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Author Topic: _The Da Vinci Code_ protest letter Justin Gorka Expert Film Handler Posts: 174 From: High Wycombe, England Registered: Apr 2006 posted 05-19-2006 01:15 PM                     God, (no pun intended) the interlock leader's just been dusted off (not literally, it kept in a hermatically sealed container and dowsed with holy water......)  |  IP: Logged Ron Keillor Expert Film Handler Posts: 166 From: Vancouver, B.C. Canada Registered: Jul 2003 posted 05-19-2006 09:42 PM                     Christian ad about Code gets pulled Theatre chain drops spot that was to appear before film Brian Hutchinson National Post Friday, May 19, 2006 VANCOUVER - A movie house commercial that encourages churchgoers to see and discuss Hollywood thriller The Da Vinci Code has been dropped by Canada's largest cinema chain, which said the ad was part of a religious campaign to "stalk" unsuspecting film patrons. The 10-second spot was produced by evangelical Christians and was to be shown for the next month inside 65 Cineplex cinemas in Ontario and Western Canada. The ad directs people to a Christian Web site devoted to the controversial film, which opens across North America today. Cineplex Entertainment LP is promoting the movie heavily; however, on Wednesday, the company abruptly cancelled its $63,000 advertising deal with Campus Crusade for Christ Canada, a B.C.-based affiliate of the world's largest evangelical Christian organization, CCC International. The decision was announced after a story about the Campus Crusade ad appeared this week in the Toronto Star. In addition to producing the ad, the Star reported, Campus Crusade had "mobilized a small army of volunteers from Toronto to Vancouver willing to stalk moviegoers in the line outside cinemas" and to press upon them "biblical tracts," debunking contentious claims about Jesus Christ said to be in the movie treatment of The Da Vinci Code. Cineplex made direct reference to the Star article in an e-mail to Campus Crusade yesterday. "With the knowledge that this organization plans to 'stalk' our moviegoers outside of our theatres handing out unapproved material concerning a film we are presenting, we cannot lend support to this activity by running this campaign," wrote Cineplex ad saleswoman Diane Rajh. Campus Crusade's marketing director was flabbergasted when he read the Cineplex e-mail. "We never planned to stalk anybody," Braden Douglas said yesterday. "As I told the Toronto Star reporter, rather than throw up walls, we want to encourage people to see the film and to discuss it." Campus Crusade distributed cards and brochures that promote its Da Vinci Code Web site; the material reached as many as 30,000 individuals and churches across Canada. While the brochures contain a brief gospel message at the bottom, "they are not what most people would consider as biblical tracts," Mr. Douglas noted. "Ten students in Montreal said they might go out to a few theatres and hand out the material," he added. "A handful of students in Calgary said they might as well. This is not some massive army we have assembled." Reached at her office in Toronto, Cineplex spokeswoman Pat Marshall said it was not, in fact, her company's view that Campus Crusade planned to harass moviegoers. The e-mail that Cineplex sent to the organization was a "mistake." Ms. Rajh, she added, "is misinformed." Cineplex's decision to drop the brief spot was made because the company "does not show any religious advertising at all," Ms. Marshall explained, even if it promotes a film the company is showing in its theatres. The contract with Campus Crusade was made in error. "It slipped though the cracks." But Campus Crusade officials note that their ad made no reference to religion at all; rather, it showed an image of Leonardo's famous painting, the Mona Lisa, and a tag line that read, "Seek the Truth." The ad then revealed the address to a Web site operated by Campus Crusade, where people can discuss The Da Vinci Code and read Christian perspectives about the film. That argument did not sway Ms. Marshall. Even if the ad was not overtly religious, "it was made by a religious organization. And we don't accept advertising from any religious group." Famous Players, a Canadian cinema chain bought out by Cineplex last year, accepted advertising from Campus Crusade when it screened The Passion of the Christ two years ago. The movie went on to become one of the highest-grossing films ever. bhutchinson@nationalpost.com © National Post 2006  |  IP: Logged Michael Gonzalez Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 790 From: Grand Island , NE USA Registered: Sep 2000 posted 05-20-2006 12:42 PM                     Considering that there was probably a signficant amount of money spent to produce the ads, I am willing to bet that there will be somekind of lawsuit coming. No protest at my location (being a mall location), however, a couple of church groups bought up some tickets for different shows. Hopefully it will be all for naught, but I am a bit concerned about somekind of demonstration happening in the auditorum durning the middle of a showing. Just a bad feeling I have hopefully I am wrong about this.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-20-2006 01:47 PM                        I went out front today and asked the protesters if they work for the film company. They wondered why and I explained to them that they were bringing in more business to the theatre because of their antics. They were highly upset and said that was not their intention. I said "The best intentions......." and walked away. I think they left. I was having people ask for 'tickets to hell' because the protesters were telling my patrons they were going to hell for watching the movie. Wow - excitement! I love it!  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 05-20-2006 02:14 PM                  Dennis: Great post! Y'all think that film is worth protesting over? Yous ain't seen nothing yet! Just you wait when I release my next hardcore porno film currently in production: "Forbidden Love: Father Mayii and Pedro the Altar Boy".  |  IP: Logged Matthew Stevens Film Handler Posts: 37 From: Colorado Springs, Co Registered: Jan 2004 posted 05-24-2006 03:44 PM                        Protests means my theater makes money. When we had Brokeback Mountain, we had several people outside protesting, it only made more people come see it. And on the subject of phelphs (you know, god hates fags), I've had him in town several times. He's a lawyer and the majority of his family are lawyers, what he does is piss off enough people until they attack him, then he sues the attackers.  |  IP: Logged Chad Souder Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 962 From: Waterloo, IA, USA Registered: Feb 2000 posted 05-24-2006 09:00 PM                     quote: Dennis Benjamin I went out front today and asked the protesters if they work for the film company. They wondered why and I explained to them that they were bringing in more business to the theatre because of their antics. You know, I have to respectfully disagree that protesting this film will bring/has brought in more business. Hype was generated long before opening day as is the case with every movie that has a successful first weekend. People are not driving by and seeing protestors and saying, "Gee, look at those people with their signs and pamphlets. We should see that movie." This buzz was started months ago by the media and the bajillion people that enjoyed the book. If nobody would have showed up at any theatre anywhere in the nation to hand out literature like they did at my place, this movie would not have done a dime less opening weekend. I could maybe see a case being made for protesting increasing the business of a controversial movie that was not based on a huge best-seller and that did not star one of the hugest actors of our lifetime, but not Da Vinci.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-25-2006 06:17 AM                        Well, I have had what I would call 'less than educated' people approach me never even hearing of "Da Vinci" and saying that the only reason they are seeing the movie was all 'the hype' that they have witnessed in our small town. I was listening to the radio the other day and heard a religous type saying how disappointed he was in Christians who went out to see the film. He figured that since the film made all the money it did that a large majority of the audience was Christian. Gee - ya think?  |  IP: Logged

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