Back in 1996, I was lucky enough to get to interview Charlton Heston, who, at the time, was still a much-in-demand character actor (he made three movies that year) and also at the height of his outspoken political advocacy for the right. He complained to me that conservatives in Hollywood felt besieged and believed they wouldn’t get jobs if their politics were known. "There are more conservatives in the closet in Hollywood than there are homosexuals," he said, repeating a line he’d used in many a stump speech. But surely, I said, his implied comparison with the 1950s blacklist wasn’t serious; after all, he was there in Hollywood at the time, when some movie-industry leftists actually did lose jobs and were even jailed because of their politics. Nothing comparable to that was happening now, was it? Well, sometimes it feels that way, he said. A couple years later, having heard Heston say that the Oliver Stones of the industry wouldn’t hire him, Stone made a point of hiring Heston for Any Given Sunday. So I guess the griping worked.
Cut to today, and nothing’s changed: Conservatives in Hollywood are still complaining that they’re being shunned in an industry town consisting predominantly of liberals. The latest set of complaints comes via this Hollywood Reporter article about the impending launch of BigHollywood, a blog at breitbart.com that hopes to be a right-wing answer to the Huffington Post, with a group of 40 conservative Hollywood insiders as group bloggers. (Andrew Breitbart announced the planned blog back in August, but it doesn’t appear to be live yet.) The gripes in Monday’s THR article follow a similar airing of grievances by conservative screenwriter Andrew Klavan a week ago in a Washington Post op-ed. While I’m not buying any of these claims that openly conservative actors and screenwriters can’t find work — people like Klavan, Jon Voight (pictured), Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Dennis Hopper, Robert Duvall, Tom Selleck, David Zucker, Clint Eastwood, and Bruce Willis aren’t hurting for opportunities in Hollywood, just as they weren’t when Heston spoke to me 12 years ago — but the conservatives are correct that there aren’t many overtly conservative movies made in Hollywood. I don’t believe, however, that liberal intolerance is to blame.
Why aren’t more conservative movies greenlit? One might ask that question of Fox chief Rupert Murdoch, who has been willing to lose millions to promote a conservative ideology via his paper the New York Post, but whose entertainment projects at the Fox broadcast network, cable’s FX, and the Twentieth Century Fox film studio are all over the political spectrum. Perhaps he knows that, in entertainment, people want escapism, not spinach or propaganda. It’s why (as conservatives note) few went to see last year’s group of movies critical of the War on Terror (In the Valley of Elah, Rendition, Lions for Lambs, etc.) or this year’s W., but it’s also why few went to see American Carol, either. (It’s not a liberal conspiracy that both Carol and W. are being roundly ignored in favor of talking chihuahuas.) Explicitly partisan movies, left or right, don’t seem to do as well as those that give both sides a voice or whose ideology takes a backseat to plot and character development.
Still, if conservative Hollywood wants to make more openly ideological movies, it should stop whining and make them. That’s what Zucker did with American Carol (and with his conservative affirmative-action program of hiring fellow travelers like Voight, Grammar, and Hopper), and more power to him for raising the money and getting the movie widely promoted and distributed. That’s also what Mel Gibson did with The Passion of the Christ, even putting his own money into the picture (and his $25 million investment certainly seems like a modest sum well spent after the movie’s enormous box office success). Conservative tycoon Philip Anschutz has promoted his agenda by backing Walden Media’s slate of family-friendly movies, which includes the Narnia series, Charlotte’s Web, and Nim’s Island.
Grammer was, for a long time, the highest-paid actor on TV; why isn’t he producing the kind of movies he and his colleagues want to see? Go, make the movies, and let the invisible hand of free market capitalism work its magic with them. Isn’t that how conservatives say it’s supposed to work? If the movies are good, and if they sell tickets, and if there are enough hits among them so that mainstream Hollywood can’t dismiss them as a fluke or a niche product, the studios will come to you to make more of them.
More on conservatives in Hollywood:
Conservative Hollywood unites for An American Carol
Television Commentary: The AMC Project: Rated R: Conservatives in Hollywood
The Final Cut: Columnist Mark Harris on why TV’s quasi-conservatives do liberals a disservice
Ask the Critic: Do you ever get sick of Hollywood’s liberal yarns?
America is from Mars, Hollywood is from Venus
PopWatch: Are stars’ liberal politics turning off moviegoers?
Comments (1-30) of 72 Add your comment
For every actor thats been able to start a sucessful production company and make good, profitable movies there are two who have ended up filing bankruptcy due to wasting their cash on cars houses and drugs.
Actors act, they arnt often known for their business savy. As such, it’s not a surprise that most dont ever put their money where their mouths are.
Also, a bad investment is a bad investment. History shows that movies that politically lean too far to one side most often dont make worthwhile money.
As such, its not just easier but also smarter for the right wingers to complain that other people arnt risking their money on them, rather then risk it themselves.
That said, Id prefer they just shut up.
I agree. They should just shut up. They never have anything constructive to say anyway.
Awesome article Gary!
I agree with the entire last paragraph. Both liberals and conservatives at either extreme end are portrayed negatively in many films, but that’s what comedy is for–to poke fun at extremes. I can’t argue that conservatives probably do feel “silenced” in Hollywood socially, though, so it’s likely that they feel besieged. No one’s going to jail for it, though, so the paranoia needs to go–and they are getting jobs. To blame the lack of box office for propaganda films (of either stripe) on some kind of bias is laughable.
Is this a bad attempt at a joke?
Comparing conservatism in Hollywood to liberalism during McCarthy’s reign or homosexuality even today? Seriously?
Uh, the difference between feeling a political “cold shoulder” (real or imagined) and being imprisoned, harassed, fined, beaten and/or your life and career destroyed is a pretty big one. This is not an apt comparison at all.
Heston was just once again showing his ignorance and insensitivity. And now too is Gary Susman.
If Conservatives are in fact being discriminated against in Hollywood, that is a shame and should be corrected. On the other hand, actors and filmmakers who are outspokenly political (on either “side”) find securing work more difficult than those who keep their views to themselves. So, once again, Heston maybe should have tried shutting up.
I love the “tolerance” voiced by your liberal commenters. It’s ok to be conservative, but just shut up about it. The hypocrisy is unbelievable. I believe that a project – TV, movie, music, whatever it is should stand on its own merit – does it have an audience? Do they enjoy it? Does it make money? Those should be the criteria that judge a project’s worth. This is America and supposedly we have freedom of speech, thought, religion. What is so frustrating to so many is the active suppression of conservative thought by Hollywood and the promotion of the left. Yes, American Carol made no money, but how many left leaning projects were financed in the last 5 years? For every American Carol, there are 10 times as many Valley of Elah, Stop-Loss, Rendition, etc. All losers at the box office, too. If this was truly just an economic proposition, we would see more attempts at right leaning projects. It’s not about money at all, it’s all about promoting one point of view and suppressing another.
Blah blah blah, waaah waahh wahh. That’s all I’m hearing from you. Wow, you sound just like the GOP! Neato!
Yeah, real mature guys.
I know you are, but what am I?
I don’t know about you, but I’d run, not walk, to see a movie written, directed or produced by someone who is “cautious, moderate, tending to preserve the status quo” (Merriam Webster definition of conservative).
Did ya ever think that people who lean towards creative endeavors aren’t generally conservative in their beliefs, just as those who sign up for the military aren’t known for their liberal attitudes?
Or are conservatives looking for some kind of hiring quota or affirmative action system? That would be a delicious irony!
I don’t think this has as much to do with politics as with ideology. A more liberal point of view tends to encourage people to look into the lives of others with curiosity and figure out why people do the things they do. That sort of a view is compatible with making good art. I don’t see that same curiosity in most outspoken conservatives where adversaries are just written off as evil. That kind of black and white thinking isn’t very compelling in art. So is it any wonder Hollywood would lean more toward a liberal point of view?
Bruce Willis identifies himself as an Independent, not a Republican.
Yikes. It blows my mind that Voight, at one time the star of one of the most controversial, envelope-pushing and culturally progressive American films ever (“Midnight Cowboy”) was a guest at a McCain/Palin rally.
I agree with the argument that the movies and shows should be made and let the market dictate the results. Now, can we apply that same argument to Pelosi and the liberals that are trying to outlaw conservative and religious radio because the liberal shows can’t make it in the market. What goes around comes around! If you outlaw one, I could see Rolling Stone, EW, and more being sued over violation of the Fair Access Act they are trying to force down our throats.
To Right Now:
My statement of preference that they “shut up” is not based on their ideology, its based on the fact that they are whining, and are capable of doing better. I would say the same to a far left leaning actor in a comparable situation.
As for your statement that it is not about the money… what business do you think we are speaking of here? In Hollywood, where for every good movie released there are a dozen “Underdog”s, “Alvin and the Chipmunk”s and “Battlefield Earth”s it sure as heck is about the money.
Make absolutly no mistake, if there ever proved to be as much of a market for politically extreme movies as there are for more moderate ones, then they would be made.
There is no vast left wing conspiracy here. The movies you appear to want made are not being made because they have not been proven to be economically viable. They may in fact be so, but the risk involved to find out is currently perceived as outweighing the probable rewards.
Plus they never have anything constructive to say. It’s all GUNS! WAR! MONEY! with the conservatives.
Disclaimer: I’m a moderate Republican.
However, recently Ohnotheydidn’t had a post featuring a list of right leaning celebrities(including Sarah Michelle Gellar). Members of ONTD are decidedly left leaning and most actually expressed betrayal that their favorite celebs were conservative in their beliefs.
I think one of the reasons celebs aren’t more outspoken about conservative viewpoints is because Democrats and left wingers act tend to act like its a personal affront that celebs have different beliefs.
Think about Conservatives reactions to the Dixie Chicks’ statements about Bush. Its the same thing only in reverse.
As a Republican I keep my mouth shut most of the time because I know its easier than making waves.
I know at one time Clint Eastwood described himself as a republican/conservative, but now a days I’m not so sure. At the very most, he is a Barry Goldwater/libertarian conservative. Much different than neocons like Patrica Heaton and Kelsey Grammar.
Dennis Hopper right wing?? Easy Rider was a LONG time ago.
this writer, up to his old republcain propoganda tricks again. So yoru grip is Kelly grammer can’t find work? Or john voight? Wow. Why not start a conservative only union? then they can sit around in a circle and cry that john wayne and elvis are dead.
Ew and this gary guy are pathetic. the republcains love these whisper campaigns. They love to whine cry and complain, and pretend they are not working the refs. Sad.
so in the red scare liberals were jailed and banned from music, with the help of regean who sold out his union members as HEAD OF THE ACTORS GUILD.
what conservatives have been jailed for their bush/war love? What conservatives have been blackballed? You mentioned those who are not affect. how about some names who are, rather than a wisper campaign.
Tell the dixie chicks conservatives are being silenced due to their political opinion. Tell pat tillman the same thing, wait you can’t he got murdered for his free speech. Tell rosie odonnell the right is being ban
The gop cultists are pathetic. they could have everything eactly how they demand it 90% of the time. They will still call out bogus complaints and whine about the other 10%. America is the land of the free, but only they can be free. the market speacks and dictates but only if they approve or can control it.
The gop is the party of hypcorites and whiners. Who cares what they whine and cry about today, it will be something differant tomorrow. They always got a complain. They always have something to claim bias. Hypocrite gop.
No one cares what you say or think anymore. you had yoru time. you wasted it. You cried wolf far to many times for anyone to give your whining any credance, at this point.
the republcains have removed all their crediiblity and accountability, themselves. They can still whine cry and complain about the world changing (where they will not). the differance now is, who will listen? Who will give their whining complaints credance? I hope it’s irrelevance for 30
“so in the red scare liberals were jailed and banned from music, with the help of regean who sold out his union members as HEAD OF THE ACTORS GUILD. ”
movies rather.
Again, you give a list of those NOT effected. How about some that are. I can write a list of 50 bann liberals during the last 8 years. 50. How many cosnervatives have been banned for their opinions? One name please. I can give you 50 from the other side.
Someone please show the readers on this site this writer has any clue about what he’s talking about, or merely spouting whining gop propoganda. One name please. If it’s so wide spread it should be easy.
But you can’t. Please show yoru fascsit gop faces.
“rick Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 12:06 PM EST
I agree with the argument that the movies and shows should be made and let the market dictate the results. Now, can we apply that same argument to Pelosi and the liberals that are trying to outlaw conservative and religious radio because the liberal shows can’t make it in the market
”
Awww. So based on this article you want it to run both ways. Maybe in past years. Now is a new concept. Now the rules and laws you apply to others will apply to you as well. If you don’t want that, stop making rules for others to follow.
Same with democracy and majority rule. No liberals were going batty and crazy the last 8 years when bush was destroying our country. We sat back and did things the right way. Now it is time for the gop to reap what you have sown. you made laws and broke laws liberals, also america and the world, find indefendable. No one went to jail. Elections have conseqence. In this case irrelevance is your conseqeunce
cont.
And you are also losing the right to force your gop concepts on america. Now it’s time for the street to run the other way. The fairness doctrine? I assume that’s what yoru whining about. Majority rule. 47% of america wants is. 32% of america does not. If the liebrals win, and obama wins, they will choose to enact laws or not, based on laws their constiuincies and what they feel is best for america. If they feel fox rush hannity and those like them have been a horrible presednece of the public conversation, and on the media, bye bye fox and rush. It’s called democarcy. It’s called majority rule. If you don’t believe in democracy or majority rule, gop, your living in the wrong country. Fox rush and hannity killed the gop (and accountability and credibility for the gop. If you were smart you would shut them down yourselves, so others don’t have to. you say you love america gop. Choose. AMerica/democracy or your lying fascsit propogandists. If you love america it should be no choi
cont.
You choose a party over your country. you choose the will and betterment of yrou party, over the will and betterment of yoru country. At one time that was called treason. I don’t want you people shipped out of the country for yoru treason, as benidict arnold was. I don’t want you hung, like the law says for treason. I just want you conflict of interest as news (conflict of interest, knowingly misleading the elderly, inciting violence and hate against americans) to go away. you should be saying thank you. Not whinging crying and complaining. rush could (I would say should) be charged with treason for his dividie and conquer sabotage of america for money. I just want him off the air. Your getting off easy gop. Still you cry. Rememebr the red scare. If you choose the laws you make for others can apply to you as well. I would prefer for all to be free. you will nto allow that gop. Freedom for all ends in the gop party ending. good riddance I say. Can’t come soon enough
Tiffany, you said, “I think one of the reasons celebs aren’t more outspoken about conservative viewpoints is because Democrats and left wingers act tend to act like its a personal affront that celebs have different beliefs.” Seems to me that many left wingers act like it’s a personal affront that *anyone* has different beliefs. It’s that “I’m enlightened and you’re not” attitude that drives me nuts. That being said, Heston went a little overboard in comparing today’s Hollywood conservatives to those blacklisted during the McCarthy era. I’m with Gary, though – if you want to see “your kind” of entertainment, go out and make it yourself.
And rufus1133, I’d try to address some of your points but I have absolutely no idea what you’re saying in all the gobbledegook, beyond “liberals good! GOP bad!” or some such.
tRYING TO MAKE YOU REPUBLCAINS THINK FOR YOURSELVES FOR ONCE. iF YOU CAN’T READ, TRY AGAIN. tHINK FOR YOURSELF. TRY AND PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER. I know it’s hard. I know your used to being told what you must say or think. But at least try. I gave you plenty of ammo and spelling errors to talking about, if you can’t name ONE conservative banned or touch the substance of my posts.
I’m trying to help you republcains grow and think. I have to give you something to attack, as that’s all you people do. Once your drawn in I can help you think for yourself, gorw and change. It’s not liberals holding up progress so talking to them is preaching to the choir. If america is going to grow and change we must either bring these people living decades inthe past along. that’s my wish. I hope you go along with america and democracy, rather than sabotaging it. I won’t hold my breath though
“If america is going to grow and change we must either bring these people living decades inthe past along. that’s my wish. I hope you go along with america and democracy, rather than sabotaging it. I won’t hold my breath though
”
opps, cont.
If your plan is sabotage divide and conquer and treason than their is another path. Or you people and our great nation. It’s called irrelevance. It’s called point out and marginalize those who try and destroy america for money and power. choose wisely gop. your party is splitting from the inside. If it survives it will be in the political wilderness for 30 years. you had yoru time. you wasted it. Democracy and majoirty rule is goin gin another direction. Please don’t hate and blame liberals. Don’t hide from reality and blame the world. you had yoru chance. If you did your jobs you would not be in the deep water your in. To NOT give you the irrelevance you have earned does you no favors as you will never grow or change. choose gop.One nation?
one nation? Or do you choose yoru party instead? You can have rush fox hannity and o’reilly, savage coulter malkin. you can have them. That’s your right. this is america after all. the left will give you the freedom you have denied the rest of us. We are americans not party loyalist traitors. But their is a consequence to your choice. Have fox and rush and those like him. the cost is irrelevance or the gop going the way of the whigs. Is that worth the cost? you can’t have yoru cake and eat it to. you can’t wage war and cry that war is rampent. You can’t sabotage america for money and cry about a divided america. Stay your course. that choice leads to marginalization and irrelevance. Long term. OR shut down fox rush hannity and those like them yourselves. Save yoru party and marginalize those who destroyed your party. Choose. But be a grown-up. Stop crying that the choices you choose have conseqeunce, in this case irrelvance. time to grow-up gop and swim in what you have been shoveling