SDCC 2015: Studios Considering Keeping Leaked Exclusive Footage Unreleased

Like all movie sites and blogs therein, there's a certain limit to the content I share which embodies my own guidelines differently from how other blogs operate. One such rule includes not making a habit of sharing smartphone footage taken from specific events like this weekend's San Diego Comic-Con where attendees gained exclusive access to merchandise and exposure to a number of things, including the bustling slate of movies where Warner Bros. stayed on deck to present sizzle reels for their films, including David Ayer's forthcoming DC Entertainment property, Suicide Squad.

Like everyone interested, I can't wait to see the footage being shared. Unfortunately, there's a price to be paid with the nature of netizens and all their fandom with the way things go viral once leaked. Studios are very strict about these things which is personally frustrating to me because I would rather they just unveiled the footage online so everyone who can't afford a plane ticket and a weekend stay at a hotel to go to a convention can be able to see and share in the excitement everyone else gets to feel; Hell, I've only ever gotten to attend one convention in my life and that was in New York City in 2004. I shook Peter Mayhew's hand - highlight of my life right there!

Alas, it doesn't look very good for the Comic-Con crowd this weekend either. I just prepared a draft for a possible online unveiling of the Comic-Con trailer for 20th Century Fox's Deadpool and now word from Deadline suggests the notion that studios might be pulling back from not only releasing Comic-Con footage online, but also showcasing exclusive footage to Comic-Con audiences altogether. Furthermore, Sue Kroll from Warner Bros. who had this to say about the leaked Comic-Con teaser for Suicide Squad:

“We have no plans currently to release the Suicide Squad footage that leaked from Hall H on Saturday. It’s unfortunate and ultimately damaging that one individual broke a long-standing trust we have enjoyed with our fans at the convention by posting early material, which, at this point, was not intended for a wider audience. We are still in production on Suicide Squad, and will have a big campaign launch in the future. Our presentation yesterday was designed to be experienced in that room, on those big screens!”

As much as I hate that studios hold out like this and would rather just release the footage since it's going to go viral anyway, I respect that they might...just MIGHT have reasons for not doing so. Simultaneously, it's also sad that as much as Comic-Con audiences are being trusted, they simply refuse to respect rules being applied to them - I'd like to think that doing so would allow studios to be a little more lenient when officially releasing footage for blogs to write about in clarity. Plus, the last thing I want to see is some tiny, shitty ass screen blurring all the content filmed from a low-angle with some dude walking in front of the lens. And the funny thing is that some people would have the audacity to call me ungrateful for that.

No, no. Fuck you. At best here, gratitude should be observed by the very people who are simply asked to do one specific thing - DON'T RECORD THE FOOTAGE.

Yeah, I'll say it: As it stands, the people failed, not the studios. Sure, they could just release these trailers and let that be that, but this also exemplifies the sheer lack of responsibility that a certain portion of these Comic-Con goers feel when it comes to rules, merely believing that just because they can bring their phones in, the rules don't apply to them.

Well, judging by appearances here, the studios are about to fix that. Otherwise perhaps this will implure you to tell your Comic-Con neighbor to put their phone away. My two cents here.

Suicide Squad opens on August 5, 2016. As for a teaser for this film and apparently the February 12, 2016 release of Deadpool, I guess we're getting it when Warner Bros., Marvel and 20th Century Fox are damn good and ready.

QUESTION: Do you think studios should be lenient and simply release the footage they show at Comic-Cons? Or are they correct in dialing back from lack of trust? Comment below and say your peace!