How soon until we see our first spoilers/review?

Well the 14th would be considered an advance press screening in normal terms. "TFA" opens on the 18th (semantically, even though lots of us will be seeing it on the 17th). Traditionally "Opening day" is when the reviews are embargoed for (much like in theater where the press is not supposed to review a show in previews until the official "opening day.") My point being that the window of the 14th-17th is perfectly reasonable and standard for film reviews. I can't speak for all newspapers but the ones I have worked at generally have a first draft review filed by the Tuesday or Wednesday (in this case the 15th or 16th) before a Friday opening day, so that it can be read by the 3-10 people who typically edit stories and designed by for print by the art team in time to "ship" (be sent to the presses for printing) on Thursday evening.

None of which really answers the question posed by the OP, because the vast majority of legit critics are ethical enough to abide by embargoes and not leak random stuff.

Also, it's worth noting that Indywire is the ONLY outlet so far that claims there won't be any critic screenings at all. All the other articles are talking about is review boards for awards consideration.

 

Ok, even then can they still embargo it?

Like, you manage to go to the LA premiere, do you have to sign anything?

How does that work?

 

As far as I know, embargoes are not a legal thing and are not enforceable legally. They are a gentleman's agreement that has at times been broken. I can tell you that ANY sneak preview generally comes with a set of NDA to sign but the effort put into enforce them is minimal. People are expected to be on their best behavior. Obviously, if you're an offending member of the press you risk getting disinvited to future studio releases.

There are only two cases that I can remember in my own (admittedly brief) newspaper career where an embargo was broken by our paper. Once was because ANOTHER outlet broke the embargo...at that point it's in the ether and all bets are off, since media outlets have the reasonable justification that they need to protect themselves from scoops. The other was in the case of a theatrical production where they kept extending "previews" indefinitely and eventually the theater critics had enough (that would be "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark", and it caused a certain degree of controversy).

 

To clarify, when I say "embargo" I mean "embargo for publication." It doesn't refer to when they see it. A critic can theoretically see a movie months in advance and still be embargoed from actually having his review published until a certain day. I see it all the time. We get copy to edit and there's a big, bold type instruction at the top saying, "Embargo until Thursday at 8 PM," or whatever.

 

Yes, that was what I was asking about.. If it could be embargoed for publication at that point.
I didn't know it was not legally binding but I guess the press wants to keep a good working relationship with the studios, so that is enough...

 

They will review, but they won't necessary review ON TIME. That's the issue. Like I said, an article has to be filed on a Thursday at 6 or 7 at the latest to make it into a first edition paper the next day. It would be physically impossible for that to happen if critics were expected to go to a 7 PM preview screening on the 17th on the company's dime. When you consider the vast majority of established newspaper and TV critics are...well...not young...it's even less likely. They are not the sort of people who will stand in line for hours to see a movie.

And the thing is, this is a working relationship. No, not having reviews won't hurt the SW box office, but stopping critics from being able to review SW could hurt the box office of later Disney films if critics say "Screw you" after being treated unprofessionally. I've seen it happen. There are plenty of reporters and critics who will flat out refuse to give publicity to people or companies that have wronged them in the past.

 

The ONLY people I know who pay attention to critics are my friends who work in the biz and film buffs. The average general ticket buying population, or the bulk of movie goers, is going to see Star Wars SOLELY based on how the advertising/marketing hits them. If Disney doesn't care to submit TFA for the early awards shows, they sure aren't going to be worried about critic screenings.

 

It doesn't sound like a working relationship at all. It sounds a serious case of entitlement. Film critics are no longer the arbiters of all that is cinema holy. The ticket buying masses go based on the success of the marketing, we've had countless blockbuster examples in recent years.

 

Last year I would agree with you... But the results from several movies this year makes me think that more people are starting to listen, at least, to reviewers (and then probably influencing their friends and family...) and rotten tomatoes or metacritic...

 

Disney won't screen the film to prevent leaks.
http://www.outerplaces.com/science-...ens-early-for-awards-and-press-to-avoid-leaks