This time he has deemed it a prudent decision to let two independent film makers use the brand new approximately $11.5 million dollar Oconee County Jail as their set and stage. The video in question was produced by Waco and Roger and uploaded to Super Deluxe. The short film is explained on the website as : "Three weeks in a California prison? That's hot! But what's Paris supposed to do with all that time out of the spotlight? Perhaps her cell mate can help. " The video features simulated sexual acts, appalling language- including taking the Lord's name in vain, talk of rape and sodomy, and other vulgar acts. Frankly, the video has this Oconee Citizen appalled at the grotesque atrocity captured on videotape in a jail that my tax dollars went to! I encourage everyone to view this sickening piece of trash at Super Deluxe. (If you can not see the video through the link, go to www.superdeluxe.com and search for Paris Hilton- the video itself is named 23 nights in paris) Please let Sheriff Berry, the Sheriff's office, and our government know that we will not stand for this atrocity and we are appalled at this trash.
Not only is the jail (that law abiding taxpayers hard earned money went to pay for) being used as a set, but sheriff's personnel also starred in it!
If you look at the picture below you will notice that there is one sheriff's personnel in the foreground and one in the background. Tell me something now, is this how they serve and protect the public? Please notice that the man in the foreground (black shirt/khaki pants and equipped with radio and what looks like a gun) is waiting for his "conjugal visit" with Paris Hilton. While the one in the background is watching with bated breath during the filming.
According to this weeks edition of the Oconee Enterprise- Chief Deputy Gene Langston said "No one at the Sheriff's office knew about the content of the video or was present during filming." (Oconee Enterprise, June 21, 2007, Volume 124, Issue #25; Merritt Melancon) My question to Chief Deputy Langston is this: If no personnel were present during filming- then why is there an officer (in uniform) being filmed standing in Hilton's conjugal visit line? And if there were no personnel present during filming, then who was watching in the background? And why would you insinuate that the film crew and various people involved were unsupervised during the filming? Common sense dictates that no one should be left unsupervised in a jail. A lawsuit would be inevitable if that was the case. Obviously Chief Deputy Langston- personnel were present during filming, so much so, that they had the opportunity to be caught on camera. In addition, Chief Deputy Langston can perhaps tell us how the film crew, actors, random homeless people, and film extras moved from one part of the jail to the next? When Sheriff Berry himself admitted to the Oconee Enterprise in his weekly column that he had gotten locked into the Hearing Room, which must not be nearly as secure as the cells in which most of the filming took place. Magnetic key cards are only issued to employees, therefore the crew, actors, extras and homeless people must have been led around by Sheriff's office employees. Hmmm... sounds like direct supervision to me!
Sheriff Berry shows visitors to the jail, his own personal key card.
The location of the jail is captured eternally in this Hilton spoof, as anyone who watches the video can catch sight of the large plaque depicting Oconee County- Jail Entrance on the opening scene. Is this how we wished to portray our county? As supporting sodomy, foul language, and appallingly vulgar acts? I should certainly hope not.
In the image below, the viewer can clearly see the large plaque with Oconee County written on it, along with "Jail Entrance" in large block letters underneath the plaque.
The fact that the jail's name is displayed for all to see should be embarrassing to Oconee County Citizens. People from all over, who view videos on Super Deluxe, are witnessing our abject humiliation over this off color and blatantly offensive piece of trash.
And for those of you who think the few seconds of video in which the jail's location is clearly depicted, may go unnoticed- check out the screen shot of a comment left by a viewer on the Super Deluxe website.
People have noticed, and they are laughing at us- not the spoof.
Furthermore, the names depicted on a plaque in commemoration of the new $11.5 million Jail, should be embarrassed and ashamed that their names are tied to a building in which this video was filmed. Sheriff Berry should begin apologizing to all Oconee Citizens as well as the Oconee County Government now, and maybe he can still leave office gracefully.
As you can see in the photo below, there is a smattering of names attached to the jail, not only Sheriff Berry's. (Melvin Davis, Jim Luke, Margaret Hale, Chuck Horton, Don Norris, Precision Planning, New South Construction Company)
When questioned as to why he had allowed the film to be shot in the jail, Sheriff Berry said: "He has in the past routinely allowed camera crews to use the jail - from TV producers to artists to nonprofit groups such as Safe Campuses Now, he said."
"I didn't see a good reason not to as long as it doesn't interfere with operations," he said.
So once again, Sheriff Berry didn't see anything wrong with this lovely production? Oh dear, we need help- he's going senile.According to the Athens Banner Herald (Wed. June 20, 2007 by Lee Shearer) Sheriff Berry has said: "The video was shot in a section of the county's new jail that was not yet in use because a security fence had not been completed, he said. "It didn't cost the taxpayers a dime and they didn't get in our way," the sheriff said.
That's funny- the jail cost about $11.5 million in tax payers money... so care to explain your statement a little better Sheriff? The set for their little Hilton spoof cost us $11.5 million- and all the embarrassment in the world now.
And finally- how many times has it been viewed and how many different places? Well lets see... within one minute- I had the following sites on my screen.
The film clip's producers had this to say about the entire sordid affair: "It is sad that a vocal minority can threaten to shut down the art scene in our community. We think that the community should stand behind Sheriff Berry for supporting the local arts and disregard people that attempt to stifle it," they wrote. And I agree whole heartedly: If this had been art, I would have stood behind it. The producers obviously thought the world of Sheriff Berry and the Sheriff's Department, even going so far as to include a special thank you to Sheriff Berry and the Jail. How about leaving Oconee County out of it next time?
