also indicates that the group are based in Tunis, in Tunisia.

TravelWest.info provides help and timetables on Bristol's buses and rail services, as well as information on cycle paths. It is run by four councils and is looked after by the West of England Partnership.

Travel West said this morning that the site was down and that it was working to restore it, before saying that it was back online at around 11am.

QuoteThey also linked to the group's Facebook page. Angry Bristol residents took to the site this morning to post messages to the group and ask for help with problems on the site.

QuoteSony co-chair Amy Pascal steps down after hacking scandal

Sony Pictures Entertainment Co-Chairman Amy Pascal is stepping down and will launch a new production company at the studio, the company said Thursday.

The executive and the studio were dealt a series of blows after Sony's computer systems were attacked by a group calling itself Guardians of Peace. That assault resulted in the leaking of troves of sensitive information onto the Web and forced the company to change its strategy for the release of "The Interview."

Pascal sparked controversy when racially insensitive emails from her about President Obama were leaked in the wake of the cyberattack on the studio.

Long known as a filmmaker-friendly executive who has overseen development and production of some of the studio's best known pictures, Pascal has been one of Hollywood's highest-ranking female executives.

She also has long had a reputation in Hollywood circles for spending lavishly and sometimes indulging filmmakers whose projects haven't always hit the mark.

In a statement, the longtime executive said her new company would focus on producing movies, television programming and plays. Pascal will begin her new role in May, the company said.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-sony-amy-pascal-stepping-down-20150205-story.html