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Shia LaBeouf in plagiarism row
Actor has apologised for taking ideas for new short film.
Shia LaBeouf has been forced into an embarrassing apology after being accused of plagiarism in his latest short film.
'HowardCantour.com', directed by LaBeouf, was launched online yesterday, but it was quickly noted that it bore startling resemblances to a 2007 comic called 'Justin M. Damiano', by revered writer and artist Daniel Clowes.
The film actually debuted last May at the Cannes Film Festival, but it was only when it emerged on the video streaming site Vimeo yesterday that fans of Clowes noted distinct similarities.
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Eric Reynolds, an editor of Clowes' work, has called the film 'shameless theft', and now Clowes himself has weighed in too.
He told BuzzFeed: “The first I ever heard of the film was this morning when someone sent me a link. I’ve never spoken to or met Mr. LaBeouf.
“I’ve never even seen one of his films that I can recall - and I was shocked, to say the least, when I saw that he took the script and even many of the visuals from a very personal story I did six or seven years ago and passed it off as his own work.
“I actually can’t imagine what was going through his mind.”
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Both Clowes' comic and LaBeouf's film centre around a film critic, with dialogue in LaBeouf's film lifted directly from Clowes' own text, but not attributed.
Initially, LaBeouf, who has previously said he is a fan of Clowes, appeared to be taking cover from the accusations, but he's now taken to Twitter in a series of missives apologising profusely.
Copying isn't particularly creative work. Being inspired by someone else's idea to produce something new and different IS creative work.
— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013
In my excitement and naiveté as an amateur filmmaker, I got lost in the creative process and neglected to follow proper accreditation
— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013
Im embarrassed that I failed to credit @danielclowes for his original graphic novella Justin M. Damiano, which served as my inspiration
— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013
I was truly moved by his piece of work & I knew that it would make a poignant & relevant short. I apologize to all who assumed I wrote it.
— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013
I deeply regret the manner in which these events have unfolded and want @danielclowes to know that I have a great respect for his work
— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013
Before the controversy, LaBeouf had implied that the work was his own, telling ShortOfTheWeek.com: “I know something about the gulf between critical acclaim and blockbuster business.
"I have been crushed by critics (especially during my 'Transformers' run), and in trying to come to terms with my feelings about critics, I needed to understand them.
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Clowes' work has previously been adapted for the screen, notably by director Terry Zwigoff in 2001's 'Ghost World', which starred Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson and Steve Buscemi.
