In case you missed it the first two times,
From Mission Impossible to Transformers, the U.S. military’s vast expertise and array of equipment are part and parcel of the moviegoing experience. The partnership between the Department of Defense (DOD) and Hollywood started decades ago and continues to benefit both parties as well as millions of moviegoers. If Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) gets his way, the DOD – and other federal agencies – will face great difficulty advising filmmakers and renting out their buildings and equipment to creators trying to accurately depict the armed forces. Sen. Cruz’s proposed “Stopping Censorship, Restoring Integrity, Protecting Talkies” (SCRIPT) Act would bar studios from filming on bases and using equipment such as fighter jets if the studio in question edited any other film or show for screening in China. This all or nothing mandate would wreak havoc on film production, deprive the U.S. armed forces of a free, valuable recruiting tool, and bolster bureaucracy at the expense of freedom of expression. The only thing that “talkies” need protection from is overzealous legislators and regulators.
Even to a film or television buff, the extent to which the U.S. government lends a helping hand in production can be surprising. Pentagon assistance for shows such as “NCIS” or “Hawaii 5-0” makes sense, but taxpayer-funded equipment also shows up on fan-favorites like “Jeopardy” and “The Price is Right.” Far from subsidizing these endeavors, taxpayers benefit on net from, say, a pivotal scene of a movie taking place at Fort Meade or the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House. The General Services Administration notes, “Filming and other special event space rentals help support federal preservation goals by generating revenue to keep historic federal buildings occupied, in good repair, and economically viable while contributing to their use and enjoyment by the public. Location fees support the care of this magnificent inventory of historic courthouses, custom houses, and federal buildings…” Meanwhile, film directors win by giving their works a veneer of legitimacy and credibility using locations and equipment that they otherwise would have to spend millions of dollars building.
From Mission Impossible to Transformers, the U.S. military’s vast expertise and array of equipment are part and parcel of the moviegoing experience. The partnership between the Department of Defense (DOD) and Hollywood started decades ago and continues to benefit both parties as well as millions of moviegoers. If Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) gets his way, the DOD – and other federal agencies – will face great difficulty advising filmmakers and renting out their buildings and equipment to creators trying to accurately depict the armed forces. Sen. Cruz’s proposed “Stopping Censorship, Restoring Integrity, Protecting Talkies” (SCRIPT) Act would bar studios from filming on bases and using equipment such as fighter jets if the studio in question edited any other film or show for screening in China. This all or nothing mandate would wreak havoc on film production, deprive the U.S. armed forces of a free, valuable recruiting tool, and bolster bureaucracy at the expense of freedom of expression. The only thing that “talkies” need protection from is overzealous legislators and regulators.
Even to a film or television buff, the extent to which the U.S. government lends a helping hand in production can be surprising. Pentagon assistance for shows such as “NCIS” or “Hawaii 5-0” makes sense, but taxpayer-funded equipment also shows up on fan-favorites like “Jeopardy” and “The Price is Right.” Far from subsidizing these endeavors, taxpayers benefit on net from, say, a pivotal scene of a movie taking place at Fort Meade or the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House. The General Services Administration notes, “Filming and other special event space rentals help support federal preservation goals by generating revenue to keep historic federal buildings occupied, in good repair, and economically viable while contributing to their use and enjoyment by the public. Location fees support the care of this magnificent inventory of historic courthouses, custom houses, and federal buildings…” Meanwhile, film directors win by giving their works a veneer of legitimacy and credibility using locations and equipment that they otherwise would have to spend millions of dollars building.
What was that?