‘Ender’s Game’ Fans Glad to Be Watching Guilt-Free
News that author Orson Scott Card, who has been public about his anti-gay views, won't be financially benefiting from any success of "Ender's Game" is making some moviegoers feel better about paying for a ticket to see the sci-fi adventure film starring Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield:
This is comforting: I can enjoy #EndersGame without lining the pockets of #OrsonScottCard http://t.co/vK7sbMgDxL
— kozmickid (@kozmickid) November 1, 2013
Yes, you can actually see the film guilt-free, as Card himself won't see a dime from the film's ticket sales, according to The Wrap.
Card's anti-gay views have sparked several organized boycotts of "Ender's Game" by various organizations, most notably Geeks OUT, which has collected more than 11,000 pledges to boycott the movie on MoveOn.org and put together "Skip 'Ender's Game'" events in New York, Toronto, Chicago, Orlando, Dallas, Austin, San Francisco and Seattle.
The online petition reads, in part: "Pledge to skip 'Ender's Game' and ensure that your entertainment dollars don't support homophobia."
[Related: How 'Ender's Game' Predicted Drone Warfare and iPads]
Those 11,000 people who have pledged to boycott the film will be happy to know that nobody's entertainment dollars will be supporting homophobia, as Orson Scott Card's fee has already been paid by a decade-old deal that includes no backend — something that today would be unheard of as YA authors such as J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer and Suzanne Collins make deals that ensure major profit participation.
Card's apparent loss is making some concerned citizens breathe a sigh of relief:
Glad to read Orson Scott Card isn't gettibg a cut of box offixe takings, less conflicted about it. RT@MotherJones http://t.co/FuWeHf316O — Jennifer H (@illuminadora) November 1, 2013
It's true that Orson Scott Card does have a producer credit on the film — the appearance of his name actually inspired booing from the audience at an All Media screening in New York City, as witnessed by a Yahoo Movies staff member in attendance. But that appears to be a formality at best, as The Wrap confirms that Card had zero say or creative input on the project — and, again, won't be receiving any sort of percentage of the film's box office tally, which is off to an impressive start with $1.4 million from Thursday night screenings.
And that fact alone, changed at least two moviegoers's minds about buying tickets to "Ender's."
Turns out Card doesn't get money from Enders Game movie sales. Welp time to go watch Ender [spoiler spoiler]! http://t.co/qv60PoxBsl
— Wing (@winglmui) November 1, 2013
Read earlier today that Orson Scott Card signed away rights to movie profits years ago. So off to Enders Game tonight with @themichaeladams — Joe Liebman (@Joe_Liebman) November 1, 2013
Another guy simply voiced approval.
So Orson Scott Card is not making any money from the Enders Game movie. Good.
— Joe Dillon (@WInsurrection) November 1, 2013
But some are saying you should still boycott the film for other reasons ...
If you don't want to boycott Ender's Game on acc't of Orson Scott Card's offensive politics, skip it 'cause it's bad! http://t.co/jiXjzmD6Ee — Dana Stevens (@thehighsign) November 1, 2013
So Orson Scott Card doesn't make a penny from the Ender's Game film. Meh, still don't want to see it. http://t.co/jxBh4e3nqS
— Mark Ivey (@WatcherMark) November 1, 2013
It ends up that the real way to boycott Orson Scott Card is to not buy the "Ender's Game" book. Not surprisingly, the hype of the film's release has resulted in a spike in sales for the novel first published in 1985, putting it currently at the top of the New York Times' Best Seller List for Paperback Mass Market Fiction.
"Ender's Game" opened in theaters today, with Variety predicting an opening weekend box office take of $27 million.
Watch 'Ender's Game' Insider Access: