Student knocks off Stone’s new movie
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Chris Moukarbel was intrigued by director Oliver Stone’s latest project, a $60-million movie about two police officers rescued from the rubble of the twin towers.
But as a 28-year-old filmmaker, Moukarbel wanted to do more than simply watch Stone’s “World Trade Center.” He decided to create his own version -- using a bootleg copy of the screenplay and Yale University student actors -- and offer it free on the Internet.
His film is only 12 minutes long and doesn’t have a cast to rival Nicolas Cage and Maria Bello, but it has brought the power of Hollywood down on him.
Paramount Pictures is suing Moukarbel in U.S. District Court in Washington, asking the court to prohibit the distribution of his movie. According to its lawsuit, the studio is afraid that people will see the student film on the Internet and confuse it with the big-time Hollywood version set to hit 1,500 screens Aug. 9.
Moukarbel, who lives in Washington, could not be located for comment. The film has been removed from his website.
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