Blind Item #10
This big movie studio is paying out some large "consulting" fees this week and for probably the rest of the year to community leaders who get a lot of time on television to try and turn the tide of a movie in a positive direction.
This big movie studio is paying out some large "consulting" fees this week and for probably the rest of the year to community leaders who get a lot of time on television to try and turn the tide of a movie in a positive direction.
Posted by ent lawyer at 4:00 AM
Labels: blind item
Birth of a Nation
ReplyDeleteBirth of aNation?
ReplyDeleteThe whole Nate Parker rape controversy is clouding any chance of the movie getting Oscar nods.
ReplyDeleteThe movie about Obama and his wife's first date--not sure of the title.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/al-sharpton-suspicious-nate-parker-rape-accusations-article-1.2759356
ReplyDeleteFox Searchlight
ReplyDeleteFox Searchlight - over the Nat Turner film
ReplyDeleteYawn... bed time before it starts
ReplyDeleteYeah. Good luck with that. Nate's about as sympathetic as Roman Polanski or Woody Allen. IMO, they may have stood a chance until his interviews.
ReplyDeleteI think the entire thing is the studio's doing. THEY dug it up, THEY 'leaked' info, THEY'll orchestrate the redemption. Who gave a rat's ass about this movie? Was anyone paying attention to it?
ReplyDeleteThis is a LOT of free publicity.
Disney... Dr. Strange. Whitewashing.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think there was, because of that #OscarsSoWhite brouhaha, and that this movie was going to be oscar bait.
ReplyDeleteApparently, there's a rape scene in it, too.
Birth of a Nation. It's DOA. Lipstick Alley hates Parker.
ReplyDeleteParker and his fellow rapist Celestin invented a scene where Nat Turner's wife (he didn't have a wife) gets gang raped. If everything else didn't sink this movie, that would be enough. Of course Parker's tone deaf interview didn't help. He obviously thinks he's the victim.
To date it is the highest price paid for a movie at Sundance. So yes there is lots of attention paid to it. Partially do to the Oscar so white backlash but mainly it's an incredible movie. There was a bidding war between 5 studios. It went to Fox Searchlight so that it could get a theatrical release. What got attention to begin with is that it has about 20 producers . He literally and figuratively went door to door to raise money to get the film made. It took him 2 yrs to make it. What the studio didn't know at the time when they bought the film, was the rape allegations and trial. What they did know about were his off the rails homophobic statements he made to a reporter for BET.com. Some seriously shameful shit by the way. The transcripts and recorded phone calls are all available on line. The other male ( his roommate and currently his co writer of the movie) was found guilty during the first trial and sentenced to some lame ass term. He received a new trial but due to lack of witnesses he was released. The young woman who brought about the charges committed suicide in 2012. What the studio is currently doing is major damage control. Apparently you can be homophobic but not a rapist (allegedly). Things might have gone away quietly if he had not of opened his mouth. It has lead to serious backlash in the wake of Bill Cosby's allegations/trials. Although he may have created a powerful piece of work .. He is still a shitty fucking human being.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather be called a homophobic name than be raped. Words are words-Sticks and stones. Who cares what he said? Rape is something on a different level
ReplyDeleteBut who has *seen* the film?
ReplyDeleteI simply do not and will not believe that the studio had no idea. In the 21st century, there's no reason to spend that amount of money without knowing everything there is to know about someone you hired, given how incredibly simple searching is. No way. Not possible.
“I was sure it would come up,” Parker said. “It is there, on my Wikipedia page" (Deadline) (ON HIS WIKIPEDIA PAGE!)
I work for Penn State, am familiar with the rape case. It wasn't exactly a secret, there are public records, it's not tough to find.
http://blacktimetravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/nateparkertranscript.pdf
It's not tough to find quotes from this guy, either. It's just not. Google is a thing.
Now, either the entire studio is populated by 19th century blind & deaf scribes or....they knew everything.
They can't be both a bright, up-to-date work force, producing cutting edge product AND also have no fucking idea what some asshole said and did.
They knew.
honestly if you read the victim's testimony
ReplyDeleteyoud want to knock the life out of that guy and anyone who is pushing this movie despite the rape/suicide of her
I'll stick to the controversial old silent film by D.W. Griffith. I like the Moldy Oldies.
ReplyDeleteYep, his interviews sank him. He is clearly unrepentant AF. Thinks he's the victim in all of this.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely won't see the film, not even on DVD.
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to see Birth of a Nation. It seems like it's a powerful movie and even though it's based on events that happened in the 1800's, it seems very relevant to what's happening today. But Nate Parker is a piece of.... Reading the phone conversation that he had with the victim afterwards and hearing about how they stalked her is rage inducing. Even after he found out that she killed herself, it's been all about him and what it's done to his life. He tries to use his family and daughters as a shield, to say he's a good man. No accountability, no apology to either the victim or her child. For the same reason I won't watch a Roman Polanski or Woody Allen film, I will not be watching this on.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the long rant, this story has upset me on so many level.
Was that tongue-in-cheek or head-in-ass? The whole plot line, you know that "rape controversy" thing, is getting in the way of an Oscar nod? Fancy that.
ReplyDelete+1
ReplyDeleteControversy is the new name of the game.
( you know there will be hater, its a given this day & age, so why not spin it in for your gain?)