Steven Spielberg has a huge debt of gratitude to pay to the anonymous online blogger who helped thwart a plan to sell thousands of stolen Indiana Jones IV set photos and the film’s production budget to the highest bidder.
A recent break-in at one of the film’s production offices left multiple computers from the now-shooting Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in the hands of thieves; the culprits then contacted numerous online outlets looking to sell over 2500 set photos — and more importantly, production books, which held the secrets of Spielberg’s as-yet unnamed budget.
Luckily for Paramount Pictures, a FBI operation nabbed the crooks shortly after the theft. Within 24 hours of being offered the stolen photos, the anonymous blogger cooperated in a FBI sting operation that collared the thieves before any of the goods could hit the internet. A source tells RT that in true Hollywood fashion, the arrest was made at a meeting set-up for mid-afternoon at the Standard Hotel.
While the thieves were apprehended before selling any of the Indy IV photos, at least one corporately-owned media property had seemingly gotten their hands on the production budget books. AOL-Time Warner-owned gossip site TMZ.com had reportedly promised to reveal details of the Indy IV budget on their TV program (yes, they have a TV program) before deciding against running the story altogether.
So three cheers for Anonymous Online Blogger Guy! Way to give the online film community a good name.
