According to various Internet reports last Thursday, there were rumors swirling that Stephen Sommers had been let go from working on the G.I. Joe movie that’s coming out on August 7, mostly based on a message board post on producer Don Murphy’s website.
Of course, this isn’t the case, Variety says, adding with a little bit of glee:
The incident marks the latest example of studios having to combat false rumors just because film news sites and bloggers are eager to break news about a hot property.
“In this day and age we are constantly dealing with online rumors that take on a life of their own,” says a Paramount spokeswoman. “We love Steve and couldn’t be happier with the movie he made.”
Times like these, I can’t help but think about this phase from Terry Pratchett’s The Truth: A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on.
Lathlas says:
Um, I love Terry Pratchett and will pretty consistently quote his books, but that quote was originally by Mark Twain. I know it was in The Truth, but it’s not original to Terry Pratchett or anything,
Good writers borrow; great writers steal.
P.S. First
Jason Cox says:
Hunh, I never knew that.
(Immediately jumps on google)
Hmm… appears to also be credited to Winston Churchill.
Kinda misses the point worrying to much about where it came from though doesn’t it?
Trisha Lynn says:
@Jason: We’re geeks on the Internet; of course we’re going to argue about the veracity of minutiae!
DJ Tulleken says:
That’s the second occasion in recent times I’ve seen that one attributed the Pratmeister lately, and thought, “Hold on…”. Of course, it IS in The Truth, but the Discworld series frequently references the real world. Often the reference sets up the premise for the whole book 🙂
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes” is the source quotation, and I’m pretty sure did originate with Mark Twain (or Sam Clemens if you’re REALLY worrying about minutiae :D), not Churchill, though it’s more than possible the latter used it, just as Pratchett did.
That was kind of off-topic, so… Snake Eyes!! 😀
DJ Tulleken says:
Man, redundant ‘lately’. Need to start checking my posts.
Jorn says:
It’s not as quotable, but if you’re bringing up Discworld and boots, I can’t help but swing to The Samuel Vimes ‘Boots’ Theory Of Socio-Economic Injustice.