‘Tropic Thunder’ meeting called productive; Talks ongoing
August 7th, 2008
Earlier post here: Disability rights group prepares for boycott, protests
A meeting yesterday between representatives of DreamWorks Pictures and those of national disability rights organizations ended on a positive note, with plans for advocates to screen “Tropic Thunder” and reconvene with studio executives by phone within the next few days.
“We all walked away feeling that it was a very productive meeting,” said Chip Sullivan, head of publicity for DreamWorks .
DreamWorks chief executive Stacey Snider was among those attending the meeting, which was convened in response to concerns from disability rights groups over the prominent use of the word “retard” in the film’s marketing materials and script. Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver also weighed in by telephone.
Participants reportedly discussed a wide range of possible actions that the studio might consider taking in response to those concerns, many of which were listed here.
Earlier this week, the studio pulled an elaborate marketing website called simplejackmovie.com, in what Variety described as a “preemptive” response to the criticism.
The R-rated film itself still reportedly includes many repetitions of the word “retard,” as well as a scene that ends with one actor character (Robert Downey Jr.) advising another (Ben Stiller) to “never go full retard.” Stiller’s character of Simple Jack in a movie within the movie (above, in a DreamWorks promotional image) was described in marketing materials as a “retard.”
Also earlier this week, national disability rights advocacy organization The Arc of the United States advised its state and chapter leaders to prepare for “massive” action, including boycotts and protests against the studio depending on the resolution of the dispute.
The film premieres next Monday, August 11, in Westwood, California, at the Village and Bruin theaters. Expected on the red carpet are actors Stiller, Downey, and Jack Black.
(DreamWorks promotional image)
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August 13th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
It is a joke. The punchline is that Hollywood doesn’t care about RETARDED people. I find this very offensive.
Instead of looking to Hollywood to change something, people should instead hold people in their neighborhood accountable, and maybe Hollywood will make a movie about this. That is when Hollywood would get it, and stop using the word RETARDED in their films.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I have stated over on my website my agenda if you care to take a look. Very simply there are 65 million people in the US with a disability not counting Mom, Dad, brother and sister ect.
If we really are ready to make our point then we all just need to stay home that week. Not just from Tropic Thunder but from all movies and all movie theatres. We can yell and scream and yada yada but it’s the money folks. Hit them in thier bank account and the bank accounts of the theatres and their partners and then they will get it.
Just stay home!
August 8th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I have a new slang word for the English lexicon: stiller. As in “Don’t be a stiller” or “You’re acting like a stiller” or “Never go full stiller”.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:08 am
I, too, am wary about ‘productive’ meetings without outcomes. When the ‘product’ is more consideration — not a lot has been achieved. We set the bar way to low for ourselves as disability advocates. IMO we shy away from anger, when anger is called for — we hesitate to hold accountable, when accountability is clearly demanded. I was hoping for more, but expecting … well … this.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Not that we all need to follow and do the same thing, but…
Patricia: do you think we should all boycott this movie?
August 7th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
So Chip Sullivan felt good about it. That is not a surprise because it sounds like nothing happened. Can someone from the disability community comment more? Seems like they bought some time and thus lessened the amount of time the disability community has to react.
One idea might be to find out the other actors slated to attend the red carpet event and flood them with requests to withdraw their support.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
It’s good to hear that people get it.
And for those who think we should “just get over it”, I think not … The Lay Down and Take It strategy will
not improve anything for the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
August 7th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
It would be nice to know what was actually discussed. I would like to hear from someone who actually understands disability issues who has seen the entire movie.
I am really happy they pulled that website and just hope I don’t have to hear anything offensive in the ads. I sent an e-mail to family and friends addressing the “R” word — I hope that protects the kids at least a little bit from people repeating funny lines in their presence. I’m so nervous now about school starting up in September.