Well, the movie Tropic Thunder premieres tomorrow and Dreamworks will ramp up their own efforts to have presence and credence in order to influence everyone to buy tickets and merchandise and videos....
There will be a red carpet event with all the stars in California tomorrow. Jack Black is appearing on Sesame Street this week. There will be lots and lots of magazine covers, spots on Leno, Letterman and every other latenight and early morning show they can get time on. There will be magazine covers and articles in the entertainment section of newspapers all across the country.
And advertising--in the paper, on TV, all over the net... Is there more? I am sure there must be more...
According to Media Dis&Dat there was already an article in the LA times where Stiller explained his efforts to portray the racial issues in the movie as important.
(If only he had made the same efforts with the disability issues.)
Every advertisement and interview and event is an instant of 'presence' which will lend 'credence' which will expand 'influence' which will lead to more presence......etc, etc, etc
The agreed on movie screenings for disability advocates were switched from last week to this week--some think that this is because there is so much wrong with the movie. I expect it was to push our response to this week--adding to their presence.
Will the disability community be there to say that we want the words that are spewed on the silver screen in this movie to stay in the theater?
That we don't want to hear hate language in our communities, from our neighbors, or in our schools?
Will we be there to build our own presence and credence and influence in favor of a safe, accepting community where people with cognitive disabilities are considered people that matter?
Here is an idea sent to me by my friend Jan Fitzgerald--you may remember that she was a guest-blogger here in March:
1. Brad Grey – Chairman and CEO of Paramount serves on the Board of Directors for Project A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig disease)
Somehow I would find it difficult to see Paramount making a sick humor movie about A.L.S., do you? Maybe Project A.L.S. would consider asking Brad Grey to step down, considering the lack of sensitivity this movie shows. Is it a reflection of his leadership?
Contact Project A.L.S. at info@projectals.org
2. Want a career at Paramount? If not, then let them know by send an e-mail to: Paramount_careers@paramount.com
Post a comment at this spot: http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/06/faux-tropic-thunder-promo-offends-lots/
3. Paramount, the maker of Tropic Thunder is owned by Viacom. From the investment section of their website it states:
Viacom's goal is to be the world’s leading, branded entertainment company across television, motion pictures and digital media platforms.
If you go to this link: http://www.viacom.com/contact/Pages/default.aspx
From there you are able to send an email.
If it is indeed Viacom's goal is to be the world’s leading, branded entertainment company across television, motion pictures and digital media platforms, then maybe they should stop investing in Paramount and their poor choice of movies including Tropic Thunder.
Thank you, Jan.
Keep those cards and letters coming! (Who used to say that???)
EDIT: Boycott Planned
Read more here.
2 comments:
Thanks, Terri. I really appreciate the actual/practical actions you shared for making the message known, and known, and known.
Thank you Barbara--I hope everyone finds at least one thing they can do to be heard.
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