the IMDB's war against an indie.

[yendi]

So, a few days ago, I set my Tivo to record Wicked City, thinking I was getting the Hong Kong action flick (which was how it was described).

What I got was a film of the same name from 1999, about a runaway girl in New York City. It was a damned fine little film, very much set against the background of the NYC punk scene. Not something that will become a classic, but one that made me want to know more about the cast.

So I hit the IMDB, and looked for the film. No dice. Okay, films get renamed at times, so maybe they just didn't have it listed under the proper name.

So I searched for the star, Victoria Spiro. Nothing. According to the IMDB, she doesn't exist.

Okay, so maybe she quit acting and changed her name. Happens all the time, although usually to porn stars.

So, surely the director has a listing! I looked up Richie Vetter, and lo and behold, the IMDB acknowledges him!

But they claim he's never directed a film. All he's given credit for is one film he produced and assistant-directed (Sweet Nothing, one of the earlier "why the fuck did she waste her time on this flicks" films of Mira Sorvino). That's it.

I wish I'd saved the movie, so I could search the rest of the cast. The funny thing is, this is also the same day I discovered that the IMDB has an Indy Film section.

Comments

[alladinsane.livejournal.com]

Luv th eIMDB, but it can throw a curveball..

once visited Majel Barett's listing...and her filmography completely omitted her appearances as Nurse Chapel on the Original Trek...

[yendi]

Yeesh. I swear, they were much better years ago, pre-Amazon buyout.

[dorei.livejournal.com]

IMDB may not like it ...

but Blockbuster does. (http://www.blockbuster.com/bb/movie/details/0,7286,VID-V+++249978,00.html?)

[yendi]

Hunh. Who would've thunk it. Thanks!

[swisscheesed.livejournal.com]

http://www.hollywood.com/movies/detail/movie/161599

[yendi]

An ironic URL, considering the indy nature of the film. Thanks!

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

IMDB is a fan based archive and things can get lost, or inserted improperly. If something bugs you, send them an email with the info you want in there.

Once for giggles we put Bill Murray as being an upcoming Evil Overlord on Season 6 of Buffy. It stayed on for a couple of weeks before anyone noticed, and was cited by a number of people as an authoritative source. Questions were even put to the Buffy staff IIRC.

Un

[yendi]

Heh. I didn't realize how little fact-checking they do. that could be interesting knowledge to have someday.

[dorei.livejournal.com]

Actually, what I found really nifty was my grandfather is on it. I checked one day for shits and giggles and sure enough he's there. They were wrong about his birthday, so I wrote in and told them. They changed it.

My mom is the "one child" listed in his bio. LOL

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0402145/

[laurel]

IMDB is only as good as the info submitted by folks like you and me. While more stuff is on it than not, there are omissions aplenty. And some errors.

People shouldn't treat it as an authoritative source.

[yendi]

I tended to assume that after the Amazon buyout, there was more of a corporate nature to it (with fact-checking, actively seeking out movie releases, etc). I've dropped 'em a letter -- we'll see how long until they respond.

[slipjig.livejournal.com]

They're actually pretty good about responding, although they can defintiely hit overload levels, depending on department.

Whether information gets added or not depends on...well, depends. They do like to have some documentation these days if at all possible. I once tried adding some short films that had appeared on a festival compilation video; two were quickly accepted, and a third rejected. The difference: I included a quick citation on the VHS release with the two that got in. So I think there's at least a surface attempt to weed out the BS.

[tarpo.livejournal.com]

Interesting that its a fan run service.. that has a pay area... Something about that has always bugged me

[theobscureone.livejournal.com]

I found your post via Google search for the movie in question (although I've read Bookslut in the past--and, in fact, almost used it as an example of a blog in the class I'm teaching). I've been looking for Wicked City to view for myself, after buying the soundtrack rather randomly at a used CD sale. I keep running into the anime, which is incredibly frustrating. Can you tell me if IMDB ever got back to you about this, to save me (and them) an extra email? For that matter, can you tell me what channel you found it on?

If you wanted the rest of the cast, this is who's listed on the CD jacket: Victoria Spiro (who you've covered already), Shane Vetter (the director's brother, I'd assume--and also a producer of the album, along with Richie: both are also listed as writers of the film), Ryan Bland, Jay Ecker and Karen Stanion. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1139322/) ()