Damon and Carlton Speak Out About Spoilers
EW.com recently posted a very lengthy and interesting article regarding the trouble with spoilers, which contains quotes from Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. Considering that we recently had our own mini pre-finale spoiler trouble around here, I thought it’d be an interesting thing to post. How do you guys feel about spoilers? Love them? Hate them? Enjoy them for some things and not others? Sound off in the comments section.
You can check out the entire article at EW.com, or read the Lost-centric highlights below:
On the morning of May 15, 2007, Lost executive producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof were putting the last touches on the finale of season 3, a two-hour extravaganza with a top secret ending. At least, it was supposed to be a secret. Taking a break from a scoring session, the producers checked their e-mails and found their inboxes filling with urgent news: someone using the handle ”Lostfan108” had just posted a complete synopsis of the finale on the Web. ”It felt like I had been planning a surprise party for a year for my wife,” says Lindelof, ”and then one of her friends called the night before and ruined it.”
ABC persuaded the offending site to remove the scoop, though by that time, the plot points had already spread across a large network of fansites. Lindelof and Cuse never did figure out how the leak happened, but in the months that followed they took measures to better secure the production. Yet on May 19, 2008, just two days after they wrapped their season 4 finale, ”Lostfan108” struck again. A rundown of the whole episode, beginning to end. ”It’s awful,” says Cuse, clearly bummed. ”I’m just trying to let it go.”
For J.J. Abrams, creator of Alias and director of Mission: Impossible III, the growth of spoiler culture has become so alarming, he made a movie in response to it: Cloverfield. Abrams saw his monster flick — shot on the down low and marketed with coy, minimum-disclosure teasers — as a protest against an information overload era where ”people think they’ve experienced things before they really have.” Now the director is shooting the new Star Trek movie, and he finds himself at odds with rabid Trekkies who want to know ”every gory detail about a movie that’s still a year away.” He respects their hunger, but is convinced they are better off waiting until May 8, 2009. ”Learning raw detail and experiencing that detail as it was intended are two totally different things,” he says. ”I would argue that not knowing those details in advance is a more refreshing way to live when it comes to entertainment.”
The producers of Lost have expanded on Smallville’s brand of spoiler management by producing weekly podcasts, posting meaty sneak-peek clips from upcoming episodes, and making themselves remarkably accessible to the press. ”It might look like Carlton and I are media whores,” jokes Lindelof. ”But we feel the more we’re out there answering questions and dropping teases, the less appetite there is for spoilers.”
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I hate spoilers! I’ve always avoided visiting this site for a couple of days prior to each broadcast, just in case. That said, I love to come here to pick up on things I might have missed, and to read theories and speculation.
Comment by Mike B. — June 3, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Spoilers are horrible. Whoever posts a spoiler is flat out an ignorant fool and a waste of air. I don’t even care if you post in big, flashy, gaundy, blinking HTML text that says “if you click on this you will get spoiled”, you’re still a prick.
ESPECIALLY if you host a Lost “fan” website (emphasis on the quotes), why would you post spoilers?! You are obviously devoted to the show, and therefore you know what Damon and Carlton and everyone else on the show put into it and how they feel about spoilers. Why would you ruin that? Why would you toss away all the hard work they have done just to get a cheap high by “living on the edge” or doing something you know you’re not supposed to do.
The only reason I would see you doing it is so your site gets a couple more hits because you got the scoop, no matter how shady that scoop is. But for the majority of us that don’t want to read spoilers, all we do is stay away from your site. Leading up to this past finale, I was forced to stay away from The Tail Section, Lostpedia, DarkUFO, and all the other ones for the sole reason of not knowing if some bastard would post something on your site. Whether that bastard is a random visitor or the moderator, it doesn’t matter.
It’s childish and selfish. And if you’re a true fan of Lost, you would REFUSE to post any spoilers about the show.
Comment by iowa21 — June 3, 2008 @ 11:05 am
Just because someone has different opinion about spoilers doesn’t make them a “prick.” I am often amazed at how quickly personal attacks are prompted by simply stating a different opinion online. I am truly on the fence about spoilers myself. I was a victim of the “person in the coffin” leak on this website. But I could not and would not stop another person who wants to know! If I really don’t want to read any spoilers, I wouldn’t go on any of the Lost fan sites at all!
They don’t call it the “information superhighway” for nothing!
Comment by Alaine — June 3, 2008 @ 11:22 am
I like their approach to deterring spoilers - podcasts and interviews. At least some good is coming from it.
Cloverfield was awesome, and I think what made it so great, at least in part, is the fact that it was secretive and you didn’t see the best parts of the movie during the trailers.
Comment by AnotherOther — June 3, 2008 @ 11:31 am
Personally, I like the idea of a spoiler-free fansite. I was royally pissed off when someone posted a spoiler in the comments of an article here… but what can you do? As long as posts can have comments that aren’t first screened by an administrator, it is stupid to think that no one is going to post spoilers.
Comment by whereswalto — June 3, 2008 @ 11:50 am
As long as spoilers are on a designated page, away from the other info, I don’t care.
Last year I was on THIS site and looking on this very message board. Someone posted something like this: “So what? Jack’s flashback is really in the future, Walt shows up on the island, and Charlie drowns”.
I laughed it off as ‘whatever’. Half way through the show, I realized Jack was in the future and the payoff at the end with Kate was RUINED!!!! I didn’t think anyone would be such a huge A-HOLE to do that. But they were.
This year I didn’t go on any message boards. I hate having surprises spoiled. With that said, anyone else who chooses to read spoilers should be able to if they do desire. As long as they don’t share with people who want no part of it.
Comment by MikerMan — June 3, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
I agree. It’s just like the people that complain about music lyrics or violent movies, if you don’t want to see them…THEN DON’T LOOK! Some of us simply can’t handle the anticipation. There is no possible way a few spoilers can shake your love for the show to it’s very foundation.
Comment by Darth Holden — June 3, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Here’s the problem with spoilers and why you shouldn’t have a turn the other cheek policy. Damon and Carlton both stated in that article how much it hurt and how disappointed they were that it was spoiled. Its about respect for the creators and the writers, the actors, and all the rest. When you read a spoiler you not only ruin it for yourself, debatable, you ruin the sense of accomplishment for the creators. You do not have the right to spoilers. Thats simply not true. You are breaking a trust that has been formed and its not illegal, its simply rude and disrespectful. I can understand the desire for spoilers, however, I fully 100% believe that any spoilers not given directly from the creators is a slap in the face to those who have worked endless hours for our entertainment.
Comment by Jalocke — June 3, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
JaLocke: What if your “entertainment” IS reading spoilers?
Comment by Alaine — June 3, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
What if your entertainment is doing drugs? Your argument is flawed. Just because you enjoy doing something doesn’t make it any less disrespectful. Consider that they are trying to tell you a story, and you want to know what happens 10 pages on. Now that is fine for a book. In a book the published material comes out and then if you wanna read that last page, feel free. But in television, those moments have not come out yet. You are in a sense stealing information. Now legally you can do that. You have every legal right to do so. But one should have some restraint when entertaining yourself causes detriment to the hard work of others.
Also no matter how much you might say that “Oh I don’t tell people spoilers, the simple fact remains that with the existence of spoilers, those who dont want to know them will accidentally find out. That can’t be stopped. Also, by not reading spoilers you are not negatively effecting your enjoyment of the show.
So if spoilers were not allowed anywhere here would be the results.
1. The creators would feel that their work is being respected and enjoyed.
2. Individuals who want to be spoiler free would have no chance of ruining that.
and 3. Those people who do read spoilers do not lose much if at all in their enjoyment of the show.
Comment by Jalocke — June 3, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
I don’t mind finding out who will be on a particular episode or who’s guest starring but I don’t want big secrets spilled. Knowing they’re taping at Santa Rose doesn’t really spoil anything but telling us what is going to happen in that scene does. It was easier to avoid spoilers when I only had to wait until Fall for the show to come back. Having to wait 8 months makes it easier to check out sites for news because I’m dying for the show to come back. The show is much better when you don’t know what’s going to happen.
Comment by Dee — June 3, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
I had the EXACT same experience that MikerMan had with last season’s spoiler. Knowing it was a flashforward and that Charlie would die was a huge let down for me, and it ruined the finale. So like many others did, I avoided ALL Lost blogs for several days before the finale.
That being said - I don’t have a problem with some people wanting to know what will happen in advance. I just don’t want them to shove it in my face. Keep all spoilers in the Spoiler Sections!
Comment by Lee — June 3, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
I think you people are all over reacting. If you go to a lost site you are bound to see spoilers. To limit this, sites put warnings. However, If you are too stupid to read the warnings or you simply don’t care, then you are bound to recieve spoilers. You people out there who are getting all dramatic at your own close minded misfortune need to get over yourselves. A good portion of the fanbase reads spoilers and if you cant handle somone knowing more about the future than you do, I would suggest you calm down and either pay attention to the warnings or don’t visit the sites at all. This debate is getting ridiculous, and you should stop giving so much shit to the relayers of the information. People such as DarkUFO and Docarzt are huge fans of the show, and guess what? They have both stated they enjoy spoilers. So, wheather you read them or not, it should not affect your so called, “status” as a fan, it is simply an opinion/choice. Once again, those of you who freak out at the slightest bit of information need to chill out and get over it.
Comment by Annoyed fan — June 3, 2008 @ 7:31 pm
Spoilers are ok, but synopsis of a soon to be shown episode, well for me that is disrespectful for the people who work hard to get us blown away for the finale. a lil scoop would not hurt, but to tell how the story will be from start to finish is so damn wrong…
Comment by paul — June 4, 2008 @ 6:02 am
The only way to stop fans from posting spoilers would be for each post to be reviewed before it goes up on a blog. I seriously think that would limit fast open exchanges with other fans, besides the time and effort it would take from the blog’s host is ridiculous.
In the end, you have control over what you read. If there is a chance, even the slightest chance that you may be spoiled, and you go on the site anyway, well you did it to yourself.
Comment by Alaine — June 4, 2008 @ 6:38 am
Calling someone a prick just for posting spoilers? Censoring people’s rights to say what they will? Equating spoiler-posting with taking DRUGS, for crying out loud? What the heck is wrong with some of you people? Honestly, it’s a wonder this species has survived the creation of the Internet–it brings out the worst charactertistics of people, and it has destroyed all concept of intelligent and reasonable conversation.
Comment by Oh Puh-leeze — June 4, 2008 @ 7:32 am
It’s true–the Internet has emboldened cowards, which is why you see people coming here and to AICN and other boards and attacking one another, saying things they’d NEVER say to a person’s face because they’d never have the courage to do so.
Comment by It's true — June 4, 2008 @ 7:41 am
It’s true–the Internet has emboldened cowards, which is why you see people coming here and to AICN and other boards and attacking one another, saying things they’d NEVER say to a person’s face because they’d never have the courage to do so.
Comment by It's true — June 4, 2008 @ 7:41 am
It’s true–the Internet has emboldened cowards, which is why you see people coming here and to AICN and other boards and attacking one another, saying things they’d NEVER say to a person’s face because they’d never have the courage to do so.
Comment by It's true — June 4, 2008 @ 7:41 am
It’s true–the Internet has emboldened cowards, which is why you see people coming here and to AICN and other boards and attacking one another, saying things they’d NEVER say to a person’s face because they’d never have the courage to do so.
Comment by It's true — June 4, 2008 @ 7:41 am
Don’t worry, I would call a person that posts a spoiler a prick in person too, because that’s what they are.
It’s unnecessary to post spoilers. You do not NEED a spoiler, you will find out when the creators of the show deem it necessary for you to find out. It is not up to some shady person stealing secrets from behind the scenes, it is up to the people in charge of the show to let us know what we need to know.
I apologize for jumping to name calling, but I feel very passionate about this. Spoilers are ruining the entertainment industry. Period. Listen to Damon and Carlton folks! They are hurt by the actions of a lot of you who want spoilers!
Bottom line is you don’t need them. There is no questioning that.
Comment by iowa21 — June 4, 2008 @ 9:17 am
Though I hate Iowa the state and Iowa21 is a sounding a bit over the top, I’d say I agree with his basic statement:
Spoilers are disrespectful to the writers/producers/directors of the show. They’ve crafted something and intend to communicate it to the public in a very specific medium in a very specific manner. It’s disrespectful to them personally and creatively.
Does that make somebody a prick? Well I wouldn’t say all that. It’s just somebody who is providing a ‘demand’ with a ’supply.’ They might be inconsiderate or rude for posting the spoilers but they’re not going to burn for it.
And as for reading spoilers, I think Cuse and Lindelof are saddened when their audience “spoils” it for themselves. But at the same time it must be somewhat flatterring; their fan base is so ravenously hungry to know exactly what’s next that they gobble up any morsel of information dropped into the feeding tank.
Comment by Slackosis — June 4, 2008 @ 10:24 am
Not only has Iowa21 resorted to name calling. He/She has now seen fit to deem what I need. Wow!
Comment by Alaine — June 4, 2008 @ 11:53 am
The simple fact is that you do not have a right to spoilers. The actions taken by the people who obtain spoilers are usually shady, and dubious, sometimes downright illegal (involving trespassing and such). Its a shame that you can’t just wait. I have no allusions that spoilers will stop, but its just a further example of hour our generation can’t be patient, they can’t wait for the information, they need it now. Its really the only thing about my generation i truly can’t stand. We are great in so many ways, its unfortunate we cant just chill out and watch.
Also I didn’t equate spoilers to drugs. I was merely saying that even if you want drugs, it is illegal to have them, you don’t have a right to them. Just as even if you want spoilers, you don’t have a right to them. Desire does not create right.
Comment by Jalocke — June 4, 2008 @ 2:19 pm
Alaine, you need spoilers? Honestly?!
Comment by iowa21 — June 4, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
Iowa21:
No I don’t! As a matter of fact my first post explained how I was also a victim of the person in the coffin leak. So I was disappointed just like everyone else. I am just saying it is not for ME to decide what other people read on the internet.
After last years debacle(the flash forward leak), it was plain to me that spoilers are out there. So at my own risk I logged on to this website and was spoiled by accident. So I did it to myself! I can’t and won’t blame anyone else. If I really didn’t want to be spoiled, I would simply stay away.
Or may I suggest you start your own website and see how spoiler-free you can keep it.
Comment by Alaine — June 5, 2008 @ 6:27 am
I agree with all of you:
1. I SOMETIMES wish there no spoilers out there. Any types of leaks, whether correct or not, ruins the episode for me. I only end up watching the episode to confirm the spoiler. Either way, my enjoyment has gone out the window.
2. However, it was entirely MY fault for indulging in them in the first place. Back to the drug analogy: The spoilers provide crack but only I can put the pipe up to my mouth. If you don’t want to be a spoiler victim, don’t click on the “CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS” link. Simple as that. No need to call anyone a prick unless he/she posted in a non-spoiler section.
3. However, (in response to iowa21) I personally sometimes do require spoilers/synopsis. If I am never going to watch a movie, I will read the full spoiler/synopsis for it. I definitely do not have the time and energy to sit through a 2.5 hour movie that ends up stinking up the joint. If it hurts the director’s feelings, so what? Boo Hoo. It was disrepectful making a crappy movie in the first place…
Comment by BG — June 8, 2008 @ 7:48 am