Madcosby posted:

what Roberts should do now is tell every employee a different name for their next jpg so when Smart reveals it, Chris finds his mole

or he should just finish the game

no, outing the mole is more important

quote:

The customary Tuesday meetings were discontinued, and Lesnick found himself constantly harassed by Croberts either to go for donuts on some blurred errand, or to visit the other studios - Austin, Frankfurt, Manchester and the rest - as his personal envoy. He had a growing feeling that Croberts wanted him out of the way. When they talked, he felt the heavy strain of suspicion between them, so that even Lesnick seriously wondered whether the jokes was right and Croberts was unfit for his job. Pledges came in at the rate of two or even three every couple of hours and the JPEGs, according to the customers, remained excellent, but Croberts seldom commented. Occasionally the Redditors produced quibbles. More often they complained that releases were not possible since multi-crewing took them into uncharted areas: could we not ask Wingman or Wulf Knight to check? We could not, said Sandi. Not yet.

It was October. Lesnick had come back from Dunkin' Donuts, where he had been burying a scandal, to find Croberts living under siege. Printed blog posts and Something Awful threads lay strewn over the floor; new keycard readers had been fitted to the office doors. He had put the espresso maker on his desk, guarding it like a mother hen, and from the ceiling hung a baffler against electronic eavesdropping, a thing like an electric fan which constantly varied its pitch. In the three weeks Lesnick had been away, Croberts had become an old man.

'There are three of them and Derek Smart,' he said. 'Sweat them, Ben. Tempt them, bully them, give them whatever they eat. Tell them they're buying their way in with counterfeit money,' he ordered, barely looking up from his files. 'Tell them any drat thing. I need time.'

Agrajag posted:

His only movie was WingCommander, no?

Luigi Thirty posted:

There was some drama involving him and Kevin Costner that got him blackballed.

Kurr de la Cruz posted:

Welp. Operation: Give Me My Money Back (again) was a success. I sold my account to a friend after the DFM ended up being poo poo. He never did anything with it. I talked him into giving it back to me, and then requested a refund on the 28th. It just went through today:


Didn't even have the decency to cover the transaction fee. Whatever, I got way more out of it than I put in, so I call that a win.

Who the hell is Twin Bros. GMBH though?

Luigi Thirty posted:

There was some drama involving him and Kevin Costner that got him blackballed.

Taming Ben Taylor posted:

In Long Island, a vineyard owner, who longs for love, becomes interested in an attractive and steely real estate agent who is trying to persuade the man to sell his property to make way for a golf course.

Wafflz posted:

wtf is Twin Bros GMBH? how many companies is the money spread between?

Kurr de la Cruz posted:

Who the hell is Twin Bros. GMBH though?

quote:

Ortwin Freyermuth is an internationally recognized and experienced entertainment and video game lawyer as well as a veteran production executive with 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry.
...
In 1995, Freyermuth produced “Das Boot – The Director’s Cut” under his production banner Twin Bros Productions. Freyermuth began his legal career in the entertainment industry as Director, Legal Affairs of Vestron International Inc. (1986-1988) where he handled, amongst other projects, the film “Dirty Dancing.”

Clipperton posted:

since when is mark hamill AAA+

also what is all this pubes business

Wafflz posted:

wtf is Twin Bros GMBH? how many companies is the money spread between?

Wafflz posted:

wtf is Twin Bros GMBH? how many companies is the money spread between?

Dusty Lens posted:

Apparently it's a financial services company in Ausburg, Germany. People have been observing SC money moving through it as far back as 2012.

Edit: Seems to be related to whatshisname SIC's film production nonsense.

Luigi Thirty posted:

There was some drama involving him and Kevin Costner that got him blackballed.

Unfunny Poster posted:

Are there any other details on this?

Unfunny Poster posted:

Are there any other details on this?

sorla78 posted:

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/11087/costner-failed-movie.html


Los Angeles, CA: (Mar-05-08) Kevin Costner brought a breach of contract lawsuit against Ascendant Pictures, over a deal to star in a romantic comedy whose financing fell apart. Costner stated in his suit that he was to be paid $8 million for the movie "Taming Ben Taylor," which was never made. Records show that Costner sued the Beverly Hills-based company in Los Angeles Superior Court in November 2005.

Costner, a multiple Oscar winner, maintained the firm breached a December 2004 promise to pay him to star in the film about a grouchy, divorced man who refuses to sell his failing vineyard to the golf course next door. Costner's legal counsel alleged that the company misrepresented its ability to produce the film with the intent to induce him to continually make himself available for it at a later. Apparently, Costner also worked on the screenplay for "Taming Ben Taylor" and started looking for a lead actress and a director, according to the lawsuit. Costner, 53, stated that he passed on other acting jobs because of Ascendant's alleged promises, including an $8.5 million deal to star in "The Contract."

As part of a settlement agreement reached, sources close to the case stated that the parties had resolved the dispute with an undisclosed deal. The terms of the actor's settlement with Ascendant Pictures, as well as a cross-complaint filed by the production company, were not divulged in a two-page document confirming the accord. [DAILY NEWS LOS ANGELES: COSTNER SETTLES OF FAILED FILM]

theultimo posted:

Huge lawsuit and croberts is now blacklisted by the sag.

Unfunny Poster posted:

So basically made promises they couldn't deliver on

Unfunny Poster posted:

So basically made promises they couldn't deliver on, which isn't abnormal for Hollywood, but got caught doing it to someone who didn't gently caress around? lmbo


Wait what? Holy poo poo that's hilarious. It takes a lot to get blacklisted by SAG from my experience.

quote:

As we have been reporting for some time Gary Oldman has pulled out of Star Wars. Iinitially it was reported that he was fired from Lucas's Star Wars Episode 3. However it would seem that Gary quit out of support for the Screen Actors Guild, since this film violated his unions rules. The film is being made outside of the Screen Actors Guild, so all them union actors technically are not allowed to be in it, without being considered a "rat" so to speak.

Oldman's spokesman says

"Gary was excited and looking forward to working on the film. The snag is that the movie is being made without members of the Screen Actor's Guild.

"It means Gary would have been working illegally overseas. Out of respect and solidarity with the other members, he could not and would not consider violating the rules of his union.

Jethro_E7 posted:

Bootcha, you knew a long time ago about the family relationships at CIG earlier than most here. Is there an issue with Sandi there? Do you think things would have been better if they would have been up front from the start, or perhaps restricted Sandi to strictly a PR/CS role internally and not a 2ic role, as the marriage and statements from employees seem to support, or was her involvement a disaster from the start? (keeping in mind they underestimated the success of the crowdfunding)
I'm assuming you consider CR's pigheadedness about wanting "his vision" no matter the cost an additional, not linked problem?
Understand though, if given your situation, you don't want to comment.

Iron Tusk posted:

Do you as a for real investor and not a jpeg "investor" have the ability to ask them what the gently caress is going on? Can you ask them to show their numbers?

theultimo posted:

And you know how that turned out...

Bootcha posted:

Sandi was originally PR/CS...

Dapper Dan posted:

It looks like he broke a contract which is the one thing in Hollywood that is considered a mortal sin. You don't recover from that sort of blow.

Bootcha posted:

The Marketing position got rolled into PR/CS around double digit millions hit, and the WC license deal fell through. The campaign to sell additional ships as they were planned was Sandi's plan, and to that end, whether you think this a con or not, it's been a great success under her stewardship.

Bootcha posted:

Honestly I don't mind Derek asking for her credentials. This is poo poo that happens all the time. And I'm very certain that Sandi is not a racist or uses racist language. rear end in a top hat? Abrasive maybe, when arguments flare beyond reasonable discussion. Other language used is unknown to me, that's within HR. I would still hold her to the same standards as everyone else. These are my experiences. I do not know if these allegations are directly at Sandi, or more at CR but Sandi presents a "better" target of opportunity to get a rise. This all said, I do not poke the bear.


I have the ability to ask more directly what the gently caress is going on. My approach has been to act like a guest and not a boogeyman suit, because my profit share agreement can be nulled and returned for being an rear end in a top hat at their discretion (within reasonable proof thereof). I have also stated, past and presently, to them that showing numbers is a good way to quell allegations of fraud.

Lu Yan posted:

Outlander (2008) - produced by Ascendant Pictures


Budget: $47 million
Box office: $7,033,68


http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/04/21/outlander-interview

Chris Roberts should not be trusted with money.


Huh. That explains why http://www.ascendantpictures.com/ stops updating after 2008.

http://www.ascendantpictures.com/team.html
Ortwin Freyermuth was involved with Croberts at Ascendant too.
edit: Apparently he's a CIG co-founder. Welp I feel dumb

Bootcha posted:

Lu Yan posted:

Outlander (2008) - produced by Ascendant Pictures

Budget: $47 million
Box office: $7,033,68

http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/04/21/outlander-interview

Chris Roberts should not be trusted with money.


Huh. That explains why http://www.ascendantpictures.com/ stops updating after 2008.

http://www.ascendantpictures.com/team.html
Ortwin Freyermuth was involved with Croberts at Ascendant too.
edit: Apparently he's a CIG co-founder. Welp I feel dumb

quote:

Los Angeles, July 6, 2010 - Bigfoot Entertainment, Inc. has agreed to acquire the assets of Ascendant Pictures to form Bigfoot Ascendant Distribution LLC. The combined company will drive the foreign sales of both companies' portfolio of titles through Ascendant Pictures' existing distribution channels, as well as build new relationships.

Founded in March 2002, Ascendant Pictures integrated the creative independence and budget sensibility of Indie film companies with the production and market savvy of major studios, and quickly became one of Hollywood's most promising upstart film companies. Furthermore, Ascendant developed a foreign distribution operation that distributes its films through output arrangements with major territorial distributors and broadcasters.

"This development strengthens our portfolio of film titles," said Kacy Andrews, CEO of Bigfoot Entertainment. "And we believe that this acquisition will help springboard us into the distribution arena which is Bigfoot's primary focus this year."

"We are pleased that Ascendant Pictures has become a part of the Bigfoot Entertainment family," said Chris Roberts, Founder and Chairman of Ascendent Pictures. "We do believe that this will positively impact the industry through the consolidated efforts and resources of bringing the combined company's arsenal of titles to market."

Titles that will now come under Bigfoot Entertainment's rights under this new arrangement include completed films such as Who's Your Caddy? (2007), The Big White (2004), Ask The Dust (2006), Lord of War (2005), and Lucky Number Slevin (2006), as well as other Ascendant Pictures' titles in the works.

Key personnel of Ascendant Pictures will remain on board in the newly-formed Bigfoot Ascendant Distribution LLC to ensure a smooth continuation of operation under the new management team.

About Ascendant Pictures:
Ascendant Pictures is an independent film development, production, finance and foreign distribution company. Ascendant combines the creative independence and budget sensibility of groundbreaking "indie" film companies with the production and market savvy of major studios. Ascendant is striving to identify, develop and produce films in a variety of genres with compelling stories and fascinating worlds that inspire and captivate global audiences while having the potential to grow into franchise entertainment properties. With the expertise and experience of its principals, Ascendant has the distinct ability to move films beyond their linear film medium into the interactive entertainment market.

About Bigfoot Entertainment:Founded in 2004, Bigfoot Entertainment is an international entertainment company producing independent films for the global marketplace. The company finances and develops feature films, documentaries and reality TV shows, many of which have received industry accolades, festival awards and have been distributed throughout the world. Featuring both well-established and up-and-coming American and international talent, Bigfoot releases have shot on location worldwide including the United States, Hong Kong, China, Africa, Europe and Vietnam. Bigfoot Entertainment produces many of its projects at Bigfoot Studios, a wholly-owned subsidiary that encompasses six sound stages and on-site state-of-the-art post-production facilities.

Bootcha posted:

Sandi was originally PR/CS, due to the fact this was initially slated as a "small project" intended to be a Wing Commander revival after the rights were purchased. She is enthusiastic, speaks clearly, and not unpleasant to look at during videos. All of these pluses, with the additional that it was a job that could easily be filled by someone CR knew and trusted. There's no problem with that.

The Marketing position got rolled into PR/CS around double digit millions hit, and the WC license deal fell through. The campaign to sell additional ships as they were planned was Sandi's plan, and to that end, whether you think this a con or not, it's been a great success under her stewardship.

The biggest issue I had within CIG was that Forum Mod that was flipping LTI ships and using that position to advertise it, which Sandi handled personally at my request.

As for whether or not they should have been upfront with the relationship: Professional relationships are a tricky thing to tactfully address. Considering all the bile the industry gets for women in prominent positions, it was more likely a "safe play" to keep it unspoken. As Derek has brought up, the risk of that is to claim "nepotism" with regards to management. This was more of an honest omission than any kind of secret conspiracy. The Roberts brothers is a different thing as they are both industry professionals, where as Sandi is a "newcomer". Certainly that can raise questions about qualifications, but there are other non-traditional industry folks who do fine. I remember there's an ex-Army Infantryman off in BioWare who writes well but had no experience prior to BioWare. I don't think being upfront or omissive would have made a difference in perception without these allegations popping up, but in this case with the media attention, it would have been better to address early, honest, and blunt.

Within the logistics of the project as a whole, Sandi is not 2IC. At the Santa Monica office, I cannot comment as I do not know the daily goings in that office.

Honestly I don't mind Derek asking for her credentials. This is poo poo that happens all the time. And I'm very certain that Sandi is not a racist or uses racist language. rear end in a top hat? Abrasive maybe, when arguments flare beyond reasonable discussion. Other language used is unknown to me, that's within HR. I would still hold her to the same standards as everyone else. These are my experiences. I do not know if these allegations are directly at Sandi, or more at CR but Sandi presents a "better" target of opportunity to get a rise. This all said, I do not poke the bear.

EDIT: If there is a problem at CIG and the project as a whole, it is not because of Sandi. That is my opinion.


I have the ability to ask more directly what the gently caress is going on. My approach has been to act like a guest and not a boogeyman suit, because my profit share agreement can be nulled and returned for being an rear end in a top hat at their discretion (within reasonable proof thereof). I have also stated, past and presently, to them that showing numbers is a good way to quell allegations of fraud.

Wiggly Wayne DDS posted:

Between you not wishing to poke the bear, and them being able to tear up your contract at a moments notice it doesn't sound like you have any power in this business relationship. Have you considered the likelihood that there won't be any profit to share especially with Roberts wanting to run his accounts like it's Hollywood? You'll need financials to know they're holding their end of the arrangement up, so bringing it up as part of your terms of business makes sense. Worst case you have leverage in being able to say publicly "This isn't fully crowdsourced, I'm speaking as a private investor for the project who got kicked out due to asking them for transparency."

Lu Yan posted:

Outlander (2008) - produced by Ascendant Pictures

Budget: $47 million
Box office: $7,033,68

http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/04/21/outlander-interview

Chris Roberts should not be trusted with money.


Huh. That explains why http://www.ascendantpictures.com/ stops updating after 2008.

http://www.ascendantpictures.com/team.html
Ortwin Freyermuth was involved with Croberts at Ascendant too.
edit: Apparently he's a CIG co-founder. Welp I feel dumb

Bootcha posted:

I'm trying to be more funny and clever than I should. Obviously they can't rip up my contract at a moment's notice, and I have legal rights to address issues I perceive within the business. As it stands I'm being more tactful with my rights that probably most investors would/are, probably why I wasn't "bought out" awhile ago after $25 mil.

Unfunny Poster posted:

Oh OK, that makes more sense.

We don't hire SAG guys all the time at work, but we're also smart enough not to piss off SAG to the point we get in trouble with the whole group.

Wonder if Roberts' issues stem back to the issues with the 1990s games that underpaid actors for their work.

Agrajag posted:

I'm curious what your thought process was for actually investing in Crobizzle. I'm not trying to be glib here I'm legitimately curious.