OPINION:
In 1947, one of the most shameful chapters in Hollywood history, if not American public discourse occurred. After days of public testimony before Congress, ultimately more than 300 artists including the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Dalton Trumbo, Paul Robeson and Orson Welles were boycotted by the Hollywood studios because of alleged ties to communism. They were blacklisted for their beliefs. Some went years without work; some were forced to move overseas; some wrote surreptitiously under assumed names. Now, Hollywood honors them as martyrs and decries the censorship that they faced. It makes films about their stories and sponsors festivals in their names.
How ironic then, that some of the same forces who so eloquently denounce the blacklisting of Hollywood artists in the 1940s seem so eager to boycott any voices with which they disagree today.
We’re the team behind “Unplanned” — a feature film that tells the true story of Abby Johnson — a young woman who rose through the ranks of Planned Parenthood to become its youngest clinic director. She was passionately pro-choice; she oversaw more than 22,000 abortions; she was named Planned Parenthood Employee of the Year; she eagerly encouraged women to explore their reproductive rights — until one day when she saw something that changed everything. Our film depicts Abby’s story and her battle with Planned Parenthood — and with her own conscience. It opens on more than 800 screens on March 29..
Like all independent filmmakers, we faced various financing challenges, but we expected those challenges and prevailed. What we didn’t expect, however, were the roadblocks that some in Hollywood have erected simply because they disagree with the film’s message. Music publishers who routinely license their songs for use in all sorts of mediums, denied permission to use their music in this powerful film about one woman’s struggle. The MPAA which routinely grants PG or PG13 ratings to films with gratuitous violence and profanity, unexpectedly bestowed an R rating on our film because it objected to the depiction of blood in an abortion scene. Now, prominent TV networks, including The Hallmark Channel, Up TV, Lifetime and the Lifetime Movie Network are refusing to accept paid advertising spots on the public airwaves.
We have no choice but to ask, why are billion dollar media conglomerates afraid of a comparatively small budget film? After all, if you don’t like the ads, turn the channel; if you disagree with the subject matter, don’t see the film; if you’re unimpressed with the artistic value, pen an unfavorable review; if you think the film is incorrect, then craft your own opposing film. Shouldn’t that be the lesson that we’ve learned from the 1940s?
A recent Marist poll found that the country is evenly split on the issue of abortion at 47 percent to 47 percent, with 6 percent undecided. Clearly, abortion is an issue of broad public interest and has been for decades. Yet many of the loudest voices who demand that the “fairness doctrine” be imposed on broadcasters now eagerly deny 30-second advertising spots on public airwaves to messages with which they disagree. And the same commentators who readily criticize the influence of organizations like the NRA, seem all too happy to run interference for Planned Parenthood. Why?
If people on the left are truly outraged by the boycotts of the 1940s, why are they employing many of the same tactics now? If they’re confident of their pro-choice views, why are they afraid to let people see Abby’s story? If they truly value artistic expression and the free exchange of ideas, isn’t it time they let the people decide? We’re not afraid of the fight. Why are they?
• Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman co-wrote and co-directed “Unplanned,” a feature film that follows one woman’s journey from pro-choice advocate to abortion critic. Steven Katz contributed to this piece.
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