Studio Briefing reports that Warner Bros. has decided not to hold preview screenings in Canadian cities, due to news stories alleging that many new movie releases are camcorded in that country then copied and sold abroad.
Warner Bros. distribution chief Dan Fellman issued the following statement on 7 May: “We regret having to cancel our screenings in Canada, but our studio must take steps to protect not only our branded assets but our commitment to our filmmakers and to our distributors’.
Following suit, another major Hollywood studio, Twentieth Century Fox, is considering delaying opening films in Canada unless legislation banning camcording in theatres is passed.
