a new blacklist

[Dennis Perrin]

> THE backlash against prominent stars opposing any attack on Iraq has
> impacted on this year's Oscars, with organisers drawing up a blacklist of
> people who will not be allowed a platform to air anti-war views.
>
> Meryl Streep, Sean Penn, Vanessa Redgrave, George Clooney, Dustin Hoffman
> and Spike Lee are among those who will not be speaking, amid fears they
> could turn the ceremony into an anti-war rally.
>
> In a move denounced by some as a return to McCarthyism, star presenters
have
> been ordered to stick to scripts, while winners, who the producers have no
> control over, could find their acceptance speeches cut if they say
anything
> much more than a brief thank you.

First of all, it's highly unlikely that someone like Penn would have spoken
anyway, given his contempt for Hollywood. But "McCarthyism"? That's a slap
in the face to those whose careers were destroyed (or had to assume
different identities) in the 50s. Insisting that presenters stick to the
script, and that they'll be cut-off if they don't, is nothing new. The
Oscars do this every year to keep the broadcast around 3 hours.

That all said, it will be interesting to see if anyone does speak out.
Recall Redgrave's blast against "Zionist hoodlums" after she won Best
Supporting Actress for "Julia." Then screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky blasted
her for injecting politics in an awards show (which are very apolitical, as
everyone knows). Those were the days.

DP