It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
The Canadian government bans lots of stuff, including press coverage of trials. The problem there is that Canadian law doesn’t apply to the US. Hence the debacle last year where an American blogger reported on testimony in a corruption inquiry that was officially banned from publication in Canada.
Where’s Chucky in Jersey to rail against actual censorship?
The blog name “Gomarrahy” is named after Judge Gomery who was conducting the inquiry into the scandal that led to the fall of the Liberal Party of Canada government last February.
The blog that broke much of the testimony Captain’s Quarters, was credited for helping make the info known to the public. It was then later reported on many other Canadian blogs, some of whom were then threatened by the courts.
Much of the censorship in Canada comes under different forms. In the nineties both Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh ran into so many troubles with ‘hate crimes’ laws complaints that their respective shows (tv for Limbaugh in this case) were pulled off of the air.
Also, unlike the States, in many cases only one or two compliants from special interest groups that qualify will have a show pulled from the air.
That’s part of the reason why so much of the talk of people moving to Canada after the 04 election for ‘freedom’ was such a joke.
Canada is no bastion of free speech.
Even more recently (past 2 years) concerts by muscial artists such as Eminem and 50 cent were threatened with potential lockdown by different Liberal government MP’s trying to gain political clout with different factions in Toronto.
Eminem was claimed to be misogynist and 50 Cent contributing to the rash of gang violence in Toronto.
Nothing ultimately happened, but the threats were made.
“Canada is no bastion of free speech.”
That’s not a surprise, as they have nothing like the First Amendment.
They also tried something like that publication ban during the Bernardo-Homolka trial in the early ’90s. American news outlets did report on the trial, but dissemination in Canada was much harder, and the ban more effective, without the Web to make it unenforceable.
I missed the connection between Gomery and Gomorrahy. Good call.
I’ve never understood why there is such a big issue over pubication bans on trials UNTIL trials are over in Canada. It’s just a different kind of court system. Read about it here:
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/PrinterFriendly.cfm?Params=A1ARTA0010813
Moving on, Eminem and 50 Cent can play anywhere in Canada. “ultimately nothing happened” because it was indeed political grandstanding. I’m sure Tipper Gore wouldn’t want Em or Fiddy playing in her backyard either. But will she be able to stop them? No.
“Also, unlike the States, in many cases only one or two compliants from special interest groups that qualify will have a show pulled from the air.” I don’t believe that’s true either. You don’t think Jerry Falwell’s special interest group, or other s.i.g.’s, don’t wield a lot of power that can affect a tv show’s fate? Of course they do. I know they wouldn’t have let CTV air The Sopranos uncensored in primetime.
And with all the millions of dollars in fines Howard Stern’s free-radio stations in the U.S. had to pay for Howard’s “freedom of speech,” where did Howard go? Well, he’s on American satellite pay-radio now. Uncensored. ALSO uncensored on Canadian satellite radio too (sirius).
If you’d you like to test the American first amendment, Blackcloud, you could always stand next to where the twin towers used to be in New York, and yell out “Allah Akhbar! Allah Akhbar!” and see what happens. I know with the “Patriot Act” the American gov’t can do pretty much what it wants to do to anyone, so I’d be curious to find out what would happen to you. Honestly, you should film it… this would be a great documentary… get Michael Moore!
And I’ll just finish by saying that the U.S. and Canada are equally great countries with varying “levels of freedom” in different areas, so I’m not accused of being anti-u.s..
Sky Captain,
I am not saying a large group who follow someone like Falwell cannot sway programming. In really large numbers they can in America (as can gay activists, feminists or other minorities).
But that is the power of persuasion and may piss off a lot of people but it is not censorship per se.
In Canada, I’m talking one or two people complaining Rush Limbaugh is racist or Howard Stern is a misogynist and then the broadcaster pulling it for fear of being cited under Canada’s very liberally interpreted hate crimes laws.
Very different standard.
Also, Stern went to Sirius as a career move because he thought digital was the way of the future. He was motivated by money and it bit him in the ass.
He was not forced onto Sirius.
Also yelling ‘Allah Ahkbar’ in front of the twin towers site is not a test of free speech. It is a college prank done by someone who mocks true free speech.
Stern went to Sirius for two reasons: what Nicol says up above and because he was tired of dealing with the FCC.
Nicol, if a devout Muslim wanted to go to the WTC site and pray for the dead, they would probably say some variation of Allah Akhbar…except they wouldn’t because I doubt a lot of devout Muslims hang out down there.
Jeff,
Please. The example, given the context did not paint a picture of a devout Muslim.
If it were, I am sure there would not be a problem.
The problem would be if they did it at a public school.
Nicol, are you a judge? Are you qualified to determine the difference between a ‘college prank’ and a serious prayer? Obviously this is all theoretical, but I wouldn’t be so quick to jump to a conclusion.
You know as well as I do that school prayer is limited in schools because of fears of the tyranny of the majority and the establishment clause.
David. Thanks for the kind words for Twitch (I am one of the contributers there, and have been reading your since you started The Hot Button, way back during the TNT Rough Cut days…
And it is a strange co-incidence that I was meaning to email you to add Twitchfilm.net to the Movie City News side-link bar with the News links.
Thanks,
Kurt
http://www.twitchfilm.net
David. Thanks for the kind words for Twitch (I am one of the contributers there, and have been reading your since you started The Hot Button, way back during the TNT Rough Cut days…
And it is a strange co-incidence that I was meaning to email you to add Twitchfilm.net to the Movie City News side-link bar with the News links.
Thanks,
KuRt.
Nicol: The election that toppled the federal Liberals was in January.
Apart from that it’s always good to see a crooked government brought down. Wish the US press would do the same.
The Gomorrahy link leads to the message “This Account Has Been Suspended.” The exposers of censorship have been censored.
“Apart from that it’s always good to see a crooked government brought down. Wish the US press would do the same.”
I could have sworn it was the Canadian people who did that, not the press. I must have missed it.