Warner Brothers executive issues statement regarding Orphan movie

May 28, 10:24 PMInternational Adoption ExaminerCathy Doheny

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the International Adoption Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

"I am Boycotting Warner Bros.'"Orphan" Movie" Facebook group*

A Warner Brothers executive contacted Bethann Buddenbaum, the creator of the "I am Boycotting Warner Bros.' "Orphan" Movie" Facebook group, via phone tonight to issue a statement regarding the concerns of members. Scott Rowe, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Warner Brothers, informed Beth that they have changed their marketing materials and have removed the offending statement: “It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own” from all future trailers. 

Scott added these details about their plans to amend their marketing materials:

1. The current trailer (with the offensive statement) will still be used during the previews of the horror film “Drag Me to Hell”, which opens this week-end. Unfortunately, on such short notice, there was nothing that could be done about this.
2. The next movie that the trailer will be shown at is “The Hangover”, which comes out June 15th. By this time, the current trailer will be replaced with the new trailer (without the offensive statement).
3. They will use the amended trailer (without the offensive statement) for
    all television advertising. They have not yet begun advertising for "Orphan", so there should be no worries of children hearing the offensive statement.
4. The current trailer is still on the web site, but they are working to rectify that immediately. Scott has spoken with the Warner Brothers' Web Team about this again this afternoon.
5. Because the film is "Rated-R", its trailer will only be shown before other "Rated-R" films. The "Orphan" trailer will also only be shown on television after 10 p.m. (i.e. not during times when young children would be expected to watch).
6. Scott also pointed out that there is a hook to the plot that ultimately removes the child/orphan stigma.

"The producers and distributor took your concerns to heart and have made the changes in the public-facing marketing materials that we had hoped," Bethann Buddenbaum wrote to members of the Facebook group.

Scott also mentioned that Warner Brothers' employees get death threats for things as trivial as changing the release date of the new Harry Potter film. “Yet, the adoption community, who are protecting their children and who have every right to be angry, has been nothing but respectful,” he said.

*photo - Cathy Doheny