Hollywood gets political
Just thought we'd blog about another interesting piece in The Observer the other week (we really should read a different newspaper occasionally). It's basically about a new Hollywood film studio making commercially viable films with a real political edge, helping to turn "American filmgoers into grassroots activists". Participant Productions was set up by eBay billionaire Jeff Skoll, and its overarching aim is to "change the world one story at a time".
One of its first films is Syriana (pictured), starring George Clooney and Matt Damon, which "plots the ways in which American interests in Middle Eastern oil lead to the very acts of violence that America most fears".
The great thing about Participant Productions is that it doesn't just try to educate the audience - it also provides ways for them to get involved. It has an activist sister site called participate.net, which provides community discussion as well as campaign actions in conjunction with partners, such as one to reduce our global dependence on oil, and another to end sexual harassment and domestic violence.
Along with films like the Constant Gardener, it all reinforces the impression of a newly politicised Hollywood, which can only be a good thing for campaigners across the world... Have a read of the Observer article: "Hollywood's new politics" and let us know what you think below.
posted at 1:33 PM
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Comments:
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If it takes movies to teach the American Right about the damage that's being done to the entire world due to their foreign policy then so be it. It is kind of ironic that it is a Canadian behind this movie enterprise though! Shhhh don't tell them :)
By G,
January 18, 2006 8:05 PM
I think it is a wonderful thing that culture is being used to change culture. Surely it is a step in the right direction on a road that seems to have been neglected in recent years.
A Fable is far more facilitating that flimsy fiction.
By ,
January 19, 2006 2:23 PM
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