‘New Moon’ director defends Illinois woman accused of illegally taping film in theater
By APWednesday, December 9, 2009
‘New Moon’ director defends woman in film’s taping
CHICAGO — The director of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” is coming to the defense of a Chicago woman facing prison time for videotaping part of the film.
Director Chris Weitz told the Chicago Sun-Times that he was dismayed to hear about Samantha Tumpach’s Nov. 28 arrest at a Rosemont movie theater. She faces a felony charge of illegally copying Weitz’s new film and could get three years in prison if convicted.
Tumpach was found with about three minutes of “New Moon” on her digital camera. She says she was taping her sister’s birthday party at the theater and wasn’t trying to record the movie.
In his e-mail to the Sun-Times, Weitz says there’s a difference between trying to protect the film’s copyright and prosecuting someone who “clearly seems not to have any intentions towards video piracy.”
Weitz says he’s contacted the film’s studio about his concerns.
