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BET BACKLASH?...Auto giant GM and personal care products company Procter & Gamble says they have been listening to the concerns of BET viewers and have pulled advertising from the network. Seems complaints about "questionable" content on two shows--Rap City" and "106 & Park"--have caused an uproar. But The A-List knows folks have been faithfully watching these shows for years, so we wonder just who is to say what is questionable, and who responded? How about making your voice heard and letting us know what you think. Send a comment below.WATCH OUT, AL.. The documentary film An Inconvenient Truth helped re-make former Vice President Al Gore as the "green" guru--he was even awarded a Noble Peace Prize. Now that same filmmaker, Davis Guggenheim, has found a new subject--Obama. Guggenheim has been following the Democratic presidential nominee around for a documentary that will air at Democratic National Convention in Denver. Will the Guggenheim magic work for Obama? We're looking for more than a vanity piece from the filmmaker. We'll know next month.
REALITY, JACKSON STYLE...Although her tour may be hitting the skids sooner than expected, Janet Jackson appears to be moving full blast with her MTV reality talent show. But get this, Janet's not the only Jackson with a TV show on the horizon. Her father, Joe Jackson, is shopping his own reality program. The untitled project will chronicle how he reunites his sons as The Jackson 5 for one more time. It will also capture situations as he develops new artists for Chi-Coast Entertainment and launches his clothing line Hayvenhurst. The question: Are you ready for a double dose of Jackson-style reality?
PIMP ALERT...Remember the Hughes Brothers, the directors behind Dead Presidents? We know, it's been a minute. Now, Albert and Allen Hughes are finally following up their 1999 documentary American Pimp, "Gentlemen of Leisure" will air on HBO, but unlike its predecessor, "Gentlemen" will be a 2009 dramatic series exploring prostitution through the eyes of a 35-year-old pimp in Oakland, Calif. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
WAR: WHOSE STORY IS IT ANYWAY?
Throughout the years, it's been an open secret on how the government uses Hollywood to perpetrate certain pro-American images, especially in times of war. But now the military has announced they want even more of a say-so and they are putting forth their own military man to assist Hollywood in how to formulate war films. With this in mind, we had to ask ourselves: "When it comes to film, whose story is it anyway?"
This is a difficult question when one considers that this is the way it has always been for years. So why change it? But today we all know that there is deep disagreement even within the filmmaking community as to what stance towards the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should be taken by one of America's most lucrative industries. Moviegoers are looking for answers. So yes, Hollywood should have its say in how the images are shaped, and we should support those brave enough to tell the truth–Phil Donahue, Michael Moore etc… Though some would argue the lines of propaganda can be crossed on both sides–that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. We contend however even though Hollywood is an industry of fantasy, when delving into the political arena truth would always be the star.
The military has its own "truth" monger– Army Lt. Col. J. Todd Breasseale–whose current mission is to make sure Iraqi war films are military approved. Some in Hollywood have actually invited him in. This is more than just an advisory role to filmmakers, the military wants Breasseale's presence to help shape war movies.
Will the public buy into a movie about the Iraq war that was selected by "a Pentagon insider" ? This one moviegoer won't. And most would bet that the American public has heard enough spin and propaganda, especially as the military causalities increase almost daily. Until soldiers come home and tell their own story, maybe perhaps as Vietnam vets and filmmaker Oliver Stone did in Platoon and Born on the Fourth Of July, this is one moviegoer who will be more than happy to munch on my popcorn and watch movies like Kung Fu Panda. –Clemetine Clarke
Clemetine Clarke, owner of the governmental affairs, political strategy, fundraising and community relations firm CMH & Associates, strives to help women of color get elected to political office. Clarke has also served as the Executive Director of the San Francisco Democratic Party.
HIP HOP HOLLYWOOD
teaming up with actors Val Kilmer, Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendez in the cop drama Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. A remake of the now-cult classic, it is about a corrupt policeman investigating the rape of a nun. Kilmer is plays partner to Cage's crooked cop and Xzibit is the villain. Wouldn't have been an interesting twist to cast Xzibit as the good cop and Kilmer as the criminal in this 2009 release?
ROCKIN' THE MIC...After portraying a spelling whiz in Akeelah & The Bee, young actress Keke Palmer will show of her rhyme skills in the film Vapors. In the film about New York's legendary The Juice Crew, she'll play female rap veteran--and now PhD holder, Roxanne Shante. The long-awaited film also stars Evan Ross, rapper Nas.
There's no doubt whoever gets into the Oval Office next year, changes will be made--not only in Washington, but in Hollywood as well. So The A-List decided to take a look at where Sen. Barack Obama stands on various entertainment industry issues. Let's go down the list.
CENSORSHIP: While he consistently expresses concern about certain images and content in film, on TV and in songs, he feels the control should be within the home not in the government's hands. "You know, the primary responsibility is for parents. And I reject the notion of censorship as an approach to dealing with this problem," Obama said during a Los Angeles debate with then party nomination rival Sen. Hillary Clinton. But he added he felt parents need the proper tools (aka technology) to help them self-censor. "I do think that it is important for us to make sure that we are giving parents the tools that they need in order to monitor what their children are watching. And, obviously, the problem we have now is not just what's coming over the airwaves, but what's coming over the Internet."
To the industry he said: "The one other thing I will say is -- I don't mean to be insulting here -- but I do think that it is important for those in the industry to show some thought about who they are marketing some of these programs that are being produced to."
"I think Obama has it right on censorship. Consistent with his position on other social issues he seems to be much more in favor of putting a greater responsibility on parents and communities to police what their children are watching. It's never been Hollywood's responsibility to raise our kids and as program content becomes more and more violent and sexually explicit, it is imperative that parents take a greater role in what their children watch and listen to," notes Jam Donaldson, whose controversial website Hotghettomess.com inspired a BET show of the same name which came under fire from parents and censorship groups. “I also agree that the government should be active in making sure parents and other consumers are given the tools to censor what comes into their homes."
MEDIA OWNERSHIP & THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE: "Sen. Obama does not support reimposing the Fairness Doctrine on broadcasters," Obama press secretary Michael Ortiz told Broadcast and Cable Magazine earlier this year. The Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to air both sides of controversial issues. The FCC found the doctrine unconstitutional back in 1987, and President Reagan vetoed an attempt by congressional Democrats to reinstate it. "He considers this debate to be a distraction from the conversation we should be having about opening up the airwaves and modern communications to as many diverse viewpoints as possible. According to Ortiz, Obama supports media-ownership caps, network neutrality, public broadcasting, as well as increasing minority ownership of broadcasting and print outlets. "I strongly favor diversity of ownership of outlets and protection against the excessive concentration of power in the hands of any one corporation, interest or small group. I strongly believe that all citizens should be able to receive information from the broadest range of sources," Obama said himself to Broadcast & Cable magazine.
ANTI-TRUST ENFORCEMENT: Sen. Obama told Broadcast and Cable Magazine, "There is a clear need in this country for the reinvigoration of antitrust enforcement. Our competition agencies, the Department of Justice and the FTC [Federal Trade Commission], need to step up review of merger activity and take effective action to stop or restructure those mergers that are likely to harm consumer welfare, while quickly clearing those that do not. Specifically, for media mergers, the Department of Justice and the FTC should closely scrutinize all mergers for their implications for competition and consumer choice. "
"The FCC's loosening restrictions on media ownership in the 90's was a great disservice and allowed a few companies to control the majority of what we saw and heard," notes Donaldson. “More regulations in this regard will allow for smaller broadcast outlets owned by diverse companies to get a place on the world's stage. America has always been about the marketplace of ideas, but recently it’s been just a small kiosk. Hopefully, Obama will see that more players get a place at the broadcast table which is great for everyone... And I hope minority broadcasters will be large part of the future."
NET NEUTRALITY: "The neutral nature of the Internet makes that possible, and it is something we should defend. Up to now, legislation has focused on protecting against the discrimination against or in favor of any single voice or legal service. All have made allowances for objective, nondiscriminatory network-management practices," says Obama to B&C magazine.
When examining Obama's stance on the various issues facing the entertainment community, it appears the result would be more freedom of expression, increased minority ownership, and an Internet that remains neutral. Unless of course he flip flops.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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