08 August 2008
UPDATE—DreamWorks met on Wednesday with disability community leaders and disability-rights groups including The Arc of the United States and leadership from Special Olympics to discuss offensive portrayals and “hate speech” language in Ben Stiller’s new film “Tropic Thunder” and its promotional materials. Chip Sullivan, head of publicity for DreamWorks, said the meeting was “very productive”; however, disability rights groups have not yet said the same. Disability advocacy groups will view the film soon and respond again to the studio. DreamWorks removed the “Simple Jack” website associated with the film from the Web. The Arc (http://www.thearc.org/) is preparing local and state chapters for a movie boycott if concerns remain.
SOURCES:
“DreamWorks: Simple Jack "Retard" Movie Offended People So We Took Site Down”
http://www.businesssheet.com/2008/8/dreamworks-simple-jack-retard-movie-offended-people-so-we-took-site-down
Stiller Screens New Film for Disability Groups
http://www.pr-inside.com/stiller-screens-new-film-for-disability-r745384.htm
“DreamWorks "Retard" Scandal Update: Disability-Rights Groups to Watch "Tropic Thunder," See If They Are Offended”
http://www.businesssheet.com/2008/8/dreamworks-retard-scandal-update-disability-rights-groups-to-watch-tropic-thunder-see-if-they-are-offended
RELATED:
Patricia E. Bauer blogs about Wednesday’s meeting:
http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/08/07/tropic-thunder-meeting/
View the ARC memo through Patricia Bauer’s blog:
http://www.patriciaebauer.com/aug-5-berns-memo/
3 comments:
I never went to see this movie - actually, no one in my family went. I think it is despicable when laughter is made at the expense of someone else's pain. My parents always educated us on social politeness (if there is such a term). My grandmother was paralyzed due to a stroke and our parents always used her as an example. They would ask us how we would feel if some other person would make jokes or comments referring to her disability and ofcourse, we didn't want anyone to laugh at our grandmother - so it became a valuable lesson in life that now we teach our children. There is nothing worse in this world than a person who thinks that they are God's answer to perfection. Anyway - this movie was just not worth my time.
Norfy
i dont really think this is making fun of a person with disablity, i mean that it isnt meant to hurt anybodyies feelings. i think that its ok because i do not think a person with a similar disability will take offensivly. in other movies they make fun of many other things like religion, race, and other cultural beliefs. i wouldnt take it personal... i most people with disablilities are very confident and strong mentally, why would they take it personal.
Carmen G.
The movie I will not lie, was funny, but by the same token it was because of the dry humor, not so much as to attack a particular group of people. If they saw it as offensive, then the black community should have seen it as offensive as well, seeing as how they had a white man have surgery to turn him black and he undertakes many black features and tries to ridicule them. Although this is a disability board, I do believe that the community of disabled people took this too harsh, it was not meant to offend them, and since the website had been taken down, I think that should be enough. Maybe even more.
Julio S.
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