“People should be free to say anything,” Ang Lee said when asked about Bill C-10. The Canadian amendment makes it possible to deny tax credits to a film considered ‘offensive’ or ‘contrary to public policy.’
The Oscar-winning director even went as far as saying not even the communistic Chinese government censored him during the making of his sex filled ‘Lust, Caution.’ Nor did anyone during the making of his controversial ‘Brokeback Mountain.’
The bill turns financially-assisted films into propaganda and “[the government] should know better than that,” Lee said. Of course the Canadian industry welcomed his comments. “He’s dead on,” said Toronto-based author Susan Swan. “Ang Lee has done us a great favor.”
It’s good to see some big names speak out on this. The bill was initially buried in a pile of harmless material, so some extra attention is always good.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:05 am
I feel like I’m writing a news about news story, but apparently Guillermo del Toro will know if he’ll be directing ‘The Hobbit’ next week. Del Toro, who recently made ‘Pan’s Labyrinth,’ said this at a panel for his new movie ‘Hellboy 2.’
‘The Hobbit’ is currently set for release in 2010. It is produced by Peter Jackson and takes place before the story of ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ In the story we follow Bilbo Baggins, who goes on his first adventure.
It was originally written as a story for children, so it will be particularly interesting to see what Del Toro will do with the story if he gets the chance.
April 19th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
While the US had a good presence at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, this year is turning out quite the opposite. Plagued by the writers’ strike, the only major Hollywood product in the competition seems to be Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut ‘Synecdoche, New York’.
Spielberg and his gang will be there to promote the new Indiana Jones and Jack Black will do some promotion for Kong Fu Panda. But both aren’t in the competition. And as mentioned earlier, the show’s closing film ‘What Just Happened?‘ isn’t expected to impress anyone either, although the word is it has been cut by 8 minutes now.
April 18th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Ridley Scott is set to produce the noir drama ‘The Kind One’ for Warner Bros. “It’s a world that Ridley has never touched before, so that’s what drew him to the project,” said Daly.
‘The Kind One’ stars Casey Affleck in a story about an amnesiac working for the mafia. Taking place in 1930s Los Angeles.
The drama is set for release somewhere in 2010.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
