It is absolutely amazing to me the hurdles one can run into when simply trying to make a movie about racism. Let me one up that, to make a movie about racism and then promote that movie about racism as well.
I’ve seen some bull**** over the past 17 years since I started Hollywood 27, but it’s the things that have happened in 2014-15 that might have irritated me the most. Let’s get to it. Get your popcorn ready…
BANNED-by-CBS-Chicago
So first of all, this is definitely the roughest PYRITE trailer edit, for better or worse, although it may also be the moodiest. Cutting the content to 60 seconds flat for TV promotion took a bit of a toll, so you won’t hear me extolling the virtues of its content and how it should be played everywhere around the world. I get that, all good.
Quick FYI — the trailer uses the Phil Doyle song “Cornucopia Blues”, straight from the PYRITE soundtrack.
What irritated me to no end, however, was when we set up test ads to run late night on the big four major local networks affiliates in Chicago, where the film is based. We set up spots on ABC, NBC and FOX without issue, but then, lo and behold, the door was slammed in our faces… by CBS. Yes, we made a film about fighting racism IN Chicago, and CBS CHICAGO refused to air a 60-second piece promoting that fight.
Just to set the record straight, at the very bottom of this post I’ve pasted in CBS’s correspondence with the ad company we had running the ads. It’s copied directly from the actual email chain, verbatim, and is best read from the bottom of the quote to the top. Feel free to scroll down there now and read it through it if you’d like.
So as you can probably tell, CBS had no REAL reason for not running this ad. Instead, they left themselves wide open to accusations of racism, not the smartest move in the world in a city that’s already seen its fair share of racism in the first place.
Honestly, they are lucky as hell that I didn’t come after them straight away via the other networks and the rest of the press (that may still happen), but with a new nonprofit film company taking up 70 hours a week of my time, this just hasn’t been a priority.
Perhaps it should be, and it’s not at all like me to ever let this kind of thing go… but fighting with big bad CBS over a little film trailer, just not sure that’s the place to truly make a difference in the big picture. We have much bigger aspirations, especially when we start tackling racism over at Walk a Mile.
That said, if you’re reading this and feel like stirring the pot, then please, by all means, call me here at Hollywood 27 and let’s talk about how to do that.
Oh and by the way, there’s a Press Release on this as well, but the PR company refused to run the actual Press Release I wanted to run, because they said I needed to prove, via another media outlet, that CBS did indeed refuse to air the ads (despite my sending them the email chain you see below).
Well, here’s your proof, via another media outlet known as Hollywood 27. Since it’s about time for the NBA Playoffs to kick off, let me put it to you this way: BALL DON’T LIE.
Click here to subscribe to the Hollywood 27 YouTube channel
For much more information on this video, check it out on our YouTube channel by clicking the link below. Thanks for watching!
Movies About Racism PYRITE Fight the Power Trailer
Click here to see the PYRITE Trailers Playlist on YouTube, and please leave a comment to let us know which trailer is your favorite!
—–Original Message—–
From: Warber, Elizabeth [mailto:ew*****@cb*.com” data-original-string=”ApJE3f6PtaOi9J3qQr4Whw==1551DZv6Dv/pwHyY4VgVCmFUw==” title=”This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 3:26 PM
To: ‘Mitchell Gold’
Cc: Bluman, Eric S; Stephens, Michael B
Subject: RE: Pyrite View CopyHi Mitchell,
Unfortunately it’s out of my control at this point. It’s a decision made by
people well above my level.—–Original Message—–
From: Mitchell Gold [mailto:tr*****@na*************.com” data-original-string=”ppOmpmEp9nKM92CFXUAWjQ==155ZWQJEgY/ZkKS7ByGZFE8rMHmMoUsm2Y4ovbP6L6TFIE=” title=”This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 3:24 PM
To: Warber, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: Pyrite View CopyElizabeth,
I explained that this a trailer for an upcoming movie. My client is
Hollywood 27 a production company. What else does legal need to know. The
producers paid for the production and the advertising. MitchTrafficking Department
National TV Spots Inc.
PH: 949-218-3774
NTVS: 877-580-8100
Tr*****@Na*************.com
www.NationalTVSpots.com—–Original Message—–
From: Warber, Elizabeth [mailto:ew*****@cb*.com” data-original-string=”eBFdvOHPFh6LNJ0Awpzl1Q==155oWussWjbD4+XjPI2D8Q4FQ==” title=”This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 3:15 PM
To: ‘Mitchell Gold’
Cc: Bluman, Eric S; Stephens, Michael B
Subject: RE: Pyrite View CopyHi Mitchell,
This is why were are not going to accept the spot:
Legal is concerned that there’s no sponsor ID, so we have no idea who’s
paying for it. It’s not clear what the “product” is or what they’re
selling.—–Original Message—–
From: Mitchell Gold [mailto:tr*****@na*************.com” data-original-string=”ai2G0s7SnVJ8z9JYhHUniw==155QlJ88rkrp47zyvMYJKpWFXfBzsFEtrfg8q4ymsDhi9c=” title=”This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 3:03 PM
To: Warber, Elizabeth
Cc: ‘Kelly Bober’
Subject: RE: Pyrite View CopyElizabeth,
I need a more detailed explanation for my client as to exactly why ? ABC,
Fox and NBC all approved it in Chicago, why is CBS not interested in toning
down racism in Chicago ? I would like to speak to legal. MitchTrafficking Department
National TV Spots Inc.
PH: 949-218-3774
NTVS: 877-580-8100
Tr*****@Na*************.com
www.NationalTVSpots.com—–Original Message—–
From: Warber, Elizabeth [mailto:ew*****@cb*.com” data-original-string=”vf7xGH5+hnvnL4Cuwst71Q==1553vctJY51SZGqAexyHVlVeQ==” title=”This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 1:58 PM
To: ‘Mitchell Gold’
Cc: ‘Kelly Bober’
Subject: RE: Pyrite View CopyHello again,
So I double checked with the station and they double checked with legal, and
the station is not willing to take this ad.
I’m sorry.—–Original Message—–
From: Mitchell Gold [mailto:tr*****@na*************.com” data-original-string=”4M40FAmFiV4/XMJfXLolJA==155gSKleJykBBBoNmZ7fSCJrh9nbNliE/6fdh59btRxykw=” title=”This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 11:03 AM
To: Warber, Elizabeth
Cc: ‘Kelly Bober’
Subject: RE: Pyrite View CopyHi Elizabeth,
The spot is a trailer for an upcoming movie that will premier in the
Chicago area. The theme of the movie is to tone down the racism that seems
to plague Chicago. Once this 1 spot airs, the producer has commitments for
additional funding for more advertising. Please confirm approval of the spot
asap as we are looking at an early Feb campaign. Thanks-MitchTrafficking Department
National TV Spots Inc.
PH: 949-218-3774
NTVS: 877-580-8100
Tr*****@Na*************.com
www.NationalTVSpots.com—–Original Message—–
From: Warber, Elizabeth [mailto:ew*****@cb*.com” data-original-string=”pKSTZ8Q2QjK/aLLTA8jBQA==155IqWJ+VAJMF7hc6Hc5r5yyA==” title=”This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.]
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 9:46 AM
To: ‘Mitchell Gold’
Cc: ke****@na*************.com
Subject: RE: Pyrite View CopyThe station has reservations about airing the ad.
Can you please explain in detail who is airing the add and what exactly it’s
for?
