Re: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhst
First, Pam Anderson was in on the scene. She wouldn't comment on it when asked about it some time ago and there were no media stories about it when it happened. The guards probably were not in on it.
As to suing Cohen, they could have a case, but it wouldn't be easy.
Basically they signed a release form saying it's ok to defraud me. Would that hold up in court? Maybe, maybe not.
It's kind of sad though that with the success of this movie, the Borat character becomes less and less viable. At least in this country and most of europe, unless he changes the formula to something more traditional.
First, Pam Anderson was in on the scene. She wouldn't comment on it when asked about it some time ago and there were no media stories about it when it happened. The guards probably were not in on it.
"I think it's a huge compliment," Anderson said of Borat's obsession with her. "It was great." Asked how she got involved with the film, the former "Baywatch" star turned away for a moment to think, then replied, "I can't really say. I'm sworn to secrecy."
It always began the same way: with a phone call out of the blue from a producer representing a phony company called One America Productions. The producers claimed to be working with "a Belarus TV station"—too many people had gotten wise to the Kazakhstan bit, presumably—on a documentary about America. They used fake names (try Googling "Lawrence Wenngrodd"), gave out inactive cell-phone numbers and e-mail addresses and paid interview subjects between $150 and $400 an hour.
The next step was the release form. The producers usually pulled it out just before the cameras rolled, at a moment of maximum bustle.
Most of the folks contacted by NEWSWEEK admit they barely read the release. Even if they did, they might not have grasped the legalese about waiving claims for "breach[es] of alleged moral behavior" and "fraud (such as any alleged deception or surprise about the Film)"—which is a nifty way of getting people to agree that it's OK to defraud them.
The next step was the release form. The producers usually pulled it out just before the cameras rolled, at a moment of maximum bustle.
Most of the folks contacted by NEWSWEEK admit they barely read the release. Even if they did, they might not have grasped the legalese about waiving claims for "breach[es] of alleged moral behavior" and "fraud (such as any alleged deception or surprise about the Film)"—which is a nifty way of getting people to agree that it's OK to defraud them.
It's kind of sad though that with the success of this movie, the Borat character becomes less and less viable. At least in this country and most of europe, unless he changes the formula to something more traditional.
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