I had at first wanted to believe that this was all just a MASSIVE coincidence, but the more commercials I see for Repo Men, the more it doesn’t sit right with me. The similarities are uncanny and major points of both of the films. I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I just can’t. Drugs, organ harvesting, fine print? Come on…It feels like he saw Repo! The Genetic Opera, fell in love with it, but doesn’t like musicals…It’s really hard to swallow the idea that he came up with this all on his own. I smell foul play.

How these things happen.. if not malicious, my guess is some kind of subconscious plagiarism/cryptomnesia. Our brain lies to us all of the time – maybe these people just simply thought they had the idea first and they didn’t realize their muse was the Exact Same Thing.

Just a thought.

I’ve always held to the theory that Repossession Mambo sounds like well-written fan fiction, even if it’s not. We’ll never know if Eric Garcia came up with the idea on his own (not unless someone waves a magic truth wand – harhar), but this whole thing is looking more doubtful as time goes on.

I think the real issue is the time lines. Darren and Terrance began working on Necromarchant’s Debt in, what? 1999? Garcia claims that his *unpublished* short story “The Tell Tale Pancreas” was written in 1997. Being unpublished, no record of this story exists. And he has not brought this story out to show anyone. Since this story never made it to print or anywhere else (save for one person he apparently let read it) then we know without a doubt that there is NO WAY TZ and DS could have copied the idea directly from him.

So, The Gallery goes on to perform Necromerchant’s Debt and later Repo! the Genetic Opera. It gains a cult following in LA and starts performing more and more shows that were only supposed to be limited engagement runs. Garcia vehemently denies ever going to a show. There’s no way to know if he is lying (although if someone has conclusive proof that he did attend a performance, please, come forward and show it!), but my speculation is… if you had supposedly written a short story on the subject of organ repo men, and then a year or so later, there’s a highly popular stage play on the same subject, that is performing in the town where you live… wouldn’t you want to go check it out? And then later that highly popular stage play performs in NYC, and you’re working on writing a novel based on the exact same thing… wouldn’t you want to go check it out? And finally, that same play gets made into a movie at the same time another movie gets made based on your as yet UNPUBLISHED book, and that movie gets released first… wouldn’t you want to see that movie? And finally, almost a year after Repo! the Genetic Opera has been screened at colleges, universities, film festivals, and finally national release, you finally publish your book and claim it is a complete coincidence?

PUH-lease.

Again, this is all speculation. I have no proof. I don’t know Eric Garcia. I can’t know what did or is going on in his mind. But based on the timeline and facts alone, it is clear to see there is no way Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich could have possibly stolen the idea from him or his never released or published short story. But there is a VERY easy way that Eric Garcia could have stolen…er, was inspired by DS and TZ. Did he steal from The Gallery? Maybe. We can never know. Is it possible, even probable, that he did? YES. I think the timing, history, and facts speak for themselves.

And Universal should be ashamed of themselves. Perhaps the subject matter of Repo! and Repo Men would lend themselves to a similar art style as far as marketing goes. But if you’re a huge movie studio that has a film being released that is already too similar to another film that has been released more than a year in advance of yours, why would you make it worse by essentially copying the artwork that has been in existence for over 10 years? Universal is treading a very fine line, and only making it worse for themselves in the fans’ eyes. I almost feel sorry for Garcia as his own studio is just adding fuel to the fire.

Okay, so they are very different stories. They even have different angles, it seems like, with Repo! Opera leaning towards horror and Repo Men being presented as more science fiction-y. Regardless of how different the stories are, it still doesn’t change the fact that Repo Men/Repossession Mambo takes place in what is essentially the exact same universe as Repo! Opera. That, alone, would be enough to make me raise an eyebrow.

But. I still acknowledge that it’s very possible for this to be a coincidence. I acknowledge that if Repo Men was written as a fanfiction or even a story, explicitly intended to take place in the Repo! Opera universe, I would probably enjoy it very much.

Whether or not the two stories having so many similarities is a coincidence, that doesn’t change the fact that Universal was pitched Repo! Opera and basically told our guys that it was an unmarketable idea, like almost all the other studios they brought it to. So, whether or not Eric Garcia originally stole from Terrance and Darren (I still say that’s up for debate), Universal or whoever has been called in to design all the marketing and advertising crap for Repo Men is very OBVIOUSLY taking from them. DLB’s blog, with all the side-by-side comparisons with the pictures, makes that pretty clear, if one can’t tell already, for themselves.

Also, take into consideration that their people still aren’t saying anything. Nor have they been saying anything. Even if one person from the Repo Men party was to come forward and say, “Look, guys, I’m sorry these two things seem so incredibly similar. I don’t know what else to tell you other than that was never the intention. I have no real proof of that to offer you, but please take my word that I’m sorry it’s caused all this trouble,” wouldn’t that look about a thousand times less suspicious than just keeping quiet? I, for one, would accept that and maybe lay off, a little.

…Well, maybe a little. I’d still make poster modifications.

But, until then, this whole thing is deplorable and I think all involved with Repo Men ought to be ashamed of themselves. If they aren’t, I will be extremely ashamed of them for them.

Jesus you lot. I get the passion for your beloved film but conspiracy theory really doesn’t suit you.

First off do you have any idea how many scripts the WGA register on average every year? Go look it up but somewhere in the region of 40 large. And that doesn’t even include the ones that DON’T get registered. How many of you budding film makers have already written a screenplay? Add that to the 40000 and we’re talking big numbers.

Having personally worked within the industry for more than 10 years, I have read more doppelganger scripts than I care to remember. Some them could have been law suits, some of them should have been law suits but you know why they weren’t? Because the fact is story telling -which is after all what film making is- thrives on plagiarism and the re imagining of ideas. Stories are constantly being re-invented to reach new audiences especially in the movie business. There is financial reason for this but there’s also one undeniable fact: A good idea is a good idea which brings me onto your conspiracy theory of plagiarism.

All the comparisons Mr Spooky Dooky and Mr Darren Whatever have made sound like the adapting and stretching of logic to enforce an underlying belief that has nothing to do with the ‘facts’. They are only interested in selling their own propaganda. The whole notion of who was first is IRRELEVENT. Neither were first, many bloggers across the board have suggestted a variety of short stories, television comedy sketches and the like that came up with a version of this idea way before you or I was in even a glint in the milkman’s eye. I am not here to argue with fundementalists. As we know, you will believe whatever you want to believe but the fact is a good idea is as i said, a good idea.

For example: the drug mentioned in both RTGO and REPO MAMBO. Oh my god! They use a single letter to describe a drug that works as some sort of painkiller and is highly addictive???? That’s not plagiarism. That’s logical. It’s based in truth. Like using the term ‘X’ or ‘E’ for Ecstasy. ‘K’ for Ketamine or ‘H’ for Heroin. It’s a good idea. No one stole it from anyone. Are the ideas similar? Of course they are because both sets of writers were smart enough to route their story in reality.

Okay, what about the marketing Do you lot have any idea how many poster designs are considered before the finals are approved? Literally hundreds and hundreds per film usually. Within that group there are always going to be poster designs that are derivative of other poster designs (thats called being ‘influenced’ not stealing) but also of each other. Why did both the RTGO team and the REPO MEN marketing team then choose a similair poster? Because it was a good idea! Shall I continue?

BTW: REPO MEN has numerous posters out for the film. If one of their what ten or so posters bares a resemblance, does that mean they stole the whole marketing campaign? I don’t think so….

I can go one and on with this but I will not bore you any longer. My point is this: While I understand that this debate is a passionate one, and I personally wish the best for both movies, I also wish that people would stop being such propagandists about RTGO and stop complaining its ‘originality’ has been stolen by the big, bad studio. Children. Please. If Clint Eastwood decided next week to go make a movie about organ harvesting or repo men, I would probably go because he is a story teller I like listening to and the subject is interesting to me regardless of who has told it before. It’s called a point of view. For all you know REPO MEN may be actually about something….

RTGO is not yet a classic, let alone a cult movie and none of you, I’ll wager have even seen REPO MEN so what the f*@k are talking about. Grow up, chill out and enjoy going to the movies to be entertained. Thank you.

i feel like so many things are being stretched. there are similarities, yes. but there are also differences. and how can we judge before seeing the movie?

i can see how the poster art is similar, but indeed the 2 are both based on repossessing organs, but the repo men poster puts a price tag on the parts and on their http://theunioncares.com site there’s also a reference to M5 Neuronet, which is not in repo!

AND their marketing seems different too, one is an opera with a cult following, playing in coffee houses etc etc

and this is their current marketing- http://www.wiredinsider.com/repomen/

i think thats actually pretty creative recruiting repomen and doing a “hunt”.

we’re just nitpicking at all the similarities, but the comparisons can go onnnnn… anyways i’m excited to see the movie and judge for myself.

This is a really tough situation overall. I read your last post and it’s really hard to accept it’s just a coincidence after seeing so many similar themes and ideas. It’s hard to say either way.

Any one of these ideas on their own may not be so alarming, but part of what makes this all seem so strange is the simple fact that there are so many similar ideas at work around the same core concept.

The marketing aspect, as has been shown by you and Darren, is just glaring to me. Even IF the film/story aren’t fraudulent, the ads certainly borrow more than their fair share of Repo! Opera imagery.

The defense for Repo Men has often been the idea that it’s “based on a book”, but the book wasn’t even published until March 2009. It may not have even been finished before the script was being written. That fact doesn’t make it fraudulent, but it certainly leaves it open for changes. From what I heard Repo! Opera began shooting in September 2007 and Repo Men began production in september 2007, so who knows? Though the idea was certainly out there as (according to interviews I’ve heard) Repo! Opera was pitched to several major studios (who liked the idea but turned it down due to the musical/opera aspect).

In the end, I suppose it’s tough to say, though I think there is enough evidence to where no one should simply write it off as just being one enormous coincidence. I mean, it’s not farfetched to think that the nature of the concept would conjure up similar ideas, but so many at one time with certain very similar specific details?

I’ll always love Repo! and it’s hard not to be angry in this situation simply due to the love and connection Repo! Opera fans have with this film. That being said, Repo Men does look fun (and, I mean, due to the similarities, I suppose it was going to). I’ll wait to mull this over any more until I’ve seen Repo Men.

I just don’t know whether my inner Repo! Opera fanatic will allow me to pay for it in a theatre (as I gladly do for pretty much all the movies I see) or if I will feel better checking it out online or on DVD…

Anyhow, keep up the good work with the Repo Army!!! Let me know if I can help out any! Always glad to

TESTIFY!

I just read some of your previous posts again and I gotta say, I’m majorly jealous of your spooky-gasmic Repo! experience at DLB’s place!

I would kill to see such things!

Why the hell didn’t Garcia come out screaming, or at least whining, when he heard that his ‘original’ work was being seen all over town, and eventually on the big screen?

From the video I saw featuring one of the creative minds behind Repo the Opera and two starring actors, the film was made in the same building next door to one another. In fact they claimed Repo Men had tried to hire their production crew a week after the production crew had been hired. So to me it looks shady, but I am going to see it because I enjoy the concept behind both films.

For me, there are several nails in the coincidence coffin. The marketing strategies are virtually identical. Repo! The Genetic Opera used comic-book animation to fill in some of the scenes which they lacked the funds to shoot. On the Apple trailer website, a seven minute motion comic teaser for Repo Men appeared just a week or so ago. The stories could be coincidence (it wouldn’t be the first time something like this has happened), but the same language and the same imagery?

Unless someone switched on Arthur Dent’s Infinite Improbability Drive, the likelihood of this is incredibly low. No whales have materialized miles above the earth. The moon did not suddenly turn into a giant floating blancmange. No team of monkeys has written their own version of Hamlet (although it seems one has crafted a screenplay called Repo Men). I think the improbability drive is out of the question.

The huge nail for me, though, is the fact that whatever powers that be in the movie industry seemed determined to kill the Genetic Opera before it had even begun. It was denied widespread distribution. Its trailer appeared on Apple once, and to my knowledge, nowhere else. Production on the film itself was delayed, hampered, and made extremely difficult by studio executives. Even the initial green-light for the Genetic Opera was difficult to score, and it required that director Darren Lynn Bouseman make another Saw sequel just to get the okay. All this supposedly because the execs thought the Genetic Opera wouldn’t sell.

Now we have Repo Men (admittedly, coming from a different studio, so different execs likely at work), being granted massive publicity, funding and widespread distribution – I can hardly visit the apple trailer website without seeing yet another promo for Repo Men. I’d be very surprised if it didn’t open in every major theatre around the world. Maybe someone at Universal saw that the concept actually would sell, and decided to go for it. I think it much more likely, though, that a big shot (or shots) at Universal had already sunk a substantial amount of capital into Repo Men, learned that someone was trying to make the Genetic Opera, and demanded its head so that their big money project could go ahead as planned. If this is the case, they failed.

This is, of course, pure speculation, folks, so please don’t bit my head off. However, money can be everything in an industry as expensive as film. And if enough of it were sunk into a project that could realistically be called a rip-off if the underdog version were released early enough, the motive to kill said version would be strong. After all, it would be a lot of money put into something that would never pay for itself.

Let’s just go ahead and say they’re both inspired by Monty Python and leave it at that?
I was tickled to see the nod to the organ donor sketch in Repo Men.

Repo Men clocked in at under 2 hours, but as someone else mentioned to me, it feels a hell of a lot longer. For an action film, it sure dragged on in places.

The Good: Forest Whitaker is amazing. It’s kind of hard to argue that – and even though I’m not a Jude Law fan, Whitaker’s performance kept me there. The soundtrack is amazing as well. I’d buy it if they release the CD.

Toronto the good became Toronto the CGI-ed. Some cool outdoor shots of my ‘hood. (But then, I’ll watch The Long Kiss Goodnight for the same reason )

The Bad: Everything else good, funny, ironic, interesting, disturbing etc. etc. is derived from Repo! You can see the obvious influence. What is original in concept or execution fails rather miserably. Liev Schrieber is no Paul Sorvino. The Union is no Gene-Co.

I thought that perhaps the cries of theft were premature, based solely on the misconception that two similar original ideas can’t possibly exist in Hollywood. I was wrong. This is not a case of Armageddon and Deep Impact existing at the same time because of a shared broad concept – Repo Men very distinctly borrows specifics from Repo! and reworks them just enough to not be blatant theft. But it is still blatant theft.

Interestingly, the writer (of the book – The Repossession Mambo – and the screenplay) previously penned Matchstick Men. IMO at the time, it was pretty obviously inspired by Paper Moon. I guess I was right back then.

See it if you must – but do yourself a favour and watch the original… it’s a far, far better movie.

P.S. – the above comment from M. Knight had me chuckling. One of the more upsetting “Hollywood coincidences” was The Sixth Sense vs. The Stir of Echoes. While SoE was an original Richard Matheson story (and a far, far better movie), SS was quite obviously ripped-off from the concept, as well as some very specific subtleties that appeared in both. Since M. Night Shyamalan hasn’t had a single decent original thought himself (and he’s a fucking horrible filmmaker who should be barred from every writing/directing another atrocity again) I can’t believe more people didn’t call him out for his theft. Oh, wait – they’d have to see SoE first… and Hollywood’s studio factory ensured that didn’t happen by pimping the Bruce Willis shitfest so heavily that SoE was overshadowed and didn’t last 3 weeks in theatres.