0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
In Trial is a flick made jointly by Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG’s RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) and the National District Attorneys Association, with Jonathan Lamy, Cara Duckworth and Liz Kennedy as the points of contact.Starring ex-prosecutor Deborah Robinson and Frank Walters (right), an ex-Maryland State trooper, it was made to “assist in the training of U.S. prosecutors responsible for handling music piracy cases”.It includes footage from “surveillance” videos and, “techniques on how to identify illegal sound recordings and highlights,” not to mention, “examples of how illegal music is sold”.
One of the most poignant moments of the film arrived when Robinson discusses asset forfeiture and the punishments imposed on music pirates. The revelation that convicted pirates can potentially receive jail time and have their homes and vehicles confiscated for nothing more than selling cheap CD knockoffs causes the film to blur the lines that separate criminal and enforcer, compelling the audience to recognize the inherent injustice of the system. Although the movie contains some serious themes, I often found myself laughing. The actors skillfully deadpan several remarkably funny lines during a scene in which the characters attempt to draw a tenuous connection between drug dealing and music piracy—statements that add a high degree of levity to the film. "What is it that you could bring to the DA's office that would make them appreciate what music piracy investigations can do for their regular criminal case load?" Dedman asked. "Well, I think that, number one, it has to be stressed that this type of crime affects quality of life in the DAs' jurisdictions, the cities in which they work and live, but the other thing is that it's a link to a lot of other crimes," Robinson replied. "It also has links to some terrorist organizations, for those federal prosecutors out there, there are a number of cases right now, but what we are seeing is also a link to selling drugs with the CDs and some gun activity as well." "There are some sayings in certain parts of the jurisdiction when you buy a CD, 'would you like it with or without'," Walters adds. "The 'with' is a CD enclosing a piece of crack or whatever the case may be. We, continually, in working with law enforcement, find that these locations have everything from handguns to large quantities of narcotics." Another amusing highlight is the scene in which Walters demonstrates CD burning, noting that spindles of blank CD-Rs are a common indication that piracy is taking place.
