New movie-making fun of greeks??

[ZTAMich]

Official Statement by Zeta Tau Alpha is here.
Statement on "The House Bunny"


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2008

Zeta Tau Alpha denounces “The House Bunny” movie


INDIANAPOLIS—Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity for women expresses dismay that Columbia Pictures and Happy Madison Productions will release in August the feature film, “The House Bunny.”

This movie depicts a sorority called “Zeta Alpha Zeta” and refers to its members as “Zetas” and its facility as the “Zeta House.” The chapter house shown in the movie has the word “ZETA” above the door in turquoise, one of the official colors of the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity.

The Fraternity is the exclusive owner of the registered trademarks Zeta Tau Alpha and the Greek letters ZTA, and has been consistently using the term Zeta and Zetas to conduct business for nearly 100 years. The Fraternity believes that the use of “ZETA” in the film is improper and confusingly similar to ZTA. Zeta Tau Alpha is working with legal counsel to explore its options.

“We regret that the production and distribution companies have chosen to release a movie that portrays collegiate fraternity and sorority life in an offensive and inaccurate manner,” said Zeta Tau Alpha National President Laura Ladewig Mauro. “We have written a letter of protest to both companies but have received no response.”

Zeta Tau Alpha was founded in 1898 at the State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) in Farmville, Va., and has 148 active collegiate chapters and more than 195,000 members worldwide. A member of the National Panhellenic Conference of Greek women’s organizations, ZTA develops members’ leadership, academic and service skills and supports breast cancer education and awareness as its national philanthropy.

[PhiMu_Gator]

I think the movie looks super cute - the actress is really funny, and I can take a joke. The writer maybe was jilted by Phi Mu at some point and had a best friend in ZTA. who knows? It's probably her own little "jokes on you". Who honestly cares? Sure there are a lot of Greeks out there, but compared to the general population of teeny bopper girls who are going to see this, it's not going to be a pivotal point in their lives and their entire view of sorority life won't be based upon this one movie. I'd be worried if a documentary by Michael Moore came out on Greek life, let's thank our lucky stars we haven't seen one of THOSE. =D So, I suggest we take it with a grain of salt *and a little lime* and not worry about it too much. ZTA is nationally known for raising tons of money for Breast Cancer Awareness and being a wonderful organization and Phi Mu is nationally known for it's long history of sisterhood and contribution to CMN. Let's focus on doing what we can control like making our chapters stronger and shining positive light on our organizations and letting silly movies lie.

[FSUZeta]

the problem is that zta and phi mu are nationally known, within the greek community. there are a heck of a lot more non-greeks than greeks, who have no idea the names of sororities, what they stand for, that they have philanthrophies they work hard to support, and images/reputations they try hard to keep untarnished.

it does bother me that zeta alpha zeta goes by "zeta" in the movie, that they have "zeta" above their door, and that the "e" conveniently falls off the house, leaving the letters "z t a", in turquiose, up. add to the fact that the movie phi mu's are linked with pink, and the argument that this is all just coincidence starts to pale.

its not very difficult to research national sororities and fraternities. we tell pnms to do this all the time, but we can cut a huge movie studio some slack, because it would be too hard, or take too long? it would take one person an hour or less to make sure these coincidences don't happen, by doing a little research.

so, those of you non-zetas, please don't discount our feelings when we share them with you. you might feel differently if your organizations nickname, colors and what not had coincidentally turned up in a movie.

[CatStarESP4]

I just checked out the website and saw the trailer. I was appalled at how Greeks are portrayed when we are trying to promote a more positive image. I am neither a Zeta Tau Alpha nor a Phi Mu, but I am outraged over the usage of the organizations' names/nicknames, colors and anything else associated with the organizations. I think both ZTA and Phi Mu should sue the production company and the distributor.

I don't care if you are a member of a national or local GLO or just a GDI, we all need to denounce this.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

the problem is that zta and phi mu are nationally known, within the greek community. there are a heck of a lot more non-greeks than greeks, who have no idea the names of sororities, what they stand for, that they have philanthrophies they work hard to support, and images/reputations they try hard to keep untarnished.

it does bother me that zeta alpha zeta goes by "zeta" in the movie, that they have "zeta" above their door, and that the "e" conveniently falls off the house, leaving the letters "z t a", in turquiose, up. add to the fact that the movie phi mu's are linked with pink, and the argument that this is all just coincidence starts to pale.

its not very difficult to research national sororities and fraternities. we tell pnms to do this all the time, but we can cut a huge movie studio some slack, because it would be too hard, or take too long? it would take one person an hour or less to make sure these coincidences don't happen, by doing a little research.

so, those of you non-zetas, please don't discount our feelings when we share them with you. you might feel differently if your organizations nickname, colors and what not had coincidentally turned up in a movie.

I saw that commercial for the movie today and I actually did a double take because I honestly believed they named the sorority ZTA. It's DEFINITELY not a coincidence.

[DMBabyZTA]

I could go on and on about this damn movie.
BUT i won't for my own sanity. I have already ranted about it on facebook.
I will leave it at this for everyone NOT in Zeta who doesn't see the problem we have with this movie. Go to youtube.com, search house bunny, then pause it at :50. You will see OUR letters groups together on the house, clear as day, ZTA. Not only is it our ACTUAL letters, they are painted turquoise... one of the two official colors of ZTA!! I don't care that the girls in the movie are labeled the "dorks" of the university. I have always thought (even before I was initiated a sister) that the ZTAs were proud to be diverse. Okay so aside from the use of our letters, the sorority's name in the movie is Zeta Alpha Zeta. WHY on earth would they abbreviate their organization and nail them to a house? Do you see Zeta Tau Alpha written as Zeta on our houses? NO. Furthermore do you see Zeta Phi Beta written as Zeta? NO
case closed.

side note: Katharine Mcphee is a PREGNANT yes you heard correctly pregnant Zeta sister.. and she brags about being knocked up, without a father, in her interview on youtube. Please yall do your research before you take sides or laugh it off. I cannot stand to hear this is not a big issue... why is ZTA going so far with it? Because it is a HUGE deal. I can promise you if they used YOUR letters you'd feel the same way.

... it's just going to make us stronger in the end.


"...to see beauty, with its enriching influence; to be humble in success, and without bitterness in defeat; to have the welfare and harmony of the Fraternity at heart, striving ever to make our lives a symphony of high ideals, devotion to the right, the good, and the true, without a discordant note; remembering always that the foundation precept of Zeta Tau Alpha was LOVE, "the greatest of all things."

[heyitszeta]

I find it highly amusing that everyone from ZTA is freaking out when this movie is actually based on my organization, and bears a much stronger resemblance to us than ZTA.

Originally Posted by DMBabyZTA

I can promise you if they used YOUR letters you'd feel the same way.

Actually, we're over it. We're thinking of going to see it together, probably in our letters, because we realize that it is just a movie. And who knows, we just might enjoy it!

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by heyitszeta

I find it highly amusing that everyone from ZTA is freaking out when this movie is actually based on my organization, and bears a much stronger resemblance to us than ZTA.



Actually, we're over it. We're thinking of going to see it together, probably in our letters, because we realize that it is just a movie. And who knows, we just might enjoy it!

What organization are you in?

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by ZTAMich

Official Statement by Zeta Tau Alpha is here.
Statement on "The House Bunny"


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2008

Zeta Tau Alpha denounces “The House Bunny” movie


INDIANAPOLIS—Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity for women expresses dismay that Columbia Pictures and Happy Madison Productions will release in August the feature film, “The House Bunny.”

This movie depicts a sorority called “Zeta Alpha Zeta” and refers to its members as “Zetas” and its facility as the “Zeta House.” The chapter house shown in the movie has the word “ZETA” above the door in turquoise, one of the official colors of the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity.

The Fraternity is the exclusive owner of the registered trademarks Zeta Tau Alpha and the Greek letters ZTA, and has been consistently using the term Zeta and Zetas to conduct business for nearly 100 years. The Fraternity believes that the use of “ZETA” in the film is improper and confusingly similar to ZTA. Zeta Tau Alpha is working with legal counsel to explore its options.

“We regret that the production and distribution companies have chosen to release a movie that portrays collegiate fraternity and sorority life in an offensive and inaccurate manner,” said Zeta Tau Alpha National President Laura Ladewig Mauro. “We have written a letter of protest to both companies but have received no response.”

Zeta Tau Alpha was founded in 1898 at the State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) in Farmville, Va., and has 148 active collegiate chapters and more than 195,000 members worldwide. A member of the National Panhellenic Conference of Greek women’s organizations, ZTA develops members’ leadership, academic and service skills and supports breast cancer education and awareness as its national philanthropy.

Ridiculous.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Ridiculous.

Hardly.

It will be interesting to see if there are any legal remedies. I just can't believe anyone thinks it is just pure coincidence - and so many other "Greek" movies have managed to come up with letters and colors that don't directly reference an existing national GLO that you have to think those behind this movie were 1.)stupid and lazy 2.)uncreative 3.) carrying a chip on their shoulder about ZTA or 4.) all of the above.

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Ridiculous.

In one clip I saw, the letter "E" was missing from the chapter house and it said "Z TA." They probably wouldn't win the lawsuit because they are a public organization and would have to prove malicious intent on the part of Happy Madison to have a case.

[PANTHERTEKE]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Ridiculous.

How so?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Ridiculous.

Did Big Walt ever use any of our nicknames or symbols in his stuff? I've never watched his stuff but I notice he never goes away.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Did Big Walt ever use any of our nicknames or symbols in his stuff? I've never watched his stuff but I notice he never goes away.

I dunno. He made that one movie that was obviously inspired by AKA. The frat movie people were called Betas. I think?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I dunno. He made that one movie that was obviously inspired by AKA. The frat movie people were called Betas. I think?

Yes he uses colors and stereotypes that are often attributed to certain orgs. But to the best of my knowledge, he's been "smart" enough not to get more detailed than that. He knows his limits.