From: ptsc <ptsc@nowhere.com>
Subject: Re: The Profit?
Organization: Busts Your Rips!
Message-ID: <ehftevo1l9ckaand2f4op2a4ab4o7vgk2a@4ax.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 07:23:54 GMT

On Tue, 17 Jun 2003 07:46:17 +0200, Andreas Heldal-Lund - www.xenu.net <heldal@online.no> wrote:

> On Mon, 16 Jun 2003 05:27:09 -0000, "Jeff Jacobsen" <cultxpt@ev1.net>
> wrote:

> >>Andreas Heldal-Lund - www.xenu.net <heldal@online.no> wrote:
> >>It seems to be impossible right now, but I'll mention it here
> >>anyway: In connection with another projects there is an
> >>interest to watch the movie The Profit (closed viewing in
> >>Europe).

> >>I'm looking for a personal copy if possible.

> >Not only have I seen it, I'm in it! I'm the silent mental patient (talk
> >about typecasting!). If you don't get permission from the owners (I assume
> >that's Peter Alexander and Bob Minton), you can at least get some reviews
> >here I suppose?
> > Mark Bunker posted some good stuff about it in the past.

> According to the owners (wrote to the address on the website)
> they are not allowed to distribute it because of an ongoing
> lawsuit or something.

There is an injunction against the worldwide distribution of the film put in place by Judge Robert Beach due to judicial concerns (try not to laugh) that the distribution of the film would somehow taint the jury pool. How exactly this would happen were the film distributed is not explained, but it is a 100% dead certainty that any distribution would be an opportunity for Scientology to launch yet another delaying attack on the Lisa McPherson case and, of course, to attack the people within their jurisdiction, the creators of the film.

The judge who personally issued the injunction, furthermore, is now presiding over the case.

In short, while I'm certain the creators of the film hope for it to be distributed eventually (they're currently fighting with Minton over it to prevent its destruction), its distribution at present would be a menace not only to the film itself but to IMO more importantly the Lisa McPherson case, which has already suffered enough.

The only people who would have copies outside of its creators would be the same people who illegally distributed clips of it in a deliberate attempt to damage the property and in violation of nondisclosure agreement. I would imagine Scientology wants the film's value lowered as much as possible in order to more easily be able to somehow snap up the rights through Minton using the Courage Productions LLP as a weapon.

In conclusion, I believe any distribution of this film would result in harm to the Estate of Lisa McPherson, to the creators of the film and quite possibly to anyone involved in such distribution. The only people I can imagine who would be willing to provide a copy would be doing so maliciously with the deliberate intent of following Minton's objectives of helping Scientology, harming the film and sabotaging the Lisa McPherson case.

I have no real idea of your intent in this matter and whatever it is, doubt you are in any likelihood of becoming personally embroiled in any of these matters, but I would seriously consider the motives of anyone providing a copy of this tape and I would, if I were you, seriously ponder the consequences to others of anything relating to this hotly-contested property.

I have no personal interest or high level of knowledge of the matters relating to this, but I know quite enough to know it's a tremendous mess and that it is intertwined in the Lisa McPherson case. This is due to largely fictitious and even ridiculous Scientology claims, but it means that things relating to this film could have a highly negative impact on the case, especially if they revive the attempts to change venue. While the claim that the distribution of this film in any form anywhere in the world taints the jury pool is on its face ridiculous, the presiding judge in the case didn't think so and in fact issued an injunction on the basis of such claims. He is unlikely to reverse his findings if faced with a violation of the injunction, and while it is repugnant to general principles of law to "enjoin the world," he may well take an expansive view of his injunction and this can only cause more time-wasting, expensive litigation for Lisa's family and everyone else.

I am not praising this set of affairs, merely describing it.

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