Hollywood hypocrisy: when it's THEIR pocketbook, suddenly they aren't liberal

AP via Yahoo News ^ | 2/23/04 | David Germain

[Wolfstar]

An AP article on Yahoo News this morning ended with the following paragraphs, including a quote from big-time Leftist, Tim Robbins. As these statements indicate, the hypocrisy of the Hollywood Left is truly remarkable. [BEGIN EXCERPT]

Some winners used the guild awards to make a plug for union solidarity and to encourage studios and producers to curtail so-called "runaway production" — a trend toward shooting in Canada, Mexico, Eastern Europe and other locations to take advantage of tax breaks or lower labor costs.

U.S.-based actors and crew members say production elsewhere has cost them work.

"I'd like to encourage all the power that's in this room to try to bring back some of those productions into the United States of America," [Tim] Robbins said.

[Wolfstar]

The ironic thing is that what this article characterizes as "runaway production" gathered steam while Gray Davis was governor, and California's legislature turned ever more Marxist with generous help from the Hollywood Left. Policies the legislature passed and Davis signed into law are driving business — including movie production — out of the state. Yet the Hollywood Left still doesn't get it.

[per loin]

Does not Robbins understand that cheap crap can be produced anywhere?

[pogo101]

Bingo bingo.

And what the lefty Hollywood types propose, as a government solution, is subsidies and targeted tax cuts JUST for film/TV production.

See how that works? The state hikes taxes and regulations on EVERYONE, then "lowers the bar" JUST for TV/film productions. THOSE qualify for special treatment. The family-run muffler shop down the street? They can get bent, of course. (Or move to Nevada, if they're sensible.)

[2banana]

SOMEBODY - post the story of where Robert Redford ia all for protecting and saving land EXCEPT when it is his land - then he wants to do with it as he pleases...

[tuckrdout]

Stupid Tim needs to understand that it is the 'runaway' costs that companies have to bear, imposed on them by the mobsters in the unions, and the taxes and regulations imposed by Democrats--that drives the companies to move where they can make a profit! That is what business is all about...making a profit. Just like Tim does when he gets a very unreasonable salary for what he does...

I believe that we should pass a new law, which taxes ENTERTAINERS for any money that they make over $50,000 a year. All other monies will be given to the government in a "Robin Hood" tax. This would address their oft voiced concern that the rich don't have enough taxes. Take from the rich entertainers, and give to the poor. Then, we could have universal health care, and excellent education for ALL children, not just the entertainers children.

[sheik yerbouty]

SAG, for all practical purposes, refused to pressure Gov. Gumby, lest they upset the PC apparatchiks.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Please FReepmail me if you want on/off this ping list.

[Imal]

Who knows? Maybe whining about it might actually work.

[lelio]

I was waiting for someone in Hollywood to comment that they can't really be mad about offshoring practices when they themselves practice it.

However a lot of it isn't just about cheaper labor costs. Part of it is that as a director you want to get as far away from the people paying for the film as possible. Would you want someone standing over your shoulder asking if every shot can be done in a cheaper fashion?

What I think WA state government should do is push for us to be a "film production free trade zone" and see how much business that brings into the state. We have urban settings, country life, and I swear the first time I went out to eastern WA I thought I was in the hills of Afghanistan.

Heck with the number of serial killers from this area we could support an entire industry of just serial killer films.

[jpsb]

Hollywood in not immune to outsourcing, and their are lot's of english speaking low wage workers in India that will be more then happy to get the work. I'll bet their are very talented screen writers, editors, etc. Just email them the requirements and let them have at it.

[GOPJ]

Hollywood and Kerry's wife do the offshore dance for profits. Will some liberal media "investigative" reporter discover this hypocrisy? Don't count on it.

I was waiting for someone in Hollywood to comment that they can't really be mad about offshoring practices when they themselves practice it.

[GOPJ]

Hollywood and Kerry's wife do the offshore dance for profits. Will some liberal media "investigative" reporter discover this hypocrisy? Don't count on it.

I was waiting for someone in Hollywood to comment that they can't really be mad about offshoring practices when they themselves practice it.

[cwb]

This is funny. For the last several years Hollywood has been "outsourcing" production to locales that are both cheaper and more receptive to studios requests, e.g....closing down a portion of a city or street to film a certain scene. Many movies (and series) are now being made in Canada (British Columbia) and even Europe.

While the A-name celebs still reap their rewards, when it comes to extras, catering, production, etc. these jobs are going to the indigenous population. When you throw in Reality TV, which rarley uses celebrities, the A and B crowd must be having fits.

[BurbankKarl]

What a crock. The Canadians were offering producers a huge kickbacks to locate productions in Toronto and Vancouver, B.C.

I believe the plunge in the dollar vs the Canadian dollar has discouraged some production up there.

SAG overspends so much money it is laughable.

[lilylangtree]

Whenever liberal leftists like Timbo Robbins and Susan Saranwrap talk, I tune them out. Their very presence is a turnoff.

[freekitty]

The neat thing is none of these people or movies is going to have the impact that "The Passion" probably will.