Guilty Plea Rocks Hollywood Camera Biz
Industry veteran Michael Bravin admitted today that while working for German film and TV camera powerhouse ARRI he hacked into the files of LA-based rival Band Pro Film and Digital, where he had worked for 15 years. Bravin, who moved to ARRI as VP market development in 2010, pleaded guilty to using the name and password of CEO and president Amnon Band to access files used in interstate commerce. Emails from several industry firms were accessed during the hacking, including those of Red Digital Cinema founder Jim Jannard. The hacking occurred between December 2009 and June 2010. Bravin has been in the biz for decades, and has worked for Abekas Video Systems, California Communications and NBC Sports. Under the plea agreement, Bravin will serve two months in jail and pay at least $5K in restitution as well as legal costs.
And we dismiss these criminal actions as if we are swatting a “fly on the wall”?…Where are the lawsuits?…the players?…please,dig further…more here than you’re reporting.
I as well would love to hear more information about this. It disgusts me how a German company could hire someone that would do this.
This is the kind of story that I would expect to break on CNN, its amazing how powerful Deadline has become when these blockbuster stories break here first.
Well, if you do some more research you would find out that he was hired BEFORE charges were brought against him….and what has the “GERMAN COMPANY” remark to do with that?
It’s pretty funny how gullible people are in today’s world. You read one article after the action has just takin place and you automatically believe what is real. I never post on these sites because I feel it to be quite stupid as you’re arguing over the Internet, but I do have to say Michael lives on my street and he is not this type of man, nor would he ever commit such crimes.
People blow everything out of proportion and to see it happen in front of me is quite jaw dropping.
Every time some serial rapist and killer is arrested there is always the clueless neighbor who appears on the news, saying directly to camera, “I’m very surprised. He was always such a nice boy, polite and friendly and ever so helpful.” Now guess which role you’re playing here?
Taylor, which part of “admitted” do you not understand?
Perhaps the part where people often times plea as an alternative to waging a long and expensive battle to clear their name from a potentially meritless lawsuit. The extremely low amount of restitution certainly points to that. This sort of thing happens all the time…and there is obviously much more to this story that is not known.
This isn’t a civil suit brought on by a competitor trying to harrass you, these are criminal charges brought on by the US Department of Justice. There is a world of difference. People tend to not plea guilty to *criminal* charges and agree serve jail time if they’re meritless, especially when they’re well-paid business execs with money, and under the US Constitution you have the right to a free defense attorney in criminal cases.
You don’t plead guilty and agree to serve two months in jail because because you don’t want to fight “meritless” criminal charges. You plead guilty because you know that you would most likely be found guilty anyways if it goes to trial, and this spares you from a much harsher punishment while sparing the DoJ prosecutor the need and expense to take it to trial.
its possible that he admitted to doing something but the media is making it seem worse than it really is. It happens all the time, its called making a mountain out of a mole hill.
5 K? Two months? Wow. For a VP in Hollywood. Amazing. Guess if a working grunt would’ve done the same he or she would’ve had their coffee privileges removed.
Taylor, I hope you lock your doors tonight. Doesn’t it always seem it is the guy that lives down the street that would never do anything wrong? People can be screwed up and hide it well.
This isn’t just accusation or a preliminary injunction, the guy admitted guilt in court in front of the Judge and is awaiting his sentencing. It does not get any clearer than that.
The way the article is written, it would imply ARRI sanctioned or knew of the alleged hacking, which seems highly unlikely. Please clarify.
There is always so much more than meets the eye. Read between the lines. Consider what is to be gained by the people so eager to publicize this. And most importantly — look at the man and what you know of him before you take on the hysterics. Lotta sad little men running around in the world. Did you notice who’s taking the high road here?
Taylor won’t reply. You see he “never posts on these sites”
sounds like a funny college type prank. Why involve the courts?