HateAmericans Filming A Little Of The Ole’ HateAmerica
Posted by Dirty Harry on Thursday, September 11th, 2008
Honestly, I’m here all week and ready to debate anyone who wants to argue that liberal Hollywood’s money-driven …waiting … waiting … waiting …
Historian Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States” is being adapted into a feature documentary.
Called “The People Speak,” the documentary will feature dramatic readings and live musical performances from the likes of Josh Brolin, Viggo Mortensen, David Strathairn, Marisa Tomei Jasmine Guy, John Legend, Q’Orianka Kilcher, Michael Ealy and Kerry Washington.
Four performances in Boston at Emerson’s Cutler Majestic Theater have already been shot and a planned spring shoot will have Matt Damon, Sean Penn, Eddie Vedder and Steve Earle, among others.
Damon, along with Dan Fireman, Ara Katz Art Spigel of Artfire Films, as well as Carolyn Mugar are producing. Zinn, Anthony Arnove and Chris Moore are exec producing. Damon has long been a fan of the book, throwing in a mention in his “Good Will Hunting,” as well as narrating the audiobook.
Waiting … waiting … waiting …
And don’t you dare question their patriotism. Don’t you– Don’t– D– I’m watching you.
[thanks to Reader John for the heads up]
Filed in General |
Mr24pon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:02 am 1I have to admit I have no clue what this book is. So I read the article and the last sentence says everything I need to know:
“The book, first published in 1980, presents American history through a bottoms up approach, focusing on voices seldom heard in history books such as defiant Indians, mutinous soldiers, striking workers, and rebellious women.”
A book on the people that are angry about their country. Now a movie? Yay.
Mr24pon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:02 am 2By the way, I am loving the ‘Team America’ pictures. lol
Tommy Von 11 Sep 2008 at 11:02 am 3There is something breathtakingly bizarre about Hollywood actors celebrating a piece of work that basically condemns America for its exploitation of poor workers and the discrepancy between the highest earners and the lowest earners.
There are few places in America that have a larger discrepancy between the highest and lowest earners than a film set.
The sky-rocketing costs of actors have drastically changed the film industry and incontrovertibly cut the wages of the people around them (none more so than the mid level actor) and absolutely cost American jobs as studios have had to go elsewhere to make films they can afford.
And these A-list actors have the nerve (the nerve!) to lecture us about the unfairness of the capitalist system.
How in the world does anyone on this planet let them get away with such vulgar, almost pathological hypocrisy? It is absolutely stunning.
PerfectTommyon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:13 am 4I remember Damon and Affleck gave the book a shout out way back in the screenplay for “Good Will Hunting”.
Carolynon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:23 am 5I keep asking myself. Where in hell is the money coming from to fund this stupidity?
Jeff Baileyon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:24 am 6More liberal money down a rat-hole. Excellent.
Maryon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:29 am 7Well, how ’bout that. For the first time, I’d just written down some quick memories I had of 9/11, over at Ace’s. Now I read this–and they both just happen to be centered at the same place: my old college. In fact, I’m pretty sure the last time I was in the Majestic was for a 9/11 memorial gathering a few days after the attack.
Am I surprised by this? Of course not.
Full Metal Deer Platoonon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:31 am 8DH, I’m inspired by your FAG stills to make sure I squeeze in a viewing of Team America: World Police this weekend!
Kevin of eHurston 11 Sep 2008 at 11:36 am 9My daughter’s high school used the Zinn book as their main U.S. history text. It’s loaded with revelations. For instance, did you know that the U.S. “War Against Japan” was an unprovoked act of agression on our part, motivated by greed for oil? Now that was an eye-opener!
Michaelon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:37 am 10When I was in college I remember seeing this piece of propganda sitting on the bookshelf of my friends taking US history classes. One of the reasons I never bothered taking a US history class. If I rememebr Zinn has some truly repugnant ideas about why the US got involved in World War II.
Stephanieon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:40 am 11My daughter’s high school used the Zinn book as their main U.S. history text. It’s loaded with revelations. For instance, did you know that the U.S. “War Against Japan” was an unprovoked act of agression on our part, motivated by greed for oil? Now that was an eye-opener!
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You let your daughter go to that school? THe moment I saw that I would have walked into the principals office and thrown the book down and said and this is why I am taking my daughter out of this school…………..and then I would have added something about Nazi propaganda in school books.
Capt. Nemoon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:44 am 12Nice to know that \”Project Greenlight\” is alive and well.
MovieBobon 11 Sep 2008 at 11:54 am 13“Honestly, I’m here all week and ready to debate anyone who wants to argue that liberal Hollywood’s money-driven …waiting … waiting … waiting …”
Short version: Though not to the same degree as in the past, name talents are a financial asset to studios, the studio system and their corporate overseers. They increase grosses, sell magazines, garner media attention, etc.
Finacial assets generally need to be maintained - machinery needs service, buildings need maintanence, produce needs proper storage. Human assets often require maintanence of a different sort - actions undertaken to keep them happy, content, willing-to-work, in good relations with management, etc.
For actors, this can and frequently does take the form of the occasional indulgence via a “vanity” project; which generally don’t cost much and can be thought of as a gift-in-the-form-of-help for the talent in question. A documentary of dramatic-readings is going to cost next to nothing, by studio standards, money that certain execs of certain companies are more than happy to spend in order to maintain friendly, economically-beneficial relations with Matt Damon who - if UNhappy - could simply sit the next Bourne movie out and blow a hole in their schedule.
Thudon 11 Sep 2008 at 12:02 pm 14The cast is a helpful guide for who I should avoid…if they don’t like me…they certainly won’t want my money…will they?
JohnFNWayneon 11 Sep 2008 at 12:08 pm 15I read a Zinn article back during sociology, probably about 10 years ago. I made it about two paragraphs. Somehow it’s America’s fault that poor people, disaffected people or generally anyone unhappy in the world exists. This attitude is used against every other country in the Western world, but since America is the last place where people actually love their country, we’re beaten about the head with it.
Tommy Von 11 Sep 2008 at 12:20 pm 16MovieBob,
I’ve been in the film business for 15 years (on the development side) and I can tell you that is simply inaccurate.
Even if the financiers behind Bourne were also behind this project, it would completely fail to explain all the other anti-American films that have been distributed.
While studios have been known to make films for stars in exchange for agreeing to do another, more profitable film, it is rare and never in exchange for a likely flop, but one they would not likely otherwise make (Braveheart for Lethal Weapon IV is one of the most famous examples.) and this kind of deal is reserved only for the biggest stars (not Jake Gylenhall, Tim Robbins, Reese Witherspoon, Tommy Lee Jones, Brian DePalma, or Ryan Phillipe).
I’m not sure what you’re fighting against here, no one really seriously questions the ideological motives of Hollywood. It is a documented fact in both donations to political parties and the films they make, as well as countless anecdotal stories.
I’m afraid you will find this an unnecessary, uphill and ultimately fruitless fight.
You really don’t have to argue with everything that is posted on this blog.
Katoon 11 Sep 2008 at 12:30 pm 17I weep for the generation of students who will be forced by their ponytail-wearing history teachers to watch this crap.
ed rollinson 11 Sep 2008 at 12:38 pm 18I don’t know the answer to this question, but is it possible that with international sales, DVD sales, possible cable and tv sales of the movie that some of these movies make some money?
Perhaps not all of them. Just some. And perhaps the rest come close to break event that the leftists can feel good about their “political contribution.”
Is that possible?
Chris Bon 11 Sep 2008 at 12:54 pm 19This will play well on PBS - during fund raising season they can play it over and over again on continuous loop until people give enough money for another year of programing.
Wyatt Wingfooton 11 Sep 2008 at 12:56 pm 20But will it include the voices of pirates? No pirates, no see. BTW, Howard Zinn is Matt Damon’s godfather.
johnmark7on 11 Sep 2008 at 1:26 pm 21I wish it were just liberals losing money, but studios are owned by large conglomerates who are owned by stockholders who are people like you are me with mutual funds and 401Ks.
What we need are a few class action stockholder lawsuits against Viacom et al on their deliberately wasting our money. Its called malfeasance.
Tangoon 11 Sep 2008 at 1:43 pm 22When Damon (aka 3 dollar bill) talks about Zinn, it borders a worship level. He definitely must have knee pads for such occasions.
RWAon 11 Sep 2008 at 2:25 pm 23Wow, between this, Trumbo, Good Night and Good Luck and the upcoming Ginsberg hagiography, David Strathairn is setting himself up as the King of Leftist-Revisionist-History-Pics.
The Almighty Turtleon 11 Sep 2008 at 2:50 pm 24Honestly, Zinn might have been a valuable source if he could restrain himself. But his “History” book is not about history, not even Marxest interpretations of History, but about INVENTING history. And, as anyone can tell you, when that happens, you are not a historian.
Kevin:
“motivated by greed for oil?”
The ironic thing is that Japan’s entry into the Pacific war was in large part a “War for Oil”, targeting the “Southern Resource Zone” to try to seize oil, rubber, and metal ore from the Dutch East Indies (primarily) and other colonies. Why? Because the Americans refused to trade with Tokyo, and cut them off from the supplies they needed to keep their killing machine in China going.
It is one thing to see the Western Imperialists as primarily evil, victimizing groups (which, granted, I can see how one would think that), and another to think that those Western Imperialists were NEVER victimized. Especially not by an oppressed minority.
Ironic that Zinn’s lies invert the truth.
And the movie? I’m betting it will tank.
Joshon 11 Sep 2008 at 3:04 pm 25The amusing truth is that not even liberal historians; Arthur M. Schlesinger, etc., have any respect for Zinn. At best they consider him a writer of “pop” history. One of the problems is that he never bothered to cite anything in “People’s History.” This is why he is quite popular among high-school history teachers, but not as commonly praised among college professors. Paul Johnson’s “History of the American People” is a great conservative response. And it also includes citations.
Plissken79on 11 Sep 2008 at 4:03 pm 26Are sure about that point regarding Mel Gibson, Tommy V? I thought Paramount made Braveheart and Warner Brothers made Lethal Weapon IV. Of course, I do not dispute that actors will do “profitable” films in order to get backing for more personal projects. It happens all of the time.
Howard Zinn is a disgrace as a historian, an obvious example of someone who already had all his conclusions in mind before he even started his research, much less his writing. A People’s History is a Stalinist cartoon history of the United States, nothing more
Kevin of eHurston 11 Sep 2008 at 4:06 pm 27Stephanie chastises me:
Don’t worry. The history teacher and her text were the laughing stock of the student body. Literally. They laughed at her and made fun of Zinn. In a way it was a better education than if it hadn’t been skewed: The absurdities in Zinn were so risibly obvious the kids were forced to dig for the truth themselves. My daughter got her education about history from us (her parents) and from our own library.
Michaelon 11 Sep 2008 at 4:46 pm 28Not sure where to put this but Rose McGowan is a terrorist, of the IRA kind, wanna be:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1054743/I-signed-IRA-says-American-femme-fatale-Rose-McGowan.html
That is nice. Blow up public places, assasinate World War II hero Lord Montbatten, and try to assasinate PM Thatcher.
Stephanieon 11 Sep 2008 at 4:49 pm 29Kevin
I bow. Thats awesome. Thats the kind of ridicule that leftists hate. Mocking Obama, mocking some zipper brained brainwasher (AKA teacher) beautiful.
Stephanieon 11 Sep 2008 at 4:52 pm 30When Damon (aka 3 dollar bill) talks about Zinn, it borders a worship level. He definitely must have knee pads for such occasions
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Pardon my dirty mind but ACK!
Mike Kriskeyon 11 Sep 2008 at 5:46 pm 31Not too surprisingly, it exists in comic book form with the title “A People’s History of the American Empire.” For the people who can’t be bothered with either citations or words.
RESon 11 Sep 2008 at 6:25 pm 32David Strathairn has done the audio books for several of Louis L’Amour’s books, notably The Daybreakers, Sackett and most of the other Sackett novels set in post-Civil War America.
Apparently he didn’t read the books, just the words comprising them. Else he’d have grasped the underlying themes of L’Amour’s oeuvre (it ain’t like Louis was being subtle.)
RESon 11 Sep 2008 at 6:31 pm 33I am willing to engage that argument.
Look at Hollywood’s bookkeeping practices. Look at their position on file-copying, look at their pricing of DVDs. Look at how many films are shot outside of California to take advantage of the tax incentives many states offer for productions. Look at the number of films shot in Canada to get away from American unions with their high rates and restrictive workplace rules.
Hollywood is all about money — they just don’t think that giving the (American) customer what we want. But count on this film being very very popular around the world. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Chinese buying it in bulk (or more likely adhering to traditional Chinese practices and replicating it in massive quantities.
Jack Marinoon 11 Sep 2008 at 8:37 pm 34Tommy, don’t waste your time with MOVIE BOB, he is an authority on movies, Hollywood, acting, directing, he made a little short digital video. That isn’t a film, that is video. He took it upon himself to be a movie critic.
Some of his post about the inner workings of Hollywood is laughable since he is in a small room in Boston on a computer.
RES, Hollywood is about agenda. IF they make money then that justifies all the films that don’t make a profit. Now in time all films make profit because they play in all markets in perpetuity.
Now, since the studios are no longer privately owned, they can give Oliver Stone 80 million time and time again and each film he makes tank because of what you said. They are selling us product and we are not buying it. IF the liberals were the majority of the population, then these leftist films would all be hits and in profits. The news papers wouldn’t be laying off and sizing down because no one is buying the paper.
With the studio, they are part of huge multi-national companies and is one or a few companies are losing money, they have many more making huge profits and the film companies give them write offs. This is why they can make one anti-war, anti American film after film and they tank.
So the profit incentive is there but promoting the leftist agenda is a much bigger incentive for the liberal executive that run the studios. As far as actors being liberal. Actors are whores sucking on the money spigot that pays for their lifestyle. If this spigot becomes conservative, all these liberals will have a ST Paul conversion to conservatism. That is where their bread is buttered.
The Almighty Turtleon 11 Sep 2008 at 9:15 pm 35Michael: Interesting. Didn’t hear about that one. It amazes me how the IRA is oh-so Fabulous in spite of a LOOOONNNNG history of getting in bed with each and every tin-pot thug and butcher who dislikes the British. Don’t believe me? Try Kaiser Wilhelm II, Adolph Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Franco, Salazar, Mao, the Kims, and the Islamists.
These people sicken me. The British were not terribly humane in Ireland, but they certainly were improving in the 1910’s and have since.
The ONLY, and I mean ONLY possible reasonable explanation I could have for this is that she likes Michael Collins, who while not being the most savory of guys actually was far more moderate and Democratic then his compatriots (Valera, call your office), and acually honored the agreemenets he made. Hell, he even marched to war with the radicals in his party to uphold an agreement he made with the British about plebicites in Northern Ireland (which had voted to remain British, though the radicals favored invading them anyway), and indeed was killed by one of his former comrades over the issue.
But the thing is that the Modern IRA is descended from those radicals. So it is a VERY slim excuse.
Yet another douche-bag who, if not deserves, at least ought to experience the brutality of her romantic “revolutionaries” firsthand.
Swine ALL!
Danielon 12 Sep 2008 at 5:47 am 36Howard “I hate America and everything it stands for” Zinn’s screed was turned into a comic book … uh, graphic novel.
It was so bad even hard left-wing comic fans, who love Zinn, hated it.
http://icarus.blogtownhall.com/?tag=Howard%20Zinn