Comments on: Strange, scammy director made the same movie over and over for 40 years http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 07:59:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Kari Lucin http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1654474 Kari Lucin Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1654474  Er... if he wasn't producing it as a Hollywood Opportunity, and people knew it was just a local movie, it actually sounds a lot like the Missoula Children's Theatre, which does great work creating plays featuring local children. http://www.mctinc.org/ If he was presenting it as an opportunity to catch the notice of Hollywood agents, then it was a scam. (Which the MCT is obviously not.)  Er… if he wasn’t producing it as a Hollywood Opportunity, and people knew it was just a local movie, it actually sounds a lot like the Missoula Children’s Theatre, which does great work creating plays featuring local children.

http://www.mctinc.org/

If he was presenting it as an opportunity to catch the notice of Hollywood agents, then it was a scam. (Which the MCT is obviously not.)

]]> By: Squazz Muntbacker http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1654123 Squazz Muntbacker Wed, 13 Feb 2013 04:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1654123  I'm totally on the side that Barker was probably working a scam, but the story is so novel and interesting that I'm kind of rooting for an Ed Wood-style biopic, if only to raise awareness and lead to more prints being discovered. Film history might do well to cast him as kind of a gentleman bandit who at least handed in the finished films.  I’m totally on the side that Barker was probably working a scam, but the story is so novel and interesting that I’m kind of rooting for an Ed Wood-style biopic, if only to raise awareness and lead to more prints being discovered. Film history might do well to cast him as kind of a gentleman bandit who at least handed in the finished films.

]]> By: Eric S. Smith http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1653347 Eric S. Smith Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1653347 “hipsteresk?” “hipsteresk?”

]]> By: Itsonreserve http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1653137 Itsonreserve Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1653137  I'm kind of flummoxed by how many people are passing their own "scam test" on this, so I have a bridge to sell you if you've got access to a money order. Yes, these days you might pay a significant amount of money to send your child to dance or sporting lessons but these are skills the kid is learning from someone who knows how to teach them and provides an opportunity for personal growth; the NYT article makes no mention of this man having any skills as an acting teacher, nor bringing one along with him.  He provided no learned skill to the children for his rather large fee, only the opportunity to act as unskilled labor, see the product once and then he'd skip town. Not providing the promised product (the film in this case) is not the sole definition of a scam.   I’m kind of flummoxed by how many people are passing their own “scam test” on this, so I have a bridge to sell you if you’ve got access to a money order.

Yes, these days you might pay a significant amount of money to send your child to dance or sporting lessons but these are skills the kid is learning from someone who knows how to teach them and provides an opportunity for personal growth; the NYT article makes no mention of this man having any skills as an acting teacher, nor bringing one along with him.  He provided no learned skill to the children for his rather large fee, only the opportunity to act as unskilled labor, see the product once and then he’d skip town.

Not providing the promised product (the film in this case) is not the sole definition of a scam. 

]]> By: Itsonreserve http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1653127 Itsonreserve Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1653127  During the height of the Depression in a small town?  That's a ridiculous amount of money.  The NYT article states that the girl's parents couldn't have afforded it, but her sister saved it up.  During the height of the Depression in a small town?  That’s a ridiculous amount of money.  The NYT article states that the girl’s parents couldn’t have afforded it, but her sister saved it up.

]]> By: Nathan Hornby http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652851 Nathan Hornby Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652851 In which case I apologise for even pointing it out. This happens to me all the time. More often than fixing the odd mistake it makes me come across as a babbling mad man. In which case I apologise for even pointing it out. This happens to me all the time. More often than fixing the odd mistake it makes me come across as a babbling mad man.

]]> By: Squazz Muntbacker http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652839 Squazz Muntbacker Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652839 http://www.meltonbarker.org/mckinney-texas/ The last flier on that page makes the claim that Barker discovered Spanky from Our Gang. Starting to smell scammy. http://www.meltonbarker.org/mckinney-texas/
The last flier on that page makes the claim that Barker discovered Spanky from Our Gang. Starting to smell scammy.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652801 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 12 Feb 2013 02:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652801 There's a company in Palm Springs that periodically puts out a Who's Who of pets for local rich people. There’s a company in Palm Springs that periodically puts out a Who’s Who of pets for local rich people.

]]> By: Scratcheee http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652773 Scratcheee Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652773 They do this today, in the form of "Who's Who" volumes, and poetry collections for students. Sorry if I just disappointed anyone. They do this today, in the form of “Who’s Who” volumes, and poetry collections for students.

Sorry if I just disappointed anyone.

]]> By: kmoser http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652750 kmoser Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652750 Michael Apted has been pulling <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_Series" rel="nofollow">the same "scam"</a> for decades. Where is the outrage? Michael Apted has been pulling the same “scam” for decades. Where is the outrage?

]]> By: dethbird http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652687 dethbird Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652687 This town needs a monorail This town needs a monorail

]]> By: miasm http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652665 miasm Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652665 Tool trouble Tee-rub-ool Trubool Toulble Toolble Toolbool Troolble Troobool Toolrouble ... Tool trouble
Tee-rub-ool
Trubool
Toulble
Toolble
Toolbool
Troolble
Troobool
Toolrouble
…

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652631 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652631 I don't know about you, but sometimes I doubt his commitment to Sparkle Motion. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I doubt his commitment to Sparkle Motion.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652620 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652620 <blockquote>i do find the hipsteresk mentality of applying todays ethics codes morals and societal conscisousness to the past rather annoying.</blockquote>You think that honesty is 'todays' morality? Fascinating.

i do find the hipsteresk mentality of applying todays ethics codes morals and societal conscisousness to the past rather annoying.

You think that honesty is ‘todays’ morality? Fascinating.

]]> By: EeyoreX http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652613 EeyoreX Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652613 So am I the only one who now desperately needs to see ALL versions of "The Kidnappers Foil" screened simultaneously next to one another, Video Wall style? I'd put down serious money to see that happen. So am I the only one who now desperately needs to see ALL versions of “The Kidnappers Foil” screened simultaneously next to one another, Video Wall style? I’d put down serious money to see that happen.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652606 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652606 <blockquote>Cory, why do you call this guy a "strange, scammy dictator"?</blockquote>You know who else was a strange, scammy dictator?

Cory, why do you call this guy a “strange, scammy dictator”?

You know who else was a strange, scammy dictator?

]]> By: Mike Robinson http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652569 Mike Robinson Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652569 That sounds like trouble with a capital T that rhymes P and that stands for pool! That sounds like trouble with a capital T that rhymes P and that stands for pool!

]]> By: thecardcheat http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652545 thecardcheat Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652545 Sort of like George Lucas and the Star Wars movies. Sort of like George Lucas and the Star Wars movies.

]]> By: Dwight Swanson http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652511 Dwight Swanson Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652511 Barker was unique only in how long he stuck to the same film (and there were gaps in his Kidnappers Foil filmography in which he was doing local film work and managing movie theaters, etc.). Itinerant filmmaking began early in the 20th century and was a flourishing (though always marginal) business model in the 1930s. The nonfiction "See Yourself in the Movies" films were more common than narratives--one of these, "Kannapolis, NC" by H. Lee Waters, was named to the National Film Registry in 2004. Barker was unique only in how long he stuck to the same film (and there were gaps in his Kidnappers Foil filmography in which he was doing local film work and managing movie theaters, etc.). Itinerant filmmaking began early in the 20th century and was a flourishing (though always marginal) business model in the 1930s. The nonfiction “See Yourself in the Movies” films were more common than narratives–one of these, “Kannapolis, NC” by H. Lee Waters, was named to the National Film Registry in 2004.

]]> By: James Penrose http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652461 James Penrose Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652461  People weren't nearly as hysterical about such things back then.  For all the faults of the era, there was a lot more common sense.  People weren’t nearly as hysterical about such things back then.  For all the faults of the era, there was a lot more common sense.

]]> By: V. http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652437 V. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652437 I don't think the filming was as nefarious a scam as the title to this post implies, but there are still people alive that were children in these films and they could give valuable insight about it. Seeing the films are very entertaining if you were from one of the small towns. For instance, my mother grew up in Childress, TX. where one of the films was shot and they have shown the film at class reunions so that people can identify themselves, their siblings etc. Sadly my mother was too young to be in it at the time but people she knew were, like one of her teachers. It was even cool for me to see the old stores and park, where I played as a child. I get the impression from people in Childress that they knew the film was redone in other towns and they didn't expect anything more from it than just a chance to let their kids be part of something fun and unique. Some of the kids and parents in the films might have gone overboard with their expectations of how "talented" their little darling child was and what the film could do to advance their personal opportunities as actors etc., but I don't think Barker was promising anything more than what he delivered and a polite compliment of how talented they were and what a great job they were all doing! I don’t think the filming was as nefarious a scam as the title to this post implies, but there are still people alive that were children in these films and they could give valuable insight about it. Seeing the films are very entertaining if you were from one of the small towns. For instance, my mother grew up in Childress, TX. where one of the films was shot and they have shown the film at class reunions so that people can identify themselves, their siblings etc. Sadly my mother was too young to be in it at the time but people she knew were, like one of her teachers. It was even cool for me to see the old stores and park, where I played as a child. I get the impression from people in Childress that they knew the film was redone in other towns and they didn’t expect anything more from it than just a chance to let their kids be part of something fun and unique. Some of the kids and parents in the films might have gone overboard with their expectations of how “talented” their little darling child was and what the film could do to advance their personal opportunities as actors etc., but I don’t think Barker was promising anything more than what he delivered and a polite compliment of how talented they were and what a great job they were all doing!

]]> By: JJ http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652430 JJ Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652430 In unrelated news, hundreds of adults recount tales of being molested as children at the hands of a strange movie maker, between 1930 and 1975. You have to admit, this would be a pedophiles dream gig. In unrelated news, hundreds of adults recount tales of being molested as children at the hands of a strange movie maker, between 1930 and 1975.

You have to admit, this would be a pedophiles dream gig.

]]> By: Peter http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652415 Peter Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652415 I imagine around the 10 year mark was where the movies were at their best.  By that time he'd have gotten it down to a science, but maybe he hadn't quite lost the passion. I imagine around the 10 year mark was where the movies were at their best.  By that time he’d have gotten it down to a science, but maybe he hadn’t quite lost the passion.

]]> By: GlyphGryph http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652397 GlyphGryph Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652397 It's the Music Man if the music man actually successfully pulled together a functioning band in each town he visited that performed a popular show in town. It's the Music Man... if the Music Man wasn't a con-man, and did exactly what he said. So not really like that at all. :P Most people work to benefit themselves - he apparently provided enough of a service that even for those prices he could come back again and do it in the same town for the next batch of kids who wanted the opportunity. It’s the Music Man if the music man actually successfully pulled together a functioning band in each town he visited that performed a popular show in town. It’s the Music Man… if the Music Man wasn’t a con-man, and did exactly what he said.

So not really like that at all. :P

Most people work to benefit themselves – he apparently provided enough of a service that even for those prices he could come back again and do it in the same town for the next batch of kids who wanted the opportunity.

]]> By: mappo http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652378 mappo Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652378 It looks like he noticed the missing apostrophe by the 50's, so there's that. It looks like he noticed the missing apostrophe by the 50′s, so there’s that.

]]> By: Gilbert Wham http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652370 Gilbert Wham Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652370  If you wanted to do this today, simply billing it as a 'movie production & acting workshop' for young people would garner you plenty of positive interest. And, now just like then, you'd be doing no-one any harm and hopefully everyone would have fun.  If you wanted to do this today, simply billing it as a ‘movie production & acting workshop’ for young people would garner you plenty of positive interest. And, now just like then, you’d be doing no-one any harm and hopefully everyone would have fun.

]]> By: Gilbert Wham http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652364 Gilbert Wham Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652364  Fucking autocorrect. About half the messages I receive now, through just about any channel, have been stripped of meaning because goddamn smartphones keep insisting they can spell better than their owners...  Fucking autocorrect. About half the messages I receive now, through just about any channel, have been stripped of meaning because goddamn smartphones keep insisting they can spell better than their owners…

]]> By: Michael Holloway http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652365 Michael Holloway Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652365 Reminds of "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" (1974) - Duddy's first venture was making short Bar Mitzvah films for Families.  Reminds of “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” (1974) – Duddy’s first venture was making short Bar Mitzvah films for Families. 

]]> By: Jake Rennie http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652358 Jake Rennie Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652358 Here, try this: http://www.meltonbarker.org/ Here, try this: http://www.meltonbarker.org/

]]> By: beforewepost http://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/strange-scammy-director-made.html#comment-1652355 beforewepost Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212189#comment-1652355 The territory intrigued him so he went asking for Trouble.   The territory intrigued him so he went asking for Trouble.  

]]>