WME MAIL - STAND UP FOR LEVEL 1

sent. fuck these greedy corporate executives trying to put down the man (the man =josh berman/level 1)
 
I'm just going to be blunt about it; I'm absolutely disgusted by the decision of Warren Miller

This is what I sent off. DO NOT COPY/PASTE THIS INTO YOUR OWN EMAIL. IT WILL NOT HELP THE CAUSE IF YOU DO.

I'm just going to be blunt about it; I'm disgusted by the decision by Warren Miller Entertainment Group to sue Level 1 Productions over the contracted use of original voiceovers and interviews with Warren in their newest film, Refresh.

When I first heard of the lawsuit, I honestly thought that it was a bad joke. When it turned out to be real, I was completely baffled; why would WMEG sue a fellow ski company? Isn't there supposed to be a sense of "friendly competition" in the ski industry? Then I realized that WMEG is no longer in the ski industry -- it's in the entertainment industry.

In short, by choosing to file suit against Level 1 Productions, you are alienating the "core skier" group (think 20+ days per season). "Core" skiers know that Warren Miller hasn't even been involved in a WMEG film in at least six years. So when Level 1 produces such an innovative, new, and exciting flick that's, put quite simply, refreshing, we take notice. In fact, not only are you alienating the "core" skier group that you should hold as close as possible, you're also alienating the "under 30" demographic that Level 1 has been successful in reeling in but WMEG has not. So, in short, by attacking an innocent small company that is truly innovating and representing the skiing culture so well, you are shooing away all of the customers that you should be trying to keep or reel in.

That's not even to mention the innovativeness of Level 1's Refresh. By bringing in Warren, it truly foes bridge the gap between the young and the old, the old and the new. And by doing so, it may be the first film ever to attempt (and likely succeed) to unite the many aspects of skiing (freeskiing, freestyle skiing, etc.) once and for all. This movie literally has the potential to do so much good for the sport of skiing.

Meanwhile, WMEG's films are still great eye-candy, but they fail to touch close to the hearts of true skiers. The formula has become stale. It needs revitalization. It needs innovation. It needs more. L1P's "Refresh" provides -- on so many levels. That may be the motive for WMEG's lawsuit: jealousy.

 
just wanted to voice my opinion. by suing level 1 over the use of warren millers voice you are alienating every single "true" skier --and by that i mean people who ski almost compulsively, as a way of life, not your weekend warrior. not everyone may know these facts as of yet, but by the start of this season, most "true" skiers will have come to scorn the very name, brand and ideal which warren miller stands for and whose name your company is attempting to profit from. there is going to be a harsh backlash against ANY professional skiers and especially other film companies with which WME associates with--any ski company that sells you "newschool" footage (so your movies can somehow cling to the idea of being young/hip/progressive) will not be supported by this community--we remember theses incidents. a lawsuit such as this one identifies the company as "outside" of the skiing world--a company no longer under the control of skiers pro skierum. clearly the core values of warren miller no longer remain and as such the company can provide no further positive contribution to skiing--well besides leaching cash from all the weekend warriors who buy your films. the new direction the company has taken is bold, even prophetic--instead of waiting until the de jure excommunication of WME from the ski world--you see the cards as they lie. we weren't going to buy your movies anyways right? we aren't the money market, right? we don't live in every ski town in the US, right? well i hope that theres nothing any of us poor ski bums can do to soil the name of WME, being that we're everywhere your precious consumers will be, but let's hope we can at least talk to people and make an impression--few of us have jobs, we have all the time in the world. good move though. what's it called again? irony? when a company attempting to profit off the name and reputation of a legend is dispised by that very legend. maybe one of these days warren will come out of the woodwork and lay this chirade to rest (or do you have a clause already included for that one too?)
 
they didnt answer there phone, this is wat i wrote.

Hello,

I’m sending this e-mail in regards to the current law suit WMEG has filed against level 1 productions. I cannot understand the fact that a company which has been worshipped by so many skiers in the past, is suing level 1 productions. Warren Miller’s participation in the Level 1 movie “Refresh” was not in any way promoted by Level 1 or its affiliates. The fact that Warren Miller had a short appearance in the Level 1 movie did not in any way possible lower your reputation as a company. However, what did lower your reputation was suing one of the ski communities’ most loved production companies. Your company has clearly lost touch with its goals if it is suing fellow members of its community. I am repulsed by the fact that you are going ahead with this law suit, and you have lost any chance of receiving money from me or many other people in the skiing community. Everybody will be buying refresh, because it is new, innovative, and the company is made up of friendly and kind people who simply love skiing. Many people are starting to wonder if WMEG has simply lost touch with the skiing community, and is suing the new, cutting edge company because of jealousy. I hope that I and all the other skiers who are disquieted by this whole thing have persuaded your company to change its mind. I’m asking you to think about the ski industry and the community, and drop this lawsuit.

One love,

John Nossiff

 
I sent one from the standpoint of a father with 4 kids who all love skiing. And that I would never take them to another WME event ever again. And that they have officially lost my loyalty and support for this situation. That'll have more of an effect than a pissed off park skier I hope.
 
Sadness and Disappointment.

Hello. I am writing to express my sadness and disappointment over your

recent legal action towards Level 1 Productions. Although I am 29

years old now and married with a new baby, I will always be a ski bum

at heart. While earning my B.A. in Business Administration, I learned

that protecting your brand is very important. In this way I understand

the motivation behind your actions. On so many other levels however, I

do not understand at all. Obviously I do not know all the details of

the situation, but I do know that Warren Miller (the human being)

should be able to participate in the sport he loves in any way he

chooses, including with small independent film makers such as Level 1.

If you guys (WME) have some sort of contract with Warren Miller where

he is prohibited from speaking in any other film (besides being sad...)

you should sue Warren Miller himself. Again, having a business degree

I realize how bad of a PR move this would be. It makes me sad that the

alternative seems to be to use your size to intimidate a small

film-maker into submission, at the expense of the greater skiing

community. Many many real skiers are not happy about this, and I

suspect soon you will realize the damage to your brand is being

compounded the further along you take this legal action. Please make

the smart business decision, drop these frivolous charges and continue

to build goodwill in the skiing community. Until then we will continue

to advise against your patronage and circulate this disappointing

result to everyone we know.

-joel
 
lol. the man vs. the man.

in other news, I watched Refresh in boulder last week. I cant, for the bloody life of me, figure out why WME has made the nutso accusations. I'd put money on the fact that every single person in that theatre felt privileged to have heard Warren Miller narrate a L1 film. After his first lines, everyone looked around a little and made the "is that who i thin-holy shit......it is" faces.
 
I think once more statements come out from Warren Miller himself and Level 1, backing up their side of the story and showing that the contract ran out etc... some one should get like Howard Stern, Bill O'Rielly, people like that on board talking about this. people like that have a HUGE cult following and have some big power behind them.
 
when you send an email.... tell them you have always loved their movies, so they think they are losing a true customer..
 
that was extremely vague

If you send warren miller entertainment a e-mail leave out the fact that you have never liked their movies, even if its true. Your e-mail will mean a lot more for level 1s sake if you tell WME you liked their movies but can no longer support them because of the lawsuit.

 
Dear WME,

I have never considered myself much of a writer, but I'll give it my best shot.

I was deeply saddened when I heard the news of your current battle with

Level 1 productions. I have always been a fan of your movies but find

myself sickened by the fact that you would do such a thing to a small

ski film company that has been in the industry for over 10 years. The

simple fact that i have 10+ of your films sitting next to my Level 1

collection also brings a sickening feeling to my stomach. It is a

incredibly small industry that you both find yourselves in, I hope that

you make the right choice by apologizing to the good people at Level 1.

I know it will means very little to you but I will no longer support

your company and will convince my friends to do the same.
 
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