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I wanted to tweet our story about Adam Kimmel — the successful cinematographer, Academy member, and registered sex offender — with some background about putting it together. (Mute the thread now if this is annoying!) https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/
I first heard about him during that awful week in March, when everything began to shut down, and thought it would be interesting to pursue. https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/
Over spring/summer, I reported it, gathering the legal docs and then began to write. Once I had a draft that @raminsetoodeh thought was OK I began reaching out to reps for Kimmel's former colleagues, who were mostly directors. That was in late September. https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/
I told them I planned to publish the next week, HA. Ridiculous. The first comment I got back, pretty immediately, was from @iamcolinquinn. I was psyched! Then the phone calls began with publicists, urging them to get their clients to comment.
A few of the directors don't have publicists, so I was dealing with their agencies. Of course, none of the publicists I was talking to had ever even heard of Adam Kimmel, so I was explaining all of the background to them. https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/
They had to ask their clients, most of whom didn't know about his record either. (Though a few did, as is reflected.) It was such an automatic decline to comment, but I kept saying things like, "It's 2020! We need to be able to talk about these things!" https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/
As you can see, a bunch of directors ended up agreeing that it was the right thing. As far as who didn't—Bennett Miller, Spike Jonze, Natalie Portman, and Scarlett Johansson—obviously I tried incredibly hard to get them. Their choice, of course! https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/
As for the Academy and the ASC, the Academy moved faster than I think it ever has to get me that statement — I was shocked. The ASC statement was 
, but I appreciate that one too, of course. https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/
, but I appreciate that one too, of course. https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/
The only rep who didn't respond was the DGA publicist, which WTF — but your body, your choice. And I was also glad that Kimmel responded, given the stakes for him.
Anyway! I'm glad the story is out there, and have been gratified by the response. THE END. https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/
Anyway! I'm glad the story is out there, and have been gratified by the response. THE END. https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/adam-kimmel-cinematographer-registered-sex-offender-1234829763/