Posted on 05/07/2006 11:48:18 AM PDT by veronica
ONE OF Scotland's leading actresses has lashed out at Hollywood, demanding "more wise and courageous distributors" and "distributors with the kamikaze vision that spreads the broad and long view".
Tilda Swinton also took a fiercely political swipe at a "goose-stepping" Walt Disney, just months after she played a leading role in a highly successful Disney adaptation, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
The Nairn-based actress delivered her opinions at the State of Cinema address as part of the 49th San Francisco International Film Festival.
In America, where there has been a shift away from big studios towards independent film-makers, Swinton has forged a successful career in both areas.
But she said: "If I'm posting any wish to my personal Cinema Santa this year, it is for more and more wise and courageous distributors, with more and more big and small and beautiful cinemas. Distributors with the kamikaze vision that spreads the broad and long view."
Swinton also spoke out about the right-wing religious influence still dominant in the film industry.
She told the audience: "Last year, in the process of promoting two fantasy films for different Hollywood studios, I was advised on the proper protocol for talking about religion in America today.
"In brief, the directive was, hold your hands high where all can see them, step away from the vehicle and enunciate clearly, nothing to declare."
Swinton followed these statements with an attack on the politics of many powerful figures in the film industry.
Speaking about The Chronicles of Narnia, which in the run-up to its release was given a huge push by the Church, Swinton said: "I love the idea of goose-stepping old Walt D making over $700m with the help of a Red Witch. He is more than welcome.
"At least we made her whiter than white, the ultimate white supremacist, and we managed to railroad the knee-jerk attempt to make her look like an Arab."
Swinton, who was born into a Scottish military family in London, began her acting career at the Royal Shakespeare Company. In her formative years, she also worked with the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, before embarking on a career in film in the mid-1980s.
Early film work included several parts in the projects of director Derek Jarman, and also the title role in Orlando, Sally Potter's film version of the novel by Virginia Woolf.
In recent years, she has moved into more mainstream projects, appearing in Vanilla Sky with Tom Cruise, and The Beach, which also starred Leonardo DiCaprio.
Swinton also starred in Young Adam alongside Ewan McGregor.
In 2005, she starred as the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia, and had two other high-profile roles, as Penny in the Jim Jarmusch film Broken Flowers, and as Audrey Cobb in Mike Mills' film adaptation of the novel Thumbsucker.
Swinton, who lives in Nairn in the Highlands with her husband, artist and writer John Byrne, was unavailable for comment.
Yes, and she probably thinks she's being heroic by spouting this crap. Amazing.
She's obviously never met any Syrians.
Well, if she really wanted to protest the Narnia film, she should return the money she made from it.
More babble from a 3rd-rate entertainer..... what is it about these mindless celebrities that allows them to think making money in the movies (or music, etc.) suddenly makes you a sage of politics, economics, science, and history??? These celebrity bozos really need to be taken down a few notches, made to understand that just because you make your living reading the words of other people before a camera doesn't mean you know ANYTHING at all.
Like, suicide pilots are a good thing?
Swinton also spoke out about the right-wing religious influence still dominant in the film industry.
You know, these acting types really don't seem very intelligent. At the least, they live in a complete fantasy world that bears no relation to reality. Like Hollywood just loves traditional Christianity? Give me a break! Look how they treated Mel Gibson. Look how they're promoting the DaVinci Code.
FMCDH(BITS)
She played the White Witch....perfect type-casting obviously!
i thought she was really good as the white witch. but i have to agree with you that she appears in reeeely bad movies.
"Look into her resentful eyes. She would do a Lorena Bobbit on you if you got anywhere near her."
______________________________________________
i had a similar feeling. there is a reason she is so good as a creepy witch.
she could have a real future in vampire movies, or movies about deranged lunatic women who stalk and kill men.
Her husband is obviously NOT the comic book writer/artist John Byrne. He identifies himself as a moderate Republican. Well, Carville/Matlin happened, so it's possible, but this lady sounds a little too unhinged to even be around someone who might disagree with her.
No more Rachel Corrie pix, please.
Yup, not much in the way of acting needed.
"She bears an uncanny resemblance to Rachel Corrie... "
Except Rachel had eyebrows.
She's always been a champagne socialist.
The same John Byrne who used to write/draw comics for Marvel? Byrne, the Living Ego?
Or a lesbian serial killer, a prostitute who lures men to where she slip them a drug, and carve them at leisure
They get their asses kissed 24-7 by agents, assistants, and various other lackeys. They start to believe the BS.
I also didn't understand a word she said.
OTOH, in Narnia, I thought she did a fantastic job. She was really cold and evil.
I also didn't understand a word she said.
OTOH, in Narnia, I thought she did a fantastic job. She was really cold and evil.
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