Are Set Photos An Invasion Of Privacy?


09/15/12 03:00pm
9 Comments

Celebuzz recently posted some photos of Jennifer Lawrence on the set of Catching Fire, and as one of the Hunger Games editors for LeakyNews I went to post them here on the site but stopped myself at the last minute. I paused for a few reasons; the photos were clearly taken from some distance and are therefore most likely “pap shots”, Jennifer obviously didn’t know that they were being taken, Jennifer was also by her trailer in her downtime rather than on set working, they weren’t released by Lionsgate – once I’d considered all of these factors, the photos seemed intrusive and disrespectful rather than fuel for a simple update post.

As somebody deeply opposed to the way that the paparazzi invade the privacy of celebrities, sometimes even putting lives at risk in an attempt to sell a snapshot of someone’s personal life, photos like this make me uncomfortable. They’re not on the same level as shots taken of celebrities buying groceries or spending private time with their kids, but I still think that there’s something very unsettling about the way fan sites often readily accept and help to distribute photos taken without the consent of those involved. The alternative, however, would be that we rely only on the small amount of photos released directly by Lionsgate, staying silent while other sites post news and photos that keep fans far more up-to-date with the situation on set. These photos are going to keep appearing no matter how I feel about them personally, and fans or other staff members who feel differently about papped set photos might rightly feel that I’m imposing my own beliefs on the way we report news here at Leaky. 

What do you think? Are set photos fair game, because actors and actresses are at work on a project that will soon be seen by millions? Does the fact that Jennifer was by her trailer rather than actually shooting change the way that we should view these photos? Let us know in the comments.

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  • Dulce

    I do agree with you to some extent that set photos can be an invasion f privacy. In the case of the Catching Fire photos, I definitely agree. They were not aware the photos were taken and I bet it was a paparazzi with a big lens taking the pictures. I don’t approve of the way many paparazzi conduct their business and I commend you for writing your opinions! The fact is that paparazzi have work because the public, in general, want to see these photos, and the public doesn’t always think about how the photos were obtained. The only way we can sort of.. push the paparazzi to change their methods is if more people like you make decisions like this, not to share the photos.
    However, I do not think that all set photos are bad. I live in a place where many tv shows film on location and I’ve been on sets taking pictures for myself. But I listen to the cast and crew. There’s a certain set edicate. Some productions will ask fans to not take pictures or video when the cameras are rolling. Some productions ask for no pictures or video at all. Further, some productions will ask that you don’t upload the your photos or video until after the episode has aired. Sometimes cast will come out to take pictures with fans, and sometimes they won’t or can’t. The productions around my city tend to care a lot about having no spoilers leaked. The magic idea is RESPECT. Respecting cast and crew will result in them respecting you back. When you disrespect them, they don’t forget you.

    • Dulce

      Oh and I should add, that if you are respectful, the actors and cast tend to remember you too, and in a much better light. :) I have been told by crew about how actors on set particularly hate paparazzi.

  • http://twitter.com/bekabee Beka

    I used to run a rather popular blog, so I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to handle spreading photos like this. My philosophy changes almost day by day. IMO, once it’s out there, it’s out there, but when we have a large audience then it’s really important for us to use our influence with responsibly. We should definitely question ourselves every time something like this comes out. My personal line on what is appropriate and what is inappropriate is this: is it personal, or is it for work? If an actor or actress if photographed doing something very personal or in a private places – for example, photos from their own home or from a private facebook account, or for a recent example, Kate Middleton’s photos while she was on vacation – then that is completely, no-question not our business and not appropriate to spread around as fans. Even if it’s already on the cover of a magazine. But photographed while on set for work? For one of the biggest movies currently in production? It’s definitely a different situation. Yes, it’s supposed to be a closed set, but Lionsgate has policies in place for pap photos. They know how to deal with them, they expect them to happen. Not that paps sneaking on set is okay, but I usually respect actor/celebrity privacy over “spoiler” privacy, if you get what I mean. In the end, it’s honestly free publicity for Lionsgate and it’s what fans, especially FANDOM fans, want. Of course, this could just be me legitimizing it for myself because I want to see the photos lol. But then I have to ask myself – well, I saw these, what makes me think that it’s my responsibility to police it for everyone else? We’re on the internet for Wizard God’s sake. If I, as someone completely unrelated to the movie, have already seen them, it’s kind-of messed up to say, “Oh yeah, there were great set photos, but I shouldn’t show you them because they’re private.” I guess it just depends, in the end, if you want to approach it as a strict news source or approach it as a fan. Tough call. Sorry to ramble!

  • Katie Partin

    LeakyNews may not release as much as the other fansites, but the fact that you did NOT post the photos is one of the reasons why I keep coming back. I really hate how the paps work.

  • 19yearslater

    I think the Hunger Games photos are in a gray area. For me, if the celebrity is not shooting at all but rather at home or even out and about their photos should not be taken and sold. In the case of set photos, my feeling is generally meh. Celebrities in costume on set can’t completely expect not to be photographed, they are explicitly in the public eye in that sense. I saw the Hunger Games photos and I wasn’t looking for them. They were all over Pinterest, news sites, etc. I respect your decision not to run them, though.

  • http://twitter.com/killerbunny117 Katie Kelly

    I agree with 19yearslater. They are kind of a grey area. But I think your reasons for not posting them are valid.

  • amber

    In general I think paps scum, and I will never understand why it’s okay for celebs to be stalked, harassed, and put in life threatening situations simply because they are famous. However, pictures of celebs on set could have been set up by producers or publicists to garner attention for the film, so it’s difficult for me to say if it’s an invasion or privacy or not.

  • lloyd

    Grey area. The paps are going to be there and taking pictures on and off set of the actors. The actors know this and would have taken looked like they didn’t want to be photographed (head down/putting something over their face). As long as it’s not intrusive then I don’t really see it as a problem. As soon as it’s someone’s personal life the camera deserves to be stolen off them.

  • http://elinious.tumblr.com Elinious

    Here’s the deal for me: I see an invasion-of-privacy-type-pap photo and I say to myself ‘DISGUSTING PAPARAZZI UGH’ but then this quickly follows: ‘I do love Miley/Emma/Jennifer and oh she’s wearing a cute top! etc’ I’m not proud of it, but I am being honest.
    Ultimately, when I come across a picture of someone I think is cool I WILL look, but in general I don’t go looking for them, unless there’s a reason to. For example, you’ve mentioned the photographs here, and I did go and look them up because I’m curious and wanted to know what we were talking about.

    Now that I’ve seen these pictures I’m like, don’t even bother, cause they’re so irrelevant. There’s nothing worth seeing. But at the same time, I DID look them up, so aren’t contributing to the problem?
    About it being on set specifically, it’s still their workplace/’break room’ basically, and more importantly it’s their bodies, and they should decide who gets to have a ‘piece’ of that. I don’t think making a movie equates to giving your permission to constantly having your privacy invaded.

    I don’t know if this makes any sense… Look, I’m against celebrity culture in general. I’m horrified by it, actually, but then I see Emma Watson being so lovely in that recent interview, and a day later I see pap shots of her on Tumblr and I can’t help but love her and what she’s wearing, but it makes me feel like a fucking hypocrite.

    Pictures like these set photos don’t need to go on LeakyNews in my opinion. People who are that hungry for a couple of grainy shots will get their fix somewhere else. It’s not what I look for when I visit LeakyNews, basically.