Have you ever been to a movie or listened to a song just because you wanted to find out for yourself what made it so “controversial?”
I’m sorry to admit that that’s pretty much the reason I recognize a few of rapper Eminem’s songs.
New York Times writer David M. Halbfinger recently pointed out a trend in Hollywood: the more negative publicity something gets, the more popular it’s going to be.
Case in point: Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.” If you’re like me and watch way too much cable news, you noticed that every program discussed this movie for what seemed like the entirety of 2004. Never mind that the film was released near Good Friday or that this nation’s majority Christian movie-going public was going to turn out for the film anyway.
“The Passion” was a whirlwind, dominating force in popular culture because someone decided it was anti-Semitic. That touched off a firestorm of controversy that brought out the non-Christian crowd to a foreign language film about a man they might not even believe in.
In that case, curiosity got the dollar.
Today we’re dealing with the ever-popular country group The Dixie Chicks, who are starring in an upcoming documentary called “Shut Up and Sing.” Major TV networks NBC and the CW have refused to air commercials for the film, citing the fact that it attacks President Bush at a time when Bush couldn’t be expected to buy response ads. For them it is an issue of fairness. (As you may recall, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines said she was ashamed the president was from her home state of Texas at one of their concerts a few years ago in Britain, triggering quite a few American country radio stations to yank the Chicks’ music off their playlists.)
For the cable news networks, the Dixie Chicks debacle has become an issue of free speech. Free speech is always a timely topic. Only, what the news networks fail to understand is that the regulated airwaves are not exactly public streets. They have the right to refuse advertisements, just like you or I have the right to boycott The Dixie Chicks. It pretty much works both ways.
The Chicks have been featured nightly on TV to discuss their supposed “blacklisting.”
I think the Chicks have the mentality of a contestant who has just opened the $1 million case on “Deal or No Deal.” They know they’ll never get their old audience (and popularity) back, so they’re taking stupid chances and hoping against hope that somehow their anti-Bush stance will win them something greater. Personally, I think they’ve got a small amount in their case. All they seem to have now are fans who like them because of their political stance, not their music. It’s tough to disconnect their political leanings from their music these days because they’re just so vocal about it.
Maybe they should take their own advice. It’s in the title of the documentary, after all.
Yet if they did that, would anyone actually go and see their film? I don’t think so.
This tactic, mostly created by public relations machines, get “controversial” pieces free publicity. That can almost never be a bad thing. You know how the old saying goes.
But Habfinger says the trend is actually slowing down.
Take the documentary “Jesus Camp,” which comes out this summer. It purports to be a shocking look into the world of evangelical Christianity. In particular, it follows a group of church leaders who claim they are training soldiers in “God’s Army.”
Magnolia Pictures President Eamonn Bowles actually said the religious backlash against the film was not as strong as he would have liked it to be. That’s right, a movie maker is upset because one of his films just wasn’t disliked enough.
And because of that, the movie is not a household name. There’s no buzz surrounding it. There’s no compelling news story associated with it. There’s no sense of conflict. There are no picketers or protests. Nobody cares.
And so another documentary — most likely a biased mockery of real filmmaking a la “Fahrenheit 9/11” — gets passed over in the publicity game. It’s not that religious groups don’t disagree with the message, it’s that they now know that ignoring it is a better way to make it go away than meeting it head-on.
It’s a nightmare scenario for film promoters hoping to manipulate the public and make a quick buck off a genre that traditionally generates very little revenue.
Besides, if this marketing scheme is losing favor with films, it’s only gaining favor with celebrities. Just look at Anna Nicole Smith and Britney Spears. I’ll be first in line at the “Bring the pre-K-Fed Britney Back” rally.
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6 comments:
i think ppl need to leave dixie chicks alone...they do have a freedom of speech,but i do think they should watch what they say on national tv!but they have the right to say whatever they want,just like YOU and me...no i dont think she should've said what she said but it was HER RIGHT!!!thanks...
It is definitely their right, and I respect their right to say what they want.
However they shouldn't be surprised or angry when radio stations or TV stations decide not to air their stuff, especially if it's connected to this politically-charged documentary. After all, it's also their right not to allow it.
It's just funny to watch how they have reacted to this massive backlash against them... First they apologized, then they took it back, then they said they'd rather have fans who agree with them... it never stops!
I wish they would "shut up and sing." I think the more they say the more they continue damaging themselves. But, that's just my opinion.
And I do love their music; they're extremely talented women.
Your article was right on- or should I say I hated your article. How can they print such outlandish hypocrisies about political issues? That should get people reading:-)
Renee ~ LOVE this one!
Controversy? You bet. But did you know that most of Hollywoods veteran actors depend on the publics ignorance of a certain political issue? That's right. I said your IGNORANCE. Mine included.
Renne - see if you can catch Sr. Mary Helen Prejean of Dead Man Walking fame. If, that is, she's not too busy selling her autograph over the net. Prejean has always been an advocate against the death penalty. No problem there.
But did you know that Prejean never, EVER, got the permission, let alone "blessing" from any of the murdered victims families in order to promote her films and books? Look into "Loss of Faith: Victims of Dead Man Walking" by Detective Mike Varnado. Also, "Dead Family Walking" by D.D. Di Vinci. There is also "Forgiving the Dead Man Walking" by Debbie Morris. All three books will go into very specific detail how Hollywood, and Prejean herself, came into town, and literally ripped their lives apart all over again when making their movie. There so much more to say, but I've taken up too much space as it is.
Think about. Your child, your family member, raped and murdered. Along comes Hollywood with their "politicking", and never once bother to even pick up the phone to speak to the grieving parents of murdered children. But they will take your money for the film just the same.
Freedom of speech - sure, I'm all for it. But what price does Hollywood pay when stealing away the lives of so many innocents just to make a buck at the movies? Never finding the time, not even once, to call these victims families and let them know what their intentions are, whether they like it or not?
I think it's funny when the spotlight is put on celebrties who are so ridiculously egotistical, they have no heart. It's about time.
Why do we listen to musicians and actors? I think people get star struck. Would we listen to someone who works as a construction worker, waitress or any number of mainstream jobs with the same zeal as the musicians and actors. For the most part those same people that we listen to to fix the worlds problems were serving you your food or welding pipes a few years ago.
To the blogger post above, thanks for the link. Spent all morning reading, thtas hilarious stuff! good points too. I also want to say ppl look to celebrities for advice cause they cant think for themselves. And celebrities dont care what the public thinks anyhow as long as your spending money on their movies.
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