Posted on 02/23/2013 3:02:37 PM PST by Brad from Tennessee
LOS ANGELES — It’s not over yet for “Zero Dark Thirty” — at least, not in the complaints department.
As the Oscars approach on Sunday, the film, which is nominated for five awards, including best picture, has drawn new objections from the survivors of Betty Ann Ong, a flight attendant who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.
The survivors contend that Ms. Ong’s voice, recorded on a call from American Airlines Flight 11 before it hit the World Trade Center, was improperly used in an opening sequence of “Zero Dark Thirty.” They are demanding an apology at the Academy Awards ceremony for using the call without consent, should the movie or any of its makers come up a winner, Harry Ong, her brother, said in an interview on Friday.
The Ong family is also asking that the filmmakers donate to a charitable foundation that was set up in Ms. Ong’s name. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I don’t remember hearing the family complain when her voice (actual recordings) was used in the TV specials on 9/11.
Shameful that her family is trying to cash in on what is clearly a public domain recording.
Get your apologies from Al Qaeda.
Milking the $y$tem. SHOW ME DA MONEY!!!
RE: cashing in...
>> The Ong family is also asking that the filmmakers donate to a charitable foundation that was set up in Ms. Ong’s name.
I know little about these people, but I don’t fault them for complaining about the commercial use of Betty’s final moments.
The Foundation is here:
I note that the President/CEO is Cathie Ong-Herrera.
I’m divided on this one. On the one hand, this was a terrible blow to her family. On the other hand, that message was public, and was a part of history. And I don’t know what percentage of donations go to the people who run the foundation.
Fine if people want to donate, but no one should be compelled to do so.
Ditto. Prayers for the families of all 9-11 victims and their lost loved ones.
Agreed.
This is Betty's sister, or sister-in-law. I would imagine she is paid a salary as CEO as well as expenses for travel, entertainment, etc. in soliciting donations. Harry Ong sits on the board.
In the last moments of anyone's life, I seriously doubt Betty Ong or her family knew or consented to her call being recorded, and I certainly understand their objection to her voice and her final message being used in a movie without their consent.
Having said that, agree with your concerns about how the money is used by a foundation run by a family relative. Yes, that does smack of impropriety. I would not go as far as other posters however (as you did not - kudos for that) in accusing them of "cashing in." That's a revolting allegation considering posters on this forum have no personal knowledge of the family or their intent.
The Left created these folks entitlement persona to beat up the Bush Administration, and change the subject during Congressional hearings on various topics such as Homeland Security, and the Patriot Act..
Hell they got to sign-off on the redesign of the towers.. Who is surprised by their efforts to revive their celebrity, and push their chosen few with the Left wing agenda?
If anyone is prostituting the name of these fallen, it’s the hand full of families of the multitude that were victims of this tragedy.. I haven’t seen any lawsuits against CAIR, or any of the apologist of the real perpetrators, like Bill Maher..
Yeah. They probably could have had an actress dub in what she had said.
A Marine was photographed bleeding out and died. His family was assured by AP that the image would not be released. It was. No money involved. Just honor.
Her salary depends on donations. Many NGOs and charities are booming these days with injections of Gov't money and some private money. Good biz (racket really) to be in compared to actually making or doing something useful
Every case must be considered individually given the factors of civil, public, commercial, news, commentary, and various forms of commercial entertainment. If you still disagree, image footage of your deceased loved one in the opening scene of a Michael Moore film.
That would have been the smart way to go.
I have mixed opinions on this one.
As an American in NYC on 9/11, I would like to say it was a shared experence for ALL AMERICANS where ever we where that day and her family needs to get over what ever issues they have. 2 wars in two countries for 10 years, Ms. Ong family isnt owed anything by anyone.
As to the movie, I wasnt going to watch it. I figured any which way it was filmed it would have made the killing of a dirt bag in front of his family make us look bad. I feared it would make the communist weasel president look like some kind of gutsy leader with balls.....I was wrong, I watched the movie and feel it was done in taste and a just the facts style.
I can appreciate their objection, yet how long has this movie been out? Why bring this up now?
They're bringing this up on the eve of the Academy Awards to get maximum attention in the press which translates into more donations for their foundation including whatever they can hustle out of Sony and Kathryn Bigelow
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