Post by Talon Karrde on Aug 4, 2005 11:02:59 GMT -5
Just when you thought it was hard enough to get your voice heard. Here we are, pouring our hearts and souls into realistic reviews of all things entertainment, and Sony-TriStar uses a fake critic to advertize it's flicks. 
Here's the scoop from www.imdb.com:
"Hollywood film studio Sony-TriStar has reached a $1.5 million settlement over accusations it advertised movies using quotes from a fabricated film critic. In 2001 billboards and TV commercials featured sound bites praising the studio's movies from reviewer David Manning of The Ridgefield Press - but the journalist was invented by marketing staff at Sony-TriStar. Quotes attributed to Manning were used to promote Hollow Man, A Knight's Tale, The Patriot, The Animal and Vertical Limit - but film fans can now demand a refund for cinema tickets purchased for these movies. Sony-TriStar refused to admit liability but offered the settlement last year in a bid to avoid a lengthy and costly court case - the agreement was finalized yesterday by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl. Manning supposedly called Heath Ledger "this year's hottest new star" for his lead role in A Knight's Tale, and described Hollow Man as "one hell of a scary ride". The Ridgefield Press, a local paper in Connecticut, says it has never employed someone called David Manning, and Sony-TriStar suspended two employees following an internal enquiry."
Here's the scoop from www.imdb.com:
"Hollywood film studio Sony-TriStar has reached a $1.5 million settlement over accusations it advertised movies using quotes from a fabricated film critic. In 2001 billboards and TV commercials featured sound bites praising the studio's movies from reviewer David Manning of The Ridgefield Press - but the journalist was invented by marketing staff at Sony-TriStar. Quotes attributed to Manning were used to promote Hollow Man, A Knight's Tale, The Patriot, The Animal and Vertical Limit - but film fans can now demand a refund for cinema tickets purchased for these movies. Sony-TriStar refused to admit liability but offered the settlement last year in a bid to avoid a lengthy and costly court case - the agreement was finalized yesterday by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl. Manning supposedly called Heath Ledger "this year's hottest new star" for his lead role in A Knight's Tale, and described Hollow Man as "one hell of a scary ride". The Ridgefield Press, a local paper in Connecticut, says it has never employed someone called David Manning, and Sony-TriStar suspended two employees following an internal enquiry."
