Shia LeBeouf is apologizing for not crediting Daniel Clowes’ Justin M. Damiano for his short film HowardCantour.com, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Critic’s Week sidebar in 2012 but was made available online this week.
The film was inspired by Clowes’ work but it was never attributed to him. In return, critics ran ramped with reviews about how the two works were extremely similar.
Entertainment Weekly notes LeBeouf stayed mum on Monday but by Tuesday morning he took to Twitter and blamed his “naiveté as an amateur filmmaker” for the mistake.
“Copying isn't particularly creative work. Being inspired by someone else's idea to produce something new and different IS creative work,” he began, adding, “in my excitement and naiveté as an amateur filmmaker, I got lost in the creative process and neglected to follow proper accreditation.”
LeBeouf also admitted he’s “embarrassed” that “I failed to credit @danielclowes for his original graphic novella Justin M. Damiano, which served as my inspiration.”
I was truly moved by his piece of work & I knew that it would make a poignant & relevant short. I apologize to all who assumed I wrote it.
— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013
I deeply regret the manner in which these events have unfolded and want @danielclowes to know that I have a great respect for his work
— Shia LaBeouf (@thecampaignbook) December 17, 2013
He ended his explanation with, “I f---ed up.”
image: Wikimedia Commons
