AMERICAblog: Sundance hosting movies at bigot's cinemas
foxy
· 1 year ago
Hmmm...interesting. No wonder they didn't write me back when I told I canceled my tickets to the festival and my reasons why. The nice people at travel Utah did.
Older_Wiser
· 1 year ago
I don't know how many times "artists" have told me they're not political.
Shame.
Older_Wiser
· 1 year ago
OT, but more layoffs...Sun Systems laying off 6,000 or 18% of its worldwide workforce. And how many retailers will be laying off due to lagging sales before xmas? Many people take PT jobs at this time just to get by; they probably won't be there.
afrcornell
· 1 year ago
I think it's fine to boycot Utah. The people there will be better off without the hateful, bigotted, anti-religion people trying to inflict their shoddy way of life on others. Besides, it gives the people of Utah more of a chance to see the films. Your boycott will not hurt the people of Utah or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It has been tried before without success. So good luck. It seems very quesionable that all of a sudden Mormon churches are being vandalized, historic buildings torched and suspicious mail delivered to temples. It smells of hate crimes. Next will it be another extermination edict? So who really are the bigots? Freedom of religion is guaranteed under the constitution. I'm sure Mr.Aravosis would like to repeal that to justify his support for the promiscuous lifestyles to ease his guilt. Being straight is great.
Older_Wiser
· 1 year ago
Links to "crimes" being committed? I heard about the "white powder" mail this am on a cable channel, but anyone can send those, doesn't mean they're from gay folks (even the FBI got it wrong in 2001). Undocumented statements aren't taken seriously on this blog.
Naked Bunny with a Whip
· 1 year ago
Hilarious that you're whining about "promiscuous lifestyles" when people are upset about marriages being revoked. On the other hand, it makes it easy to dismiss your unsupported assertions about vandalism since you're obviously unable to even string two thoughts together coherently.
"So who really are the bigots?"
Your ilk. The ones who enshrine bigotry in law. By definition.
afrcornell
· 1 year ago
Dear Naked Bunny with a Whip, I rest my case! It makes me laugh. I never said it was the alternate lifestyle who did the vandalism, only that it sure is suspicious. And I can put you at rest that Mormons did not inflict damage on their own churches. That is ludicrous as is all of the other nonsense being laid out as fact. Go check your references.
Webster
· 1 year ago
Nice to see you got your morning talking-points. Tell me, is the church paying you for each post--or just by each blog you troll?
gwyneth
· 1 year ago
Yeah, I'm sure you know because your a self proclaimed "prophet" right? Let me guess, God told you to tell us that we should all be LDS.
Unless you have super natural powers how else would you know that they in fact did not inflict damage on their own church's? Sounds Mormon all the way!! Lying for the Lord!
RevDrBillyBob
· 1 year ago
afrcornell: ... Speaking of "promiscuous lifestyles" ... Joseph Smith invented the Mormon branch of Christianity (based on non-existent “golden plates” that he “discovered” that later “disappeared” into a hillside that “cannot” be excavated). He had 34 wives, and he done married two of 'em when they wuz only 14 (but this was only after he got the Big OK from You-Know-Who, doncha know). Here's a list of all 34 (and the sometimes sad stories...about how some of their daddies basically turned ‘em over to Ol’ J.S.): www.wivesofjosephsmith.org … now THAT’S a guy who “believed in marriage”.
RevDrBillyBob
· 1 year ago
afrcornell: .... Why won't all you Good Christians support a "protect marriage" initiative that (1) abolishes divorce, and (2) makes adultery a crime ? Anybody know ? Oh, wait . . . .
henrythefifth
· 1 year ago
I agree. I've always thought these people should be targeting the rampant divorce rate in the US rather than trying to STOP people who love each other from getting married. Take Rudy Giuliani...adulterer and serial divorcee...now that guy is a threat to traditional marriage and family values...his kids can't even stand him.
You'd think these churches would advocate for one divorce in your life, and after that, you can't ever get married again.
DavidinPS
· 1 year ago
Oh, dear, I see the homophobic bigot trolls are out and about. I'll bet dollars to donuts that the white powder and much of what is described as "vandalism" has been done by their own people. The Mormons and the rest of the Right Wing love to terrorize others and then claim they themselves are the victims of terrorism. They are already are using these few threadbare examples as "proof."
Chrissy
· 1 year ago
I have a feeling you are right on the idea that the churches that are receiving supposed vandalism are actually being vandalized by its own members to make the church look like the victims of "those evil gays and liberals."
Since not one person has been caught vandalizing a church, I can only suspect its because the church and the vandalizer are both on the same team.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 1 year ago
gays are promiscuous so revoke their marriages? lol. that makes lots of sense. LDS and KKK have more than bigotry in common. i think they were all born without a cerebral cortex.
PS: freedom of religion means freedom FROM mormonism. so get the fuck out of my life, asswipe.
now back to your regular programming.
John Aravosis
· 1 year ago
Thanks AFR, and you are correct, boycotts of the Mormons and Utah have been tried before. In the late 1970s, specifically, to protest the Mormons' outright racist policies towards African-Americans, and more generally, people of color. During that boycott, the Mormons got so scared that their leader suddenly had a vision from God conveniently telling him that black people were now okay and no longer dark-skinned because God struck them down for not opposing the devil (aka Jesus' brother).
So yes, you're correct, it has been tried before. Oh and one more point. The fact that you guys are now monitoring our comments thread proves just how much all of this doesn't concern you.
Oh, and speaking of promiscuous lifestyles, last time I checked, my religion wasn't the one that said Jesus had 3 wives, one of whom was his own mother. That gives you polygamy and incest. And my religion isn't the one that says that polygamy is okay in the after-life.
Gary SF
· 1 year ago
Convent how that vision hit just when the second wind of 'black power' was at its height. Mormons will do anything to avoid scrutiny of their religion, even changing their beliefs. Oh, and Utah - the endless scandals created by 'Utah businessmen' around the 2002 Olympics proves just how ethical these Mormons really are.
Gary SF
· 1 year ago
Yeah, we're immoral. You f*ck your nieces and child cousins and have the nerve to call use promiscuous? At least we confine ourselves to adults. Mormon = child molester in the name of God. Go count your wives.
okojo
· 1 year ago
Oh Bullshit.. What historic buildings are being torched?!? Look up the word conspiracy, and tell me how the LDS church didn't do a conspiracy in their effort with Yes on Prop 8 campaign... The Church hierarchy basically ordered their members to contribute to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign.
Freedom of Religion is guaranteed, but so is equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. They are getting blowback from going after a group in the largest state in the union, who are not a small economic force.. It is not about marriage but of discrimination.
kevinbgoode
· 1 year ago
Since the Mormons claim that anyone's rights can be terminated at the whim of a majority - particularly when that majority can be manipulated by church-sponsored deception, one wonders why you'd think that "freedom of religion" can't be amended in the same manner?
As for your misguided attempt at deflecting bigotry and responsibility, one needs only to remind you that it wasn't the gays who put a constitutional amendment on the ballot removing the rights of the Mormons. It was the other way around. And frankly, you anti-American, tyranny-driven bigots don't respect the freedom of religion of churches which DO marry gay couples, as if that makes any difference anyway. The Constitution is not a rubber stamp for the Mormon Church - and Utah had no business sticking it's nose in the affairs of other states.
Don't be such a drama queen. After all, no one took the right of marriage away from the Mormons, did they?
gwyneth
· 1 year ago
Oh yeah, poor Mormons their really the victims. Yeah right! There are a lot of things gauranteed by the Constitution, it's just too bad you religious wingnuts don't appreciate any of it! The same system that allows you to have freedom of religion is one and the same that allowed these people to get married and it's one and the same that the religious reich wants to destroy!
But, hey the Supreme Court will have the final say. Oh and by the way, I'm straight and I don't support bigotry. Also, a lot of people are supporting because of the principle of seperation of church and state (also in the Constitution).
Stop trying to be the victims, it doesn't matter how many rocks you throw through your own windows so that you can claim "hate crimes" against yourselves (which is what I suspect - from such a dishonest organization who would believe anything they have to say?) This is the backlash you get when your church decides to be a politcal action committee. Deal with it!
jburt
· 11 months ago
I think Afrcornell lives with the Mormon chip on his shoulder because since Utah decided to join the United States, they've had to give up polygamy. Since he can't marry 12 wives, he won't allow me to marry mine.
barffalo
· 1 year ago
There needs to be a new type gay rights sticker. Instead of a rainbow something that shows support for gay marriage. Than have business put those next to their doors.
okojo
· 1 year ago
John wrote:
"I'm sure the Sundance folks are nice liberal people. But the problem with having a film festival in Utah is that anyone who attends will be helping to finance the repeal of their own civil rights."
That is bullshit, John, and I know what you are trying to aim at, you don't give a shit about Cinemark, you are trying to aim for a boycott of Sundance, and you are going to use every arrow possible to make it happened. Which is stupid, dumb and reckless...
Do you think the LDS likes Sundance?!?! unless there are movies about seer stones and jello, they think it is a festival of Sodom...
Once again, Utah is not the LDS Church, Summit County is the not exactly LDS friendly, Park City is better off being an ally in this fight than being painted as an enemy... If Robert Redford donated to Yes on Prop 8, or some of the committee members gave large sums, then a boycott is legitimate, because you have rage to anything that is linked to the LDS Church, you are getting reckless and stupid.
Sundance will probably change cinemas that are Cinemark free, there are a couple in Park City, it is no big deal, but to boycott a festival and a town that is pretty liberal in a pretty conservative state is just stupid.
John Aravosis
· 1 year ago
Rather than rant and rave, please answer the central point of my post. Sundance is paying Cinemark to host its movies. You are paying Sundance to go to see those movies. How is that not a scenario in which you are paying Cinemark? Not to mention, the entire point of this post is quite obviously to force Sundance to dump that cinema. So chill out.
Chrissy
· 1 year ago
John, I have a feeling that Cinemark might be donating the theaters for use during the festival. I might be wrong on that. Has anyone contacted Geoff Gilmore or John Cooper at Sundance directly with these concerns?
John, you are really tearing apart my arguments not to boycott Sundance.
DavidinPS
· 1 year ago
I actually think the Cinemark thing makes it easier NOT to boycott Sundance. It is more surgical and focused. Better. Let the festival as a whole alone, but make them take action against the theater chain. Use the publicity. If they don't take action, have pickets outside the screenings every night with signs letting everyone know a bigot runs the theater.
henrythefifth
· 1 year ago
Thanks for keeping on this John. I know some people take issue w/ your "no holds barred" approach to this, but for a boycott to be effective, it has to go deep, and there have to be consequences.
okojo
· 1 year ago
It is punishing people who are either on the side of Gay Marriage, or people in Utah, like those in Summit County, who aren't the biggest fans of the LDS church. It is better to use a scalpel than a sledgehammer...
If one wants to really hit at Cinemark, go after Fandango and the Entertainment Industry to stop distributing films to Cinemark.
RevDrBillyBob
· 1 year ago
i keep wondering WHY there seems to be no "drive" any longer for outing closeted gay Republicans. Anybody have any comment ?
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
CineArts @ Empire here in San Francisco has the upcoming movie 'Milk' listed as a coming attraction.
I don't think it's appropriate AT ALL that Cinemark should make money from showing a movie about one of the biggest gay icons; one who fought against another hateful anti-gay proposition here in California 30 years ago and won.
Please boycott.
vkobaya
· 1 year ago
Measure of the true morality of the campaign against gay marriage, not only did the commercials lie about requiring schools to teach 7 year olds about gay marriage, but they also used robo-calls featuring Obama's voice saying he opposed gay marriage and supported Proposition 8.
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
Absolutely. You have to understand though that with the mormon cult, lying is acceptable and ENCOURAGED if it means advancing the church's teachings. This is a known FACT.
There are a few ex-mormon activist groups that make this one of their central points in opposition to the church. The upper level people in the hierarchy are explicitly taught that lying in certain cases is forgiven and outright expected by their gods in the fight for the church.
Go check out some of the ex-mormon vids on youtube. They explain it a lot better than I can. Oh, and I still have that Obama robocall saved on my voicemail. When I need a little motivation now, all I have to do is listen to it and I'm fired up again.
DavidinPS
· 1 year ago
Hell, just look up "Lying for the Lord" on Wikipedia.
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
Lying for the Lord. That's it. That's the phrase they use.
Here we go:
"Lying for the Lord refers to the practice of lying to protect the image of and belief in the Mormon religion, a practice which Mormonism itself fosters in various ways. From Joseph Smith's denial of having more than one wife, to polygamous Mormon missionaries telling European investigators that reports about polygamy in Utah were lies put out by "anti-Mormons" and disgruntled ex-members, to Gordon B. Hinckley's dishonest equivocation on national television over Mormon doctrine, Mormonism's history seems replete with examples of lying. Common members see such examples as situations where lying is justified. For the Mormon, loyalty and the welfare of the church are more important than the principle of honesty, and plausible denials and deception by omission are warranted by an opportunity to have the Mormon organization seen in the best possible light. This is part of the larger package of things that lead many to describe Mormonism as a cult. "Lying for the lord" is part of Mormonism's larger deceptive mainstreaming tactics, and conversion numbers would drastically lower if important Mormon beliefs were fully disclosed to investigators."
Voncarlos
· 1 year ago
I think you're right on this and completely support you. Keep up the pressure! I live in Salt Lake City and can tell you the Mormons are even weirder than most Americans know; I think there is "a price to be paid" for forgetting what the Constitution is all about. If boycotting Utah hurts me financially, I say go ahead, I accept it whole-heartily. There is another big Mormon movie complex person here named "Larry H. Miller". When Brokeback Mountain was set to play at one of his theatres, he pulled it at the last minute. We had over 2000 people show up ( with less than 24hr notice) and protest around the Mormon Temple Square last Friday the 7th. There will be another protest at City Hall this Saturday the 15th. Go to this link to see more about the protest in your city: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/
Gary SF
· 1 year ago
Thanks for the info Scott. I just sent this email to the Focus Features, the distributor for the film Milk:
We are dismayed to see that Milk will be showing at an Cinemark-owned theater in SF. The CEO of Cinemark donated nearly $10,000 to proposition 8 here, to remove our right to marry. We will be boycotting all Cinemark theaters nationwide. Can you please find another theater chain for Milk?
I was planning on seeing Milk at The Castro anyways but still. That would be so insulting to have Cinemark theaters making money off Harvey's story.
Gary SF
· 1 year ago
Harvey would not go to that theater.
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
How funny. That is exactly one of the things I said in my e-mail!
cilidog
· 1 year ago
Thanks Gary. Let's crush them with our blitz of e-mails, then, "crush" them with our numbers in the streets tomorrow.
Webster
· 1 year ago
Thank you, Gary. I just sent an email as well. The irony of screening Milk in a theater chain whose CEO donated to "Yes on 8" is almost breathtaking. It is the antithesis of all that Harvey Milk stood for. I did my best to make my email civil--pointing out how Milk lived--and died--for the liberation of gays everywhere--and that affiliating the film with Cinemark was unconscionable. I tried to appeal to their higher angels (if the film indu$try has any, that is).
We have to keep reminding people constantly that actions have consequences and we must be tireless in the pursuit of justice.
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
You know they are carefully setting up the release of 'Milk' for Oscar contention too. I certainly don't want to see the release hurt in any way. They haven't done anything wrong. But hopefully the producers, Gus Van Sant, and the stars can put some pressure on them.
Thanks, but we don't need this type of 'help.' This achieves nothing and is racist. Are you lamenting that we can't return to the good ole days when n's where the only n's? That is repulsive.
Elbaba
· 1 year ago
I think you misunderstood the context in which he used the n-bomb.
I read it and can follow what he is saying, basically that the repugs/neocons will focus all their hatred at the gays because, well.. they can get away with calling gays all sorts of derogatory names which they can no longer do with blacks (they would if they thought they could get away with it).
RainbowPhoenix
· 1 year ago
This raises the question of who will be next after us.
foxy
· 1 year ago
It's time for Sundance to be put to bed. Paul Newman is dead, may he rest in peace.
There are a lot of other film festivals to go to. The Toronto Film Festival comes to mind.
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
Actually it's Robert Redford that founded Sundance. He's still very much alive.
bdhp
· 1 year ago
Damn it! Now I have to find a new theater. Deer Park - Century 16 Deer Park
TrappedinaRedState
· 1 year ago
This is great and I'm all for boycotting Cinemark but let's not forget Regal Cinemas and their related chains:
None of these people will be getting any of my hard earned money.
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
That article is from March of '06. I checked and Anschutz is no longer the CEO. Now it's some chap named Michael L. Campbell. Anschutz's name is nowhere to be found.
TrappedinaRedState
· 1 year ago
True. He resigned as CEO after this article was written. I just took the first link I could find on the subject and put it into the post. My bad. Here is some more updated information about the company.
Although he may not be the CEO you can see that he still owns about half of Regal and controls 78% of the voting power.
I can find other places to go to the movies.
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
I certainly encourage everybody to support indie theaters (like The Castro), but it's not that easy for everyone. Ironically, the coolest megaplex here in SF is the Sundance Kabuki theater. Yes, that Sundance. They show the big mainstream blockbusters but they also dedicate a lot of screens to indie films. In the main auditorium you can reserve your seats in advance on their website, they have small tables for drinks, they have two person seats with tons of legroom, adults only area and they even serve alcohol.
That first article did make an excellent point about profits though. Most of the ticket price goes to the studio and the theater chains make most of their money from concessions. If you have no choice and must see your movie, why not take your own food and drink? It's easy to them sneak in (and a hell of a lot cheaper).
TrappedinaRedState
· 1 year ago
I love the Castro Theater! Everytime I'm in SFO I make it a point to go.
I have no issues with Sundance as a company, only with supporting their festival in Utah. Utah, Morman owned or benefited businesses and other groups and businesses who contribued to the Yes on 8 or other anti-gay groups are my focus. I simply will not support them with my dollars and I will encourage my friends and family to do the same.
Go and see Milk - I saw it last night at a screening and it is wonderful! It should have been released before the votes on November 4th. See it twice...or three times and then buy the DVD when it comes out. We need to support the studio for making a film about such an important part of history. Just don't go to Regal or Cinemark to see it!
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
Sundance as a company is awesome. I agree.
They've had a couple screenings of Milk at the Castro already but it was next to impossible to get tickets. I'll see it there when it opens later in the month though. How awesome is it that instead of watching advertisements on the screen before movies, you get a performance from an organist playing the mighty Wurlitzer organ that rises out of the stage? Hell, this weekend they're playing the latest Warren Miller film to get everybody all stoked up for skiing and boarding, then next week Tony Curtis will be there to speak at a screening of Some Like It Hot. I mean damn, neighborhood movie houses don't get much better than that.
TrappedinaRedState
· 1 year ago
Neighborhoods don't get much better than that!
The Wurlizter, that fantastic ceiling and vintage decor just add to the experience. I saw Peaches Christ for "Midnight Mass" there a couple of years ago before a screening of Young Frankenstein. We just missed Kathy Griffin last year.
Everyone should have a neighborhood theater like that!
Elbaba
· 1 year ago
thanks for rubbing it in, guys!
I'm glowing a hot, neon green with envy right now! :)
TopherL
· 1 year ago
I am sending an email to focus as well. I also just found out that Ritz-Carlton is owned by Marriott as well. I was scheduled to be at oe next week. I called the hotel, spoke with the manager and explained the reason for my cancellation. I used to travel with Marriott a great deal and have tons of points and miles thanks to them. I am using them all to transport my friends to a protest in NY. It makes sense to me that if I have those points, I may as well use them for something that would really piss these people off. I suggest some of you think about that too!
lilybart
· 1 year ago
Don't forget: these events are planned well in advance, contracts are signed and the theatre might have the no-cancel contract so they would have to pay them anyway even if they did cancel.
This is the same with the AIG junkets. We just tried to cancel our xmas party, but the contract lets them keep a huge deposit and says we have to pay the minimum of the contract anyway. So we might as well go since we are out the money anyway.
mmunson
· 1 year ago
John there is a reason why he donated 9999.00, if you donate 10000.00 you have to fill out a state of california campaign form for major donors.
Webster
· 1 year ago
Which means he might have donated more if it weren't for the pesky inconvenience of the forms!
MichaelS
· 1 year ago
John,
Here's proof that Utah is already feeling the pressure -- Utah is already running tourist ads on TV to come to Utah to ski. I've never seen these ads before, and it looks like a clear attempt to pre-empt any boycott.
Webster
· 1 year ago
By the way, excellent response to the Mormon talking-points:
Cinemark is also planning on showing "Milk" later this year ... I see boycotts galore.
lynne
· 1 year ago
OooOOHhooo...the only MA theatre's in Hadley, MA, which is right outside college-town exceedingly-gay-friendly North Hampton. Kids going to UMass-Amherst live in Hadley, there's a lot of affordable rentals there.
Someone ought to reach out to the gay-rights groups at UMass-A and get them to spread the word. I'm certain that UMass students, and the gay-friendly inhabitants of the area, would NOT like to patronize such a theatre (even if it might possibly be the ONLY one in the area - hey, it's central MA, it's the freakin' boonies...but I'm sure the students will find other places to entertain themselves).
Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas
· 1 year ago
I know a buddy of Redford's and we've written quite a nasty letter to him. I don't think he runs Sundance anymore but we told him to get the letter into the right hands. MANY gay indy films went through Sundance. Without us, the festival will die. Good.
ShirleyGoodnessanMercy
· 1 year ago
When is this event?? Is there time to change venues??
I would NEVER set foot into that theatre, or into ANY fucking anti-gay Marriott.
I still say Sundance needs to move to Connecticut... make it a Connecticut Renaissance to thank them for gay marriage there.
gwyneth
· 1 year ago
Okay, I don't think that Sundance would willingly or knowingly do such a thing as deplorable as supporting bigotry, so has anyone got in touch with the right people to see if they would be willing to dump their contract with Cinemark?
All Comments
Shame.
It seems very quesionable that all of a sudden Mormon churches are being vandalized, historic buildings torched and suspicious mail delivered to temples. It smells of hate crimes. Next will it be another extermination edict? So who really are the bigots? Freedom of religion is guaranteed under the constitution. I'm sure Mr.Aravosis would like to repeal that to justify his support for the promiscuous lifestyles to ease his guilt. Being straight is great.
"So who really are the bigots?"
Your ilk. The ones who enshrine bigotry in law. By definition.
I rest my case! It makes me laugh.
I never said it was the alternate lifestyle who did the vandalism, only that it sure is suspicious. And I can put you at rest that Mormons did not inflict damage on their own churches. That is ludicrous as is all of the other nonsense being laid out as fact. Go check your references.
Unless you have super natural powers how else would you know that they in fact did not inflict damage on their own church's? Sounds Mormon all the way!! Lying for the Lord!
You'd think these churches would advocate for one divorce in your life, and after that, you can't ever get married again.
I'll bet dollars to donuts that the white powder and much of what is described as "vandalism" has been done by their own people. The Mormons and the rest of the Right Wing love to terrorize others and then claim they themselves are the victims of terrorism. They are already are using these few threadbare examples as "proof."
Since not one person has been caught vandalizing a church, I can only suspect its because the church and the vandalizer are both on the same team.
PS: freedom of religion means freedom FROM mormonism. so get the fuck out of my life, asswipe.
now back to your regular programming.
So yes, you're correct, it has been tried before. Oh and one more point. The fact that you guys are now monitoring our comments thread proves just how much all of this doesn't concern you.
Oh, and speaking of promiscuous lifestyles, last time I checked, my religion wasn't the one that said Jesus had 3 wives, one of whom was his own mother. That gives you polygamy and incest. And my religion isn't the one that says that polygamy is okay in the after-life.
Freedom of Religion is guaranteed, but so is equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. They are getting blowback from going after a group in the largest state in the union, who are not a small economic force.. It is not about marriage but of discrimination.
As for your misguided attempt at deflecting bigotry and responsibility, one needs only to remind you that it wasn't the gays who put a constitutional amendment on the ballot removing the rights of the Mormons. It was the other way around. And frankly, you anti-American, tyranny-driven bigots don't respect the freedom of religion of churches which DO marry gay couples, as if that makes any difference anyway. The Constitution is not a rubber stamp for the Mormon Church - and Utah had no business sticking it's nose in the affairs of other states.
Don't be such a drama queen. After all, no one took the right of marriage away from the Mormons, did they?
But, hey the Supreme Court will have the final say. Oh and by the way, I'm straight and I don't support bigotry. Also, a lot of people are supporting because of the principle of seperation of church and state (also in the Constitution).
Stop trying to be the victims, it doesn't matter how many rocks you throw through your own windows so that you can claim "hate crimes" against yourselves (which is what I suspect - from such a dishonest organization who would believe anything they have to say?) This is the backlash you get when your church decides to be a politcal action committee. Deal with it!
"I'm sure the Sundance folks are nice liberal people. But the problem with having a film festival in Utah is that anyone who attends will be helping to finance the repeal of their own civil rights."
That is bullshit, John, and I know what you are trying to aim at, you don't give a shit about Cinemark, you are trying to aim for a boycott of Sundance, and you are going to use every arrow possible to make it happened. Which is stupid, dumb and reckless...
Do you think the LDS likes Sundance?!?! unless there are movies about seer stones and jello, they think it is a festival of Sodom...
Once again, Utah is not the LDS Church, Summit County is the not exactly LDS friendly, Park City is better off being an ally in this fight than being painted as an enemy... If Robert Redford donated to Yes on Prop 8, or some of the committee members gave large sums, then a boycott is legitimate, because you have rage to anything that is linked to the LDS Church, you are getting reckless and stupid.
Sundance will probably change cinemas that are Cinemark free, there are a couple in Park City, it is no big deal, but to boycott a festival and a town that is pretty liberal in a pretty conservative state is just stupid.
John, you are really tearing apart my arguments not to boycott Sundance.
If one wants to really hit at Cinemark, go after Fandango and the Entertainment Industry to stop distributing films to Cinemark.
I don't think it's appropriate AT ALL that Cinemark should make money from showing a movie about one of the biggest gay icons; one who fought against another hateful anti-gay proposition here in California 30 years ago and won.
Please boycott.
There are a few ex-mormon activist groups that make this one of their central points in opposition to the church. The upper level people in the hierarchy are explicitly taught that lying in certain cases is forgiven and outright expected by their gods in the fight for the church.
Go check out some of the ex-mormon vids on youtube. They explain it a lot better than I can. Oh, and I still have that Obama robocall saved on my voicemail. When I need a little motivation now, all I have to do is listen to it and I'm fired up again.
Here we go:
"Lying for the Lord refers to the practice of lying to protect the image of and belief in the Mormon religion, a practice which Mormonism itself fosters in various ways. From Joseph Smith's denial of having more than one wife, to polygamous Mormon missionaries telling European investigators that reports about polygamy in Utah were lies put out by "anti-Mormons" and disgruntled ex-members, to Gordon B. Hinckley's dishonest equivocation on national television over Mormon doctrine, Mormonism's history seems replete with examples of lying. Common members see such examples as situations where lying is justified. For the Mormon, loyalty and the welfare of the church are more important than the principle of honesty, and plausible denials and deception by omission are warranted by an opportunity to have the Mormon organization seen in the best possible light. This is part of the larger package of things that lead many to describe Mormonism as a cult. "Lying for the lord" is part of Mormonism's larger deceptive mainstreaming tactics, and conversion numbers would drastically lower if important Mormon beliefs were fully disclosed to investigators."
I live in Salt Lake City and can tell you the Mormons are even weirder than most Americans know; I think there is "a price to be paid" for forgetting what the Constitution is all about. If boycotting Utah hurts me financially, I say go ahead, I accept it whole-heartily. There is another big Mormon movie complex person here named "Larry H. Miller". When Brokeback Mountain was set to play at one of his theatres, he pulled it at the last minute.
We had over 2000 people show up ( with less than 24hr notice) and protest around the Mormon Temple Square last Friday the 7th. There will be another protest at City Hall this Saturday the 15th. Go to this link to see more about the protest in your city: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/
We are dismayed to see that Milk will be showing at an Cinemark-owned theater in SF. The CEO of Cinemark donated nearly $10,000 to proposition 8 here, to remove our right to marry. We will be boycotting all Cinemark theaters nationwide. Can you please find another theater chain for Milk?
Thanks.
email address: press@filminfocus.com
I was planning on seeing Milk at The Castro anyways but still. That would be so insulting to have Cinemark theaters making money off Harvey's story.
We have to keep reminding people constantly that actions have consequences and we must be tireless in the pursuit of justice.
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/digby/39886484...
Enjoy.
I read it and can follow what he is saying, basically that the repugs/neocons will focus all their hatred at the gays because, well.. they can get away with calling gays all sorts of derogatory names which they can no longer do with blacks (they would if they thought they could get away with it).
There are a lot of other film festivals to go to. The Toronto Film Festival comes to mind.
Deer Park - Century 16 Deer Park
http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/index.php?p=122
None of these people will be getting any of my hard earned money.
http://www.answers.com/topic/regal-entertainmen...
Although he may not be the CEO you can see that he still owns about half of Regal and controls 78% of the voting power.
I can find other places to go to the movies.
That first article did make an excellent point about profits though. Most of the ticket price goes to the studio and the theater chains make most of their money from concessions. If you have no choice and must see your movie, why not take your own food and drink? It's easy to them sneak in (and a hell of a lot cheaper).
I have no issues with Sundance as a company, only with supporting their festival in Utah. Utah, Morman owned or benefited businesses and other groups and businesses who contribued to the Yes on 8 or other anti-gay groups are my focus. I simply will not support them with my dollars and I will encourage my friends and family to do the same.
Go and see Milk - I saw it last night at a screening and it is wonderful! It should have been released before the votes on November 4th. See it twice...or three times and then buy the DVD when it comes out. We need to support the studio for making a film about such an important part of history. Just don't go to Regal or Cinemark to see it!
They've had a couple screenings of Milk at the Castro already but it was next to impossible to get tickets. I'll see it there when it opens later in the month though. How awesome is it that instead of watching advertisements on the screen before movies, you get a performance from an organist playing the mighty Wurlitzer organ that rises out of the stage? Hell, this weekend they're playing the latest Warren Miller film to get everybody all stoked up for skiing and boarding, then next week Tony Curtis will be there to speak at a screening of Some Like It Hot. I mean damn, neighborhood movie houses don't get much better than that.
The Wurlizter, that fantastic ceiling and vintage decor just add to the experience. I saw Peaches Christ for "Midnight Mass" there a couple of years ago before a screening of Young Frankenstein. We just missed Kathy Griffin last year.
Everyone should have a neighborhood theater like that!
I'm glowing a hot, neon green with envy right now! :)
This is the same with the AIG junkets. We just tried to cancel our xmas party, but the contract lets them keep a huge deposit and says we have to pay the minimum of the contract anyway. So we might as well go since we are out the money anyway.
Here's proof that Utah is already feeling the pressure -- Utah is already running tourist ads on TV to come to Utah to ski. I've never seen these ads before, and it looks like a clear attempt to pre-empt any boycott.
http://www.queerty.com/a-message-to-the-haters-...
Someone ought to reach out to the gay-rights groups at UMass-A and get them to spread the word. I'm certain that UMass students, and the gay-friendly inhabitants of the area, would NOT like to patronize such a theatre (even if it might possibly be the ONLY one in the area - hey, it's central MA, it's the freakin' boonies...but I'm sure the students will find other places to entertain themselves).
I would NEVER set foot into that theatre, or into ANY fucking anti-gay Marriott.
I still say Sundance needs to move to Connecticut... make it a Connecticut Renaissance to thank them for gay marriage there.