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Pro-life movie ‘Unplanned’ is ‘effectively blocked’ in Canada, producer says
Christian Post ^ | 05/24/2019 | Michael Gryboski

Posted on 05/24/2019 9:11:27 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Major film distributors in Canada are refusing to distribute “Unplanned,” banning the pro-life movie from the country, according to the film’s producers.

Landmark and Cineplex, two of the largest film distributors in Canada, have no expressed plans to show the movie, which has grossed over $18 million at the box office in the United States since late March on a $6 Million Budget.

“We have been effectively blocked from distributing the film in Canada,” stated producer Lisa Wheeler at a press conference earlier this year, as reported by LifeSiteNews.

Chuck Konzelman, who wrote and directed the film, told LifeSiteNews in comments published Monday that the Cineplex rejection especially was damaging.

“In Canada, Cineplex basically has monopolistic power ... the National Post mentions them as controlling nearly 80 percent of all movie screens, and from our limited experience, they seem to have many of the most desirable locations, in and near the major metropolitan areas,” said Konzelman. “So rejection by Cineplex basically means we're not playing in Canada.”

The official “Unplanned” movie Twitter account noted in a post earlier this week that the de facto ban in Canada was part of a growing problem with international distribution, which they were seeking to fight.

“Canada banned #UnPlanned. Now other nations are moving towards rejecting the film. But in less than a month, you've donated over $30,000 to help #WhatAbbySaw reach the world. How long til we make it 1M, & can fund an unorthodox leap to the global audience?” tweeted the account.

Released through the Christian film company Pure Flix, “Unplanned” was based off of the real life experiences of Abby Johnson, a Planned Parenthood clinic worker turned pro-life activist.

“Unplanned” dealt with its share of issues with getting an audience, with alleged social media censorship, various TV stations refusing to run ads, and being given an R rating.

Despite this, for its opening weekend, “Unplanned” made approximately $6.1 million at the box office, which was double the expected ticket sales.

Deadline Hollywood labeled the success of the pro-life film “remarkable,” with Pure Flix CEO Michael Scott saying in a statement released earlier this year that he was “very happy for the success of this film.”

“To bring the story of Abby Johnson to audiences and have them show up in such large numbers shows how the topic of abortion is so important to bring to audiences,” stated Scott, as reported by The Wrap.

“We hope that those on both sides of the debate will see 'Unplanned' and begin to have their own dialogue. This film can be that spark to bring more hearts and minds to understanding the value of life."


TOPICS: Religion; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 4ththread; abortion; canada; movie; unplanned

1 posted on 05/24/2019 9:11:27 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
"Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen."
~Heinrich Heine~
1797-1856

"Where books are burned, people will burn."


2 posted on 05/24/2019 9:19:03 AM PDT by Savage Beast (Thank a Democrat as you flee for your life -- okie 54)
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To: SeekAndFind

wow- Canada is really on the warpath against Christianity!


3 posted on 05/24/2019 9:28:59 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: SeekAndFind

Private businesses that aren’t interested in distributing this movie. What’s the problem? I thought we were in favour of private businesses making their own business decisions here. Should they be forced to distribute it?


4 posted on 05/24/2019 11:02:28 AM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like tractor.)
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To: -YYZ-

Anyone ready to start “Radio Free Canada”?


5 posted on 05/24/2019 11:04:56 AM PDT by CondorFlight
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To: -YYZ-

“Private businesses that aren’t interested in distributing this movie. What’s the problem?”

Because they have a monopoly on the distribution of information.

Monopolies, in the fashion of Teddy Roosevelt, ought to be broken up.


6 posted on 05/24/2019 11:05:57 AM PDT by CondorFlight
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: Hot Tabasco

No, I’m applying a consistent standard. These Canadian businesses aren’t interested in distributing this film. End of story.

Also, right before this story claims that Cineplex is effectively a monopoly, it says that “Landmark and Cineplex” are the largest film distributors in Canada. So I guess Cineplex isn’t a monopoly?


8 posted on 05/24/2019 11:25:22 AM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like tractor.)
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To: Savage Beast

“Canada” didn’t ban anything. Two Canadian companies have declined to distribute the film. Maybe they just don’t think their customers (move theatres) would be interested in showing this film.


9 posted on 05/24/2019 11:27:47 AM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like tractor.)
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To: -YYZ-

Okay Okay Okay. I didn’t mean to malign Canada. I love Canada. Just an excuse to gripe.


10 posted on 05/24/2019 2:14:48 PM PDT by Savage Beast (When politicians start talking about public service, grab your wallet and hide!)
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To: Savage Beast

Fair enough.
I understand the concerns. It’s just that when someone says “Canada” did something, it’s implied that it’s the government doing it.


11 posted on 05/24/2019 2:52:05 PM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like tractor.)
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To: -YYZ-

Speaking to your general premise, which applies primarily to the United States, not Canada, you are being disingenuous and are mistaken:

1. In the USA, these businesses are not private companies; they are publicly-traded corporations, regulated by the SEC. You, like so many, conflate operating in the private sector with being a private company. IPO = Initial Public Offering. (I dare you to tell the SEC these are private companies, and that the SEC has no authority over them. I dare you!)

2. The FTC and FCC also have regulatory power over such businesses.

3. In the case of social media corporations, they are specifically regulated by the CDA Section 230.

None of the Federal agencies are enforcing their powers over these corporations, which are committing corporate malfeasance (shareholder stock value loss due to politically-motivated decisions and scandals) and consumer fraud (selective and deceptive application of the terms of service, a legal contract, upon customers based upon their socio-political speech) - but those regulations are nevertheless on the books.

Reigning in these growing monopolies and oligopolies does not even require invoking anti-trust regulations; it only requires applying the laws as written. But the Deep State and the UniParty want conservatives and Christians deplatformed.

We do not have a free market; we have a massively-regulated market - but the largest and wealthiest corporations have the money and power to game and bribe the system to their extreme advantage.

When (If) we have a truly free market, devoid of thousands of regulations that stifle the truly private companies, preventing them from being competitive, then you will have a valid point. As it is, you are just another pseudo-libertarian spouting shallow sophistry.

If you are so enamored of having powerful businesses destroy the freedoms of private citizens, then lobby to have these regulations revoked - and these regulatory bodies dissolved.


12 posted on 05/24/2019 4:50:33 PM PDT by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - J. R. R. Tolkien)
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To: -YYZ-

You’re right to object. Truth is our greatest ally. We need to stick to it.


13 posted on 05/24/2019 5:12:03 PM PDT by Savage Beast (When politicians start talking about public service, grab your wallet and hide!)
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