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Celebrities a-Twitter over studio ban on social networking sites
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Studio executives have banned their stars from using interactive social networking sites
such as Twitter and Facebook
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Citing a rash of online spoilers, photo leaks, PR disasters, and just plain dumb, studio executives are drawing a line in the sand, forcing everyone from actors, writers, executives and "other creatives" to sign contracts expressly forbidding confidentiality breaches via "interactive media such as Facebook, Twitter, or any other interactive social network or personal blog." One agent reportedly reviewed a contract "bashing any element of a production with social media."
The ban means no posting about anything set revealing or movie-related … ever. Well, presumably not until the finished product hits the silver screen. Then the talent can tweet about the stench of a co-star’s underarms all they want.
In the wake of Miley Cyrus’ self-imposed exile from Twitter, this latest development must be a tough pill for the micro-blogging behemoth to swallow.
Think about the implications. No more behind the scenes blab from Ashton Kutcher or Ryan Seacrest. No more up close and personal first looks via Twitpic or Yfrog. No more peek-a-boo gloms at sexy magazine photo spreads. Oh, the horror!
The NFL imposed a similar ban on players, coaches, league officials, and the media back in August. Prior to that announcement, Cornerback Antonio Cromartie of the San Diego Charges was fined $2,500 for tweeting about sub-standard food at training camp. Cromartie has since put a lock on his Twitter feed, meaning no one can read his posts without prior permission.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "getting an ill-advised word out to the public" is as much of a problem today as it was in the 1930’s, the only difference being ease of access. Today’s stars can reach millions of fans in an instant with a simple click of the mouse.
Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, due to make Shrek 4 at DreamWorks studio next year, are among the first stars affected by the massive studio clampdown.
"This is just the beginning," said a top talent lawyer. "Hollywood has a long history of controlling what talent says in the media. This is just a new area of media that hasn’t been controlled yet."
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