An open letter to Devin Faraci concerning 'THE DEVIN'S ADVOCATE: THE VIRAL MARKETING IS MUTATING' (http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=10986) posted July 10th, 2007.
Being the authentic cinema editorial writer that you claim to be, I would have expected an email or phone call regarding the viral marketing sites Rorschachsjournal.com and TheVeidtMethod.com, at least to get a first hand account about what they are, and what I hope they can be in the future. Having failed to even attempt to reach me (my phone number and many email addresses are spread far and wide for any resonably intelligent person to find), I would hold off on making snap judgements on just what my thought processes are on any project.
Having failed to completely corroborate your so-called data you continue to drag my name across your site, perhaps in some vein effort to stay on top of growing fan hype around the Watchmen. If my attempts at creating the be-all fansite for the Watchmen, much as I have done with in creating and/or working on such genre projects like The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Da Vinci Code and Doctor Who, bothers you so much, why not do something about it and create your own, why do you have to shit on people? I am using the viral technique as I find it one of the best ways to get fan reaction and attention.
Perhaps between peddling such cinematic works of art like the new 'Captivity' film and selling out by adding pseudo porn ads seen on your site, you forgot that the internet has, and aways will be, a free tool for anyone to use. I created the Watchmen sites to generate fan interest, much like I did with TheOneRing.net, and if the studios are interested, then all the better. Where do you get off assuming I am attempting to beg for recognition from Warner Bros. or (God forbid, since you seem to have that all covered) attempt to bring never-before seen news about the film.
I am not placing ads on the site, nor am I demanding money to do so, I have actually spent money for this project without any thought of recompense. This is a project I am doing simply because I WANT to, remember doing things simply because you are a fan? The marketing company I run, Type40 Marketing is a legitimate business with paying customers, however that has nothing to do with the Watchmen sites.
Once again, you are incorrect regarding the Superman project, since you completely failed to check your facts, and blatantly created false acusations about me. The Superman issue was a case of gross miscomunication between an over enthousiastic Warner Bros. intern and ourselves. In an attempt to learn the process of getting 'video blogs' from the studio onto a fansite, the intern made false comments regarding our chances at running the site ourselves. When that failed to materliaise, I called them on it. The matter has long been dead and again I call into question your reasons into bringing it up, a second time I might add, are you afraid Warners will forget about it and you so eloquently want to remind them?
Again, where do you get off even putting this project down? Does it offend you in some way? Did I step on some toes in my (oh so misguided) attempts at working on a movie project without your valued opinion, approval or input? Where do you even think you are the only authority to report on movie projects, talk about movies or comic books, or even, heaven help me, attempt to write editorials, even concerning things you have no knowledge about?
I demand an apology from Devin Faraci and in fact the entire CHUD.com team, as I am certain in the past they have not hesitated in posting stories from any of the sites I have helped create or written for.
Rest assured you will no longer be seing any stories on any of my sites linking back to chud.com, the only source for movie 'news', indeed.
- Michael Regina
514-947-5221
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6 comments:
Brilliant Michael! You gave it to him with both barrels! I wouldn’t hold my breath for that apology though. ;) I do this a lot and this happens with every movie, some pompous jerks have to put the stink on everyone’s good time. I think that they just like being offended, pretending to be offended or outraged about something. I am pretty sure that they think it makes them look important. You know it’s not over, you know he won’t be the last but if it is any consolation, I am behind you. Can I get an amen from the rest of the Rorschach’s Journal Crew?
Best always, Connie
Devin, It's just inconceivable that this offends you. If you don't like it, close the window genius. You can do that here, unlike CHUD, where you have to close 19 goddamned pop-up windows.
Bit of the ol' green eyed monster eh?
Thanks again Michael.
-PM
I find it interesting, John, that Michael's letter, and the comments supporting him, take the time to explain themselves. Michael explains his reasons for creating the site (which seems to be very creative and offers enough treats under the surface to keep people coming back for more.) Connie offered a reason for the negative response, and Allen gave Devin a suggestion on how to deal with the site.
Then there is the first negative comment to show up in response to the open letter. "Your site sucks Regina." For some reason, that doesn't seem to clear things up all that much. I would suggest taking Allen's advice. If, for whatever reason, you don't like Michael's sites, just don't visit them. In the meantime, www.rorschachsjournal.com is my homepage, because I don't want to miss any of the updates.
Michael! Keep up this fine work.
Scott, in response to your comment, I say that the same can be said for Michael Regina. If he does not like the negative response he received from Devin, then do not visit Chud. Everyone seems to have nothing but negative things to say to each other regarding the issue, but at the end of the day, did they both not achieve their goals? They both are allowed to have their own opinons. You want to bag on the guys at Chud for taking offense to everything, when Michael did the same thing? Just a thought.
To respond in turn, Ashley, I understand what you're saying, and you certainly make sense. I would still back Michael on this, however, because he was responding to Devin's negative comments. Devin was not reacting to harsh criticism or some other attack. Michael put the letter into the open as a rebuttal to Devin's comments. Each of them has every right to do what they have done. Now, if it turns into an ugly pissing contest between the two of them, then they're pushing it.
What I was going for in the comments was to point out the fact that discussions of this kind are more productive, and more inviting, when the commentary is well-reasoned and at least civil. John's comment seemed to be rather schoolyard, without much explanation behind them.
But I must say, Ashley, that you presented your comment very well, and very politely. I've read many comments on many boards that try to say what you said, but come off sounding like "Screw you, dumbass!" Thank you for not calling me a dumbass.
In this weird Orwellian world in which we live, Michael is upbraided for being what "viral marketing" was created to emulate in the first place! Doesn't the fact that Regina's blogs are unaffiliated with Warner make it in fact truly viral marketing? Or are we only to accept "official unofficial" marketing?
With TheOneRing.net, Michael Regina created what was arguably one of the first, best fan-driven websites to ever hit the net, creating a key source for production news from both official and unofficial channels, which in turn led to studio sites following that model. For behind the scenes news on any production, I'd take one of his sites over a dozen "official" studio marketing ploys any day. Or self-congratulatory, smarmy ad-fests like CHUD for that matter...
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