Posted on 04/27/2010 9:19:54 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
(CNSNews.com) – Screenwriter and author Andrew Klavan said that in Hollywood, “(i)f you’re a conservative, especially a religious person, people have to meet in secret. They talk in whispers. It’s a very disturbing kind of culture.”
Klavan, in an exclusive interview with CNSNews.com, explained that he and fellow conservatives in Hollywood are battling the liberal status quo by creating entertainment that reflects the values held by the majority of Americans.
And things are changing for the better, he said, pointing to the best-picture Oscar nomination for the Christian-themed film “The Blind Side” and Sandra Bullock’s win as best actress in the movie.
There is a political/social shift occurring in Hollywood, Klavan told CNSNews.com, adding, “I think we’re changing it. It’s not something that’s happening passively. It’s something that’s happening because people are really making noise.”
“I have nothing against atheists or left-wingers making movies,” Klavan said. “I think everybody should be able to make movies. I simply think this kind of lock-step conformity that has become the default position of American intellectuals has to go. It’s bad for the arts. It’s bad for our intellectual conversation.”
The Hollywood culture, Klavan said, has made it difficult for conservatives to be successful and promote their own brand of entertainment product.
“There’s a culture in Hollywood where you are a left-winger; you can speak very openly – even in business meetings,” Klavan said. “If you’re a conservative, especially a religious person, people have to meet in secret. They talk in whispers. It’s a very disturbing kind of culture.”
Klavan also mentioned the experience of Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington’s experience in making the movie, “The Book of Eli,” which is about a post-apocalyptic world where the hero’s mission is to protect the last remaining Bible.
“When Denzel Washington recently made a film called ‘The Book of Eli’ – and Washington is a Christian and he made a film about a post-apocalyptic world in which he’s fighting to save the Bible, fighting to save the last copy of the Bible – the studio kept coming to him and saying, ‘Could you cut out some of the references to the Bible? Could you cut out some of the religious references?’” said Klavan.
“And I thought, ‘Why, are you afraid of making too much money? What’s the problem?” he said.
Klavan explained, as is well-documented, that many of the traditional, pro-family, and pro-religious movies are usually very financially successful in Hollywood. But many producers and directors do not like to make the films regardless of their potential for success.
Klavan said in his own career he has tried to “change the rules” by creating compelling books and films that feature characters who share the same beliefs and values of most Americans.
Two of his crime novels, "True Crime" and "Don’t Say a Word" were made into films starring Clint Eastwood and Michael Douglas, respectively. His screenplays include “Shock to the System” starring Michael Caine, and “One Missed Call.”
And now his series of books for young adults, "The Homelanders," has been optioned by Summit Entertainment, maker of the “Twilight” film series and the film that won the 2010 Oscar for best picture, “The Hurt Locker.”
The hero of the series, teenager Charlie West, is a Christian and an American patriot with a black belt in karate whose adventures include fighting Islamic extremists and trying to clear his name after he’s charged with murder.
Klavan was in Washington, D.C., on Monday, to speak at a conference about intellectual property rights as it pertains to artists whose work is stolen online.
But the real threat, as Klavan sees it, is the Democrats who are in control in the White House and Congress.
“I think it’s a really very sinister and bad development,” Klavan said when asked about current events in the nation’s capital. “I don’t think the people involved are necessarily sinister and bad, but I think they are misguided.”
“They believe in a philosophy that has already been shown to be destructive and not to work,” Klavan said. “They are people who don’t understand the basic values of our country, the basic values of a bottom-up government, of the consent of the governed, of limited government, of a government who doesn’t do things for you -- that says you have to do these things for yourself.”
Klavan also said he is a fan of the tea party movement, which he said is made up of regular Americans who want limited government and support the Constitution.
Many folks would probably not want to know how the movie ends without seeing it themselves.........
With all of the advances in technology we’ve experienced, I would like to see Hollywood give DVD buyers the option of filtering out profanity and nudity in their movies.
There have been dozens of movies I like that were spoiled by nudity or bad language - movies I would’ve liked to have watched with my kids but refused to do so.
My husband said about this movie... that Washington must have thought it was time for him to do his post-apocalyptical film. Some actors feel it is a most in their careers for some reason. But, not all actors do it well. Not all of those movies are done well, either.
There was a small company that edited DVDS and took out the profanity and such. I think they either rented or sold them to the public. They were sued by the studios, I think it was, for altering content.
I am meeting with a group next week to pitch a television mini-series version of “A Patriot’s History of the U.S.” to some networks.
I thought it a slightly better-than-average action movie. the ending is sorta Fahrenheit 451.
Great post, Mr. Mojo - thanks for sharing.
Yes, I agree, GOPJ... this is an interesting read. And it's good to know what projects conservatives in Hollywood have produced and/or are working on so that we may support them.
We should all keep an eye on this site as well:
The guy behind The Right Network was traveling with the Tea Party Express, and has asked us to "spread the word"...
Thanks for this thread, Mr. Mojo.
When the bad guys knocked down the tree of liberty to get to their 'unobtanium' socialist paradise, I was cheering for the patriots watering the tree with their blood...You just gotta know how to watch the movie...
Let us know what happens, LS! You already have a core audience already right here!
Mr Klavan should be honored for his brave positions concerning religious and conservative views but he needs to take pause when pointing to any star , especially Washington as an example of a religious man.
The last shot totally sold out the entire premise of the movie making Washington's valiant, super-human effort into a trip that merely completed a set.
Joseph McCarthy had nothing to do with the Hollywood blacklist. He was investigating the Army.
Along with the Army...there’s this “After the 1951 victory for the Republicans in the Senate, McCarthy was able to use his position as chairman of the powerful subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee to launch investigations into “un-American activities” of members of the State Department and public life in general.”
McCarthy didn’t even launch the investigations. The House Committee on UnAmerican Activities (HCUAA, never to be spelled HUAC) began in the 1930s.
The Crucible likewise was not written about Joe McCarthy either and there even WERE witches in that story. The Communists saw nothing wrong with being a Communist.
Ted Kennedy never had Borking named after him. Joe Biden smeared Clarence Thomas at the very opening of his confirmation hearing (read my profile) and had no tactic named after him. John Murtha got a ship named after him for smearing members of our military and aiding and abetting Islamic terrorist propaganda in a time of war. John Kerry lied to Congress in an act of treason during the Vietnam war about false witness and participation in non-existent war crimes.
The same people who crafted the name McCarthyism deny the abuses of power of those in their corner. Lies by omission are lies all the same when accounting history.
The Left turned those invesigations around and basically made Roy Cohn and Joe McCarthy defendents. They said it was unAmerican to question the patriotism of those in our Army and State Department.
The actions of Nadil Hasan and countless document thieves tell us that the fifth column of antiAmerican traitors remains in the ranks of our military and State Department.
We need to bring back “The House of Un-American Activities” and the Red Books.
“
Screenwriter Says Hollywood Conservatives ‘Have to Meet in Secret’ and ‘Talk in Whispers’
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In so many words, the late, great Charleton Heston said that in
Hollywood more conservatives were “in the closet” than gays.
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His screenplays include “Shock to the System” starring Michael Caine,
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One of my favorite films.
A perfect “dark humor” type of film (at least in my opinion).
As good as Caine has ever done.
This is a simple fix.
Stop going into hiding.
Time to start rebuilding the walls.
Stand up and say this is what I believe.
I’m not changing.
Tolerance means I put up with things I find distasteful but don’t have to agree with or support in any way.
If you fire me or persecute me for my beliefs , you will have a fight on your hands.
I won’t denounce Christ, or what I believe is true.
Conservative principles work. Thats where my house is.
Choose this day whom you will server, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
These are all easy things to do. It starts 1 person at a time.
Don’t think of the consequences if you do. Think of the consequences if you DONT.
We don’t need a massive national movement to start nationally and massively.
We start everyone at once, where they live, in their own house.
Stand up.
Fear no man.
BTTT
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