The Kid's in the Picture... if you sign this Open Letter...
Pro-Israeli Lobby influence across the arts and entertainment industry
Synopsis
It is absolutely critical Israel maintains its strongest possible political influence in the US Government who provide direct aid, weapons supply, military intervention and importantly a veto blocker vote and/or resolution wording influence in the UN Security Council preventing any real action against Israel.
Funding politicians is easy enough - covered in another article - but it is critical to keep Israel in the public eye, garner sympathy and silence dissenting pro-Palestinian voices.
This article covers how Hollywood and the broader entertainment industry maintain a pro-Israeli line driven by powerful industry figures.
‼️Article Updated
Article updated: Tue 14th May 2024 (Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴 articles are updated periodically to add latest information on the subject of the article for relevance)
Latest Update: Added in video of Macklemore meeting Sydney University students whilst on tour Sydney 13th May - serendipity week after Hind’s Hall drops, and my Uni too ❤️😊✊🇵🇸 Also added in links to articles on Sydney Uni complicity, attempts to silence Australian Uni encampments and detail on who in Australia is trying to silence them.
Contents
🎥🇮🇱 HOLLYWOOD: ENTRENCHED PRO-ISRAELI LOBBY
🇵🇸 SPEAKING OUT: VOICES OF REASON
UK Artists - Ceasefire call and Accusing Institutions of Censorship on Palestine
🍉 Watermelon Pictures #FromTheRiverToTheScreen #PalestineWillBeSeen
ENCORE: Macklemore “Hind’s Hall” 8 May 2024 (Update: and Sydney Uni meeting 13th May!)
APPENDIX A: Redefining Hollywood D&I Policy
INTRODUCTION
It is absolutely critical Israel maintains its strongest possible political influence in the US Government who provide direct aid, weapons supply, military intervention and importantly a veto blocker vote and/or resolution wording influence in the UN Security Council preventing any real action against Israel.
Funding politicians is easy enough - covered in another article - but it is critical to keep Israel in the public eye, garner sympathy and silence dissenting pro-Palestinian voices.
This article covers how Hollywood and the broader entertainment industry maintain a pro-Israeli line driven by powerful industry figures.
In the “Related Articles” section at the end there are listed further articles covering pro-Israeli influence in other US Institutions.
Note: “The Kids’s in the Picture” title of this article is the threatening statement uttered in the 1972 film “The Godfather” for somewhat more persuasive Hollywood influence! From the infamous scene in the movie where fictional Hollywood producer Jack Woltz is finally persuaded to cast an Italian actor over another by the Mafia placing a horse’s head in his bed1.
Apparently inspired by the decision of Colombia Pictures studio mogul Harry Cohn to cast Frank Sinatra in the 1953 film “From here to Eternity” over actor Eli Wallach.2
🎥 🇮🇱 HOLLYWOOD: ENTRENCHED PRO-ISRAELI LOBBY
It has not gone un-noticed that high profile figures in the entertainment industry showing solidarity for Palestine over the conflict are criticised and cancelled.
With the false associations with antisemitism outlined above the McCarthyite hysteria and lack of backbone in respecting freedom of speech on humanitarian issues allows institutions to get away with appalling retributive actions.
A particular pattern in the Arts & Entertainment industry is:
Extensive pro-Israeli lobbying by senior entertainment industry bodies and executives
Undue pressure on members of the arts & entertainment industry to support pro-Israeli campaigns and cancellation if they do not3
Creative Community for Ongoing Employment
A facetious comment on a more apt name for the Hollywood pro-Israeli advocacy group the Creative Community for Peace (CCFP).
The group has existed for some 12 years founded by music industry executives David Renzer (Former Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Publishing) and Steve Schnur (Worldwide Executive & Music President, Electronic Arts).
Over the years the organisation has run pro-Israeli campaigns against artists boycotting gigs, shows or other in Israel, pursuing them and putting pressure on industry contacts to have them cancelled.
After October 7th the operation went into high-gear and literally instigated a McCarthyite culture of silence in Hollywood where people genuinely feared for their jobs if they didn’t speak up FOR Israel never mind for Palestine.
Hence the monicker quite literally “ongoing employment”.
One-sided Support for Israel by a powerful lobby
Notably CCFP quickly organised one of the first industry-wide Open Letters on Oct 12 - early in the conflict - in direct support of Israel4.
This was described by the organisation as “a call from the entertainment industry unequivocally voicing support for Israel and condemning Hamas’ terrorism.” The letter in addition to condemning the Hamas action also notes:
“”As Israel takes the necessary steps to defend its citizens in the coming days and weeks, social media will be overrun by an orchestrated misinformation campaign spearheaded by Iran. We urge everyone to remember the horrific images that came out of Israel and to not amplify or fall for their propaganda.”
On the CCFP website - there are no articles about broader “peace” efforts, nor recognition of the conditions of the Palestinians - every single campaign and initiative on the website is pro-Israel related.
There is a long running campaign against BDS, against cultural boycotts of Israel, pursuing pro-Palestine activists in the entertainment industry (Roger Waters in particular) and encouraging artists to perform in Israel and demonise those who choose not to.
The CCFP has been operating for over 10 years. How can this possibly NOT be seen as a biased organisation with a fixed agenda?
CCFP actual structure and agenda
In 2018 Jewish Voices for Peace on investigating CCFP tax records found that CCFP is a front for the organisation Stand With Us (SWU) - a long established pro-Israeli, pro-settlements lobby group5. Indeed the International President of Stand With Us Esther Renzer is the wife of founder of CCFP David Renzer6.
SWU is strongly pro-settlements referring to “disputed” rather than occupied territories, and referring to them as “Judea and Samaria”. Some of the campus activist “training materials” produced by the group are revealing and tasteless- Oct 7th booklet together with “no way to treat a child” on Palestinian child soldiers:
Some quotes from the materials:
“disputed territories v occupied territories” - drawing into question the status, internationally recognised
“Judea and Samaria” rather than west bank
“in Israel all citizens are treated equally under law” - trying to explain right to return
“Israel is the opposite of apartheid”
“We do not take political prisoners”
The ideology contained in these booklets is clearly Israeli State Propaganda an indicative of the motivations and ideologies behind both groups, explaining the campaigns CCFP undertakes “in the name of peace”.
Use of Settlement Suppliers
Both CCFP7 and SWU host glittering annual Gala Dinners and fundraisers in California at the end of the year8.
Tellingly a CCFP industry “Ambassadors for Peace” Gala Dinner in 2023 was sponsored by various partners - including Golan Heights Winery in the illegal Israeli settlement of Katrzin in the Golan Heights, owned by a conglomerate of eight other Israeli settlements9. Golan Heights Winery - in the face of EU laws outlawing the Israeli flag on the labels of products produced in the settlements - went on to do just that and printed flags on their bottles many of which were destined for the EU10.
An exclusive drinks deal importing settler winery product is hardly encouraging “peace”. The focus as a pure pro-Israeli lobby leveraging powerful industry management patronage to garner support is very clear.
Examples of Retribution for speaking out
Then tensions in public life and pressures to commit to one side of the conflict or the other are challenging and causing distress amongst artists11.
Most disturbing is the retribution faced by those expressing support for Palestine against a much larger and more visible Israeli lobby sponsored by influential powerful senior figures in the entertainment industry - almost reflective of the conflict itself.
There are multiple examples of retribution for speaking out listed on the Artists for Palestine UK Website across less well known artists, authors and poets - but of the high profile cases:
2020 Seth Rogen a Jewish Hollywood actor made disparaging comments about Israel in an interview with Marc Maron (27:20)12. They talked of being told lies about the fact Palestine was an empty land amongst other remarks, whilst joking how terrified they were of aggressive Israelis. Within a week Rogen was in a call with Jewish Agency (world Zionist operational arm) Chairman Isaac Herzog (now President of Israel) to obtain an apology. Herzog had actually contacted Rogen’s parents and Rogen said “his Mom made me call”. He also noted that he didn’t apologise but clarified his position to Herzog13.
For contrast, see below a young girls at a Palestinian rally in Sydney brought up on the Truth vs. Rogen’s comments on the lies the Jewish youth have been told from an early age.
Fast forward 4 years and Rogen would be cancelled in the current climate for any dissent.
2023 Melissa Barrera - dropped from Scream IV by Spyglass Entertainment. Barrera’s Statement: she described Israel as committing “genocide” and “brutally killing innocent Palestinians, mothers and children, under the pretence of destroying Hamas”. This was interpreted as antisemitic. LA Times “Melissa Barrera showed solidarity with Palestinians. Hollywood showed its persistent double standard“14.
2024 Susan Sarandon - Nov 21 dropped by her talent Agency United Talent Agency for attending a pro-Palestine rally in NYC and chanting “From The River To The Sea”15. Notably the Vice-President of UTA Jay Sures is also the Regent at the University of California and took severe action against a student group for perceived pro-Palestinian comments the previous month…(see other article on Influence in Academia).
2023 Creative Arts Agency Maha Dakhil had to resign her Board seat after sharing a social media post accusing Israel of genocide16. She was only able to continue in her profession as an agent after her influential client Tom Cruise directly intervened to stand by her.
2024 Roger Waters a long-time Palestinian Advocate had long been pursued by the pro-Israeli lobby. After October 7th they escalated their campaign against Waters, taking advantage of the McCarthyite hysteria over antisemitism, continuing to accuse him of this (read: highly visible pro-Palestine activist: silence) and demand his publisher Sony BMG drop him from their label17.
Finally in January 2024 Sony BMG caved and dropped Waters18.
This is despite Rogers producing a video some six months before the conflict defending his stage show, noting that “The Wall” is an anti-Fascist song (satirising not glorifying fascism) and that the song had been performed for 40 years with no issues.
The Infrequent Silver Screen Arab “Terrorist”
Another trait of Hollywood is that there are positive and frequent mentions of Israel and Judaism on-screen — disproportionate relative to other countries and cultures.
By contrast, there is a tiny representation of Arab actors on-screen with limited representation in storylines on Islamic or Arab culture and generally negative or terrorism tropes for Arab actors according to Haqq and Hollywood.
And remember you’re broadcasting to an audience where a large % digest right-wing biased news channels such as Fox as their experience of minorities outside the borders since only 48% of Americans have a passport19, so doubles down on the issue of poor representation in entertainment media.
Examples is “You don’t mess with the Zohan” by Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow in 2008, with the Times of Israel in an article “You don’t mess with the Zohan was Adam Sandler’s Liberal Zionist Manifesto” calling him “an avatar of Jewish cultural pride”20. One consideration one of the most racist and Islamophobic films of all time trying to be seen as clever satire, which it is not.
🎬 Hollywood Chutzpah: D&I Policy Complaint
Incredibly after all that - on Jan 11 2024 the CEO of the ADL in the US had the gall to post about Jewish discrimination in Hollywood!
An Open Letter was sent to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences21 by the Jew in the City Hollywood Bureau for Jewish Representation (JITC) criticising the exclusion from being specified as an under-represented group!22
Challenge accepted.
APPENDIX A: Redefining Hollywood D&I Policy at the end of this article examines the Oscars Representation & Inclusion Standards on discriminated groups JITC refer to and
shows how ridiculous the request from JITC is and why
show how indequate the current policy is indeed doing the opposite and continuing to discriminate against minority groups
proposes how this could be reformed to properly address D&I modelled on policies in the corporate world
proposes academic research to help define the appropriate policy with empirical standards to monitor the minority representation for fairness
Eurovision 2024
The Eurovision Song Contest is a glitzy, over the top showpiece of trashy European culture - and INCREDIBLY entertaining! Bizarrely Australia has participated as a special guest since a debue in 2015 - tribute to Kylie?
In theory - it’s always been non-political to a certain extent in song content but with voting - mirroring the UN - in blocs across Europe of countries with similar cultures ganging up! Again, very entertaining to watch. The best song never wins.
This year the competition takes place from 7th May in Malmö, Sweden and there’s widespread calls for Israel to be banned from the competition, citing precedent mirroring precedent called for actions (or lack of) against Israel in the United Nations.
Russia banned - Two Tribes
When Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb 2022 they were quickly banned from the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2022 which Ukraine of course won - with very political content.
In 2023 of course the contest couldn’t take place in Ukraine so Liverpool stepped in. I thought this somewhat ironic as local 80’s band Frankie Goes To Hollywood reunited to perform at the opening - who had a song in 1984 “Two Tribes” which was anti-nuclear war song featuring then Reagan and Chernenko fighting in the video (with an AWESOME ending). At the time, somewhat chillingly Putin was bandying about reminders of his country’s nuclear capability. It’s an awesome song though, couldn’t resist - below!
Israel came third that year - and always seem to have a very catchy series of songs for Eurovision, including their awesome 1979 winner (not joking!) A-Ba-Ni-Bi by Izhar Cohen. Again - can’t resist - below!
Calls for Israel’s Banning 2024
Israel’s entry - in addition to being opposed on the grounds of the Gaza War - is also in particular an unashamed political song.
Russian-Israeli entrant Eden Golan plans to sing “October Rain” which the Eurovision committee made her change the charged lyrics of in order to enter.23
Nevertheless there remains calls for Israel to be banned and there is bound to be some demonstrations on the floor in 2024 both for Palestine and against Israel and also if the Grammy’s and Oscars are anything to go by - outside the venue.
A group of 1000 Swedish musicians signed an open letter opposing Israel’s entry into the competition in their home town of Malmö.24 This would extend to boycotting the Global Watch Parties that take place all over the world with live screenings and parties in huge venues.
Of course in response, the CCFP organised yet another Open Letter on Feb 14 2024 (Valentine’s love nice strategy) with some surprising signatories in Helen Mirren, Boy George and Sharon Osbourne.
The Comp
I didn’t watch Eurovision for the first time in years but heard about Eden’s entry. Apparently she was booed during her dress rehearsal not sure in her semi-final but she’s been voted through to the final (wouldn’t you - good TV).
I genuinely feel sorry for this young woman - but she’s being booed for what she represents and is supporting. And that’s not antisemitic despite Netanyahu’s predictable soundbites.
🇵🇸 SPEAKING OUT: VOICES OF REASON
As the Gaza crisis progressed - the “but Hamas” and unconditional support for Israel became more untenable.
Not only that - but groups such as CCFP and other industry figures were exposed for their devoted pro-Israeli positions and bullying tactics to silence dissent.
Over time, people became more emboldened to speak out.
UK Artists - Ceasefire call and Accusing Institutions of Censorship on Palestine
Two months into the conflict, sensitive to the one-sided representation of the conflict in the entertainment industry, and retribution for taking a pro-Palestine view, other groups began to speak out.
Across the pond - on 17 October 2000+ UK artists signed an open letter accusing the UK Government of aiding and abetting Israel’s alleged war crimes calling for a ceasefire25.
After noticing continued censorship and vindictive retribution to people’s careers in the entertainment industry for speaking out on Palestinian rights (in no small part from CCFP pressure above) further voices were raised.
On 30 Nov 1000+ UK artists signed a letter organised by Artists for Palestine UK accusing cultural institutions globally of “repressing, silencing and stigmatising Palestinian voices and perspectives”26.
“targeting and threatening the livelihoods of artists and arts workers who express solidarity with Palestinians, as well as cancelling performances, screenings, talks, exhibitions and book launches.”
🎶 February 2024 Grammys
The February 2024 Grammys took place in Los Angeles. There were several pro-Palestinian artists there wearing the pins of the Artists4Ceasefire group who delivered a petition to President Biden demanding a Gaza Ceasefire.
Shuhada’ Sadaqat (Sinead O’Connor) had recently passed away and Scottish singer Annie Lennox sang a beautiful tribute version of “Nothing compares to U” to the crowd - followed by a fist salute calling for a ceasefire.
It was wonderful to later see Annie Lennox later donating one of her most valuable song manuscripts to a charity auction for medical aid for Gaza.
🎥 March 2024 Hollywood Oscars
At the March 10 2024 Oscars the category of Best International Film was won by Jewish film maker Jonathan Glazer for an emotional Holocaust Film “Zone of Interest” made in conjunction with Yad Vashem.
The night had been marked with pro-Palestinian sentiment with protesters outside the Dolby Theatre clogging traffic and various stars wearing red Artists4Ceasefire pins in support of a cease-fire in Gaza including Billie Eilish, Mark Ruffalo and Ramy Youssef.
At his acceptance speech, Glazer stood on stage flanked by his Producer James Wilson and Financier Len Blavatnik and gave an impassioned speech denouncing the hijacking of the Holocaust and Judaism itself by pro-Israeli lobby groups and the slaughter in Gaza.
“Our film shows where dehumanization leads, at its worst. It shaped all of our past and present,
Right now we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation, which has led to conflict for so many innocent people.
This film is not about what we did then but to ask what can we do now?"
Note that Glazer later clarified semantics - his statement was misinterpreted as refuting or denouncing the men’s own religion … when he was saying he was refuting the fact their “Jewishness AND the Holocaust were BOTH being hijacked by an Occupation”.
Immediately following the announcement there was outcry from pro-Israeli groups outraged at his speech. The Hollywood pro-Israeli lobby reacted by organising a Open Letter of protest at Glazer signed by over 1000 Hollywood actors, writers and others within 8 days27.
Backlash - Boycotting signees
Noting the impact on careers of cancelling and sanctioning artists from the initial open letters from the Creative Community for Peace - activist groups have taken to fighting back to make people think twice about adding their name to a letter.
They are effectively running a BDS campaign on those who signed the letter, calling for boycott of their films they make or appear in currently a rough spreadsheet but to be added to Artists4Ceasefire or some such lobby group site later.
5 Apr Open Letter of Support for Glazer
Almost 3 weeks after the 18 Mar protest letter at Glazer, a group of 150 Jewish creatives signed their own open letter supporting Glazer28.
In a statement to Variety, Ilana Glazer said, “I signed this letter to help counter the climate of silencing that many workplaces and industries are facing around Israel’s war on Gaza, now entering its seventh month. This controversy surrounding Jonathan Glazer is just one example.”
The letter speaks some ideological differences with the position of the earlier creatives, and some thoughts on most people’s minds. I cynically hope that the World Central Kitchen attack on the Western Aid workers on 1 April - marking a real shift in public opinion - isn’t the only trigger to speak up.
The key points:
Glazer’s words twisted and misrepresented (quoting Director of the Auschwitz Memorial on the true meaning of the film)
Distraction from Israel’s Military Campaign (important: the obfuscation here is a key tenet of what the Creative Community for Peace is doing)
Silences the industry - broader climate of suppression and free speech
Should be able to decry the killing of Palestinian civilians without being wrongly accused of being antisemitic
Should be able to name Israel’s apartheid and Occupation named by human rights organisations
We denounce weaponisation of Jewish identity and memory of the Holocaust to justify what many experts (quoting Jewish scholars and the OHCR) have called a “genocide in the making”
We reject the false choice between Jewish safety and Palestinian freedom
Call for permanent ceasefire, release hostages, delivery aid into Gaza, end to Israel’s ongoing bombardment
A voice of reason and common sense indeed - unless you genuinely believe that any criticism of Israel is antisemitic. Which is telling and very transparent globally now.
On the weaponisation of antisemitism and the memory of the Holocaust called out in the speech. It is somewhat ironic that one of the signatories of the petition was Elliot Gould who was in the 1998 film American History X. Gould played Murray the Jewish boyfriend of the mother of Derek, a Nazi played by Edward Norton.
In one of the most upsetting scenes of the film, Derek confronts Murray, exploding with hate after simmering at the dinner table sitting with his mother and Murray.
This is what we are truly fighting as antisemitism rather than false-flag collective weaponisation to silence criticism of Israel that is being touted about and rightly called out by these Jewish creatives.
It devalues this evil.
🍉 Watermelon Pictures #FromTheRiverToTheScreen #PalestineWillBeSeen
Alana Hadid fashion designer and sister of models Gigi and Bella, has launched a film company Watermelon Pictures which will be “culturally positive” noting on her Twitter #FromTheRiverToTheScreen #PalestineWillBeSeen.
Her sister Gigi had a narrow escape in the cancellation hysteria on 29 Nov 2023 after tweeting then removing a claim Israel was the only country in the world that imprisoned children29. She gave an apology and clarification on her Insta30.
In the first month, I had to trawl to find ANY press supporting the launch of Alana’s Palestinian film company31, and again I cynically note it was announced after 1st April outcry over the WCK western aid worker deaths by the IDF - a more acceptable climate for pro-Palestinian (just) - but clearly not enough for the Hollywood Press32.
This is despite the first cab off the rank being a film by British artist Banksy “Walled Off” on the art hotel he opened in 2017 overlooking the segregation wall33. Understandably the hotel is shut at this time according to the website.
Hopefully Watermelon Pictures can bring some diversity to the screen.
The Kid’s in the Picture
The period since October 7th has clearly been a polarising time for the entertainment industry with divisions coming out clearly - though with a top-heavy pro-Israeli management in entertainment it is clear where the pressure is coming from.
This is particularly prevalent in Hollywood - with a disproportionate amount of Jewish Executives, many of whom will have pro-Israeli beliefs, it is to be expected that there would be pressure across the industry to support Israel.
The kid’s in the picture. If you sign this Open Letter praising the IDF.
ENCORE: Macklemore “Hind’s Hall” 8 May 2024 (Update: and Sydney Uni meeting 13th May!)
And finally - an artist with integrity - and what a mic drop song.
Called “Hinds’s Hall” - in tribute to the Columbia University student’s that occupied the university’s historic Hamilton Hall and renamed with a flag.34 The protesters were brutally removed by riot police two days later to broad condemnation.
Hind Rajab was a six year old Palestinian girl who was killed along with her family and Palestinian ambulance workers who tried to save her - by Israeli tanks.35
In his lyrics a key lyrical point for the CCFP:
Undecided, you can’t twist the truth
The people out here united never be defeated when Freedom’s on the horizon
Yet the music industry’s quiet complicit in their platform of silence
What happened to the artist what do you got to say?
If I was on a label, you could drop me today
And be fine with it cause the heart fed my page
I want a ceasefire fuck a response from drake
The same way AIPAC were exposed since 2007 - the CCFP needs to be raised out the shadows with just some of their activities in this article they’ve been doing as part of an overall stranglehold for the last 10 years.
Interestingly - Macklemore came on stage in 2014 dressed up as what some saw as a stereotypical Jewish trope. I think it’s pretty blatant - but he apologised at the time36 formally accepted by the ADL in a Press Release.37
Of course this is being wheeled out to mark him as “antisemitic” for an event the ADL accepted apology for 10 years ago. Completely unrelated - more of a dickhead than an antisemite and hopefully a wiser head today. Though I do wonder where he was two months after the May 2014 wardrobe incident in July when Israel horrifically bombarded Gaza killing 2000 people for which they are being investigated by the ICC for today.38
In getting his message out on Hind’s Hall - interesting that YouTube age-restricts his song on his official account, yet on the official account of NWA “Fuck the Police” is fine…. (just noted a point not lost on Newsweek39).
Macklemore age block:
NWA Fuck The Police: no age block!
Full lyrics - killer drops highlighted!
‼️Update 14th May:
Serendipity - Macklemore touring in Sydney the week Hind’s Halls drops - meets up with students from my Uni in solidarity - see his message below:
Read more on Sydney University below - our (ashamed to be a student here) complicity in genocide and also the attempts to silence protests across Australian campuses below.
Interestingly - the more I read (and write) on the Australian Pro-Israeli lobby here - it is recognised as one of the most organised, well connected and aggressive pro-Israeli lobbies IN THE WORLD. No pressure then!
I’ve also added an article on them below - a very long comprehensive referenced research article - intended for activists to know what you’re up against.
🎓🇦🇺🇮🇱🚫 Sydney University: Complicity in Genocide:
Sydney Uni You Can't Hide...
🎓🇦🇺🇮🇱🚫 Australian Pro-Lobby Group campaign to silence Australian University encampments:
🇦🇺🇮🇱📣 Who’s going after the encampments? Australian Pro-Israeli Lobby Groups - possibly the most powerful and well organised in the world. Modus Operandi:
Australian Pro-Israeli Lobby: Modus Operandi
HIND'S HALL
Written and Produced by Macklemore
The people they won’t leave
What is threatening
about divesting and wanting peace?
The problem isn’t the protests
it’s what they’re protesting
Cause it goes against
what our country is funding
Block the barricade until Palestine is free
Block the barricade until Palestine is free
When I was 7 I learned a lesson
from Cube and Eazy E
What was it again?
oh yea
fuck the police
Actors in badges
protecting property
And a system that was designed
by white supremacy
But the people are in the streets
You can pay off meta
you can’t pay off me
Politicians who serve by any means
AIPAC, CUFI and all the companies
You see we sell fear around the land of the free
But this generation here
is about to cut the strings
You can ban tik Tok
take us out the algorithm
But it’s too late
we’ve seen the truth we bare witness
We’ve seen the ruble the buildings
the mothers the children
And all the men that you murdered
and then we see how they spin it
Who gets to the right to defend
and who gets the right of resistance
Has always been about dollars
and the color of your pigment
But
White supremacy is finally on blast
Screaming free Palestine
until they’re home at last
We see the lies in them
Claiming it’s anti-semetic
to be anti-zionist
I’ve seen jewish brothers and sisters out there and riding
In solidarity and screaming
free Palestine with em
Organizing, unlearning
and finally cutting ties with a State
that’s gotta rely on an apartheid system
To uphold an occupying violent
History been repeating for the last 75
The Nakba never ended,
the colonizer lied
If some kids in tents,
posted on the lawn
occupying the quad
is really against the law
And a reason to call
in the police and their squad
where does genocide land
in your definition huh?
destroying every college in Gaza and every mosque
pushing everyone into rafah and dropping bombs
The blood is on your hands Biden,
we can see it all
And fuck no
I’m not voting for you in the fall
Undecided,
you can’t twist the truth
The people out here
united
never be defeated when Freedom’s on the
horizon
Yet the music industry’s quiet
complicit in their platform of silence
What happened to the artist
what do you got to say?
If I was on a label,
you could drop me today
And be fine with it
cause the heart fed my page
I want a ceasefire
fuck a response from drake
What you willing to risk?
What you willing to give?
What if you were Gaza?
what if those were your kids?
If the west was pretending that you didn’t exist
You’d want the world to stand up
And the students finally did
Let’s get it
Brilliant
APPENDIX A: Redefining Hollywood D&I Policy
It was noted earlier that an open letter was sent to the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences by a Jewish Hollywood pro-Israeli group complaining that Jews were not given a minority group status in the Academy D&I standards.
This Appendix reviews the validity of the request by anlaysing the Oscars Representation & Inclusion Standards on discriminated groups and:
shows how ridiculous the request from the pro-Israeli lobby is and why
show how indequate the current policy is indeed doing the opposite and continuing to discriminate against minority groups
proposes how this could be reformed to properly address D&I modelled on policies in the corporate world
proposes academic research to help define the appropriate policy with empirical standards to monitor the minority representation for fairness
AMPS Standards - Discriminated Groups
Note that these are standards for AMPS to consider a film for an Oscar nomination - whether or not they do that is up to them, they just won’t get the platform - BUT it’s a very poorly crafted policy and a low bar to meet anyway with multiple exclusions and optionality.
AMPS policy on “Representation and Inclusion Standards” are listed on the website40. It’s worth quoting below.
It covers required % quotas from different “unrepreresented racial or ethnic groups” (that need to be submitted formally on the RAISE platform) examples being:
Racial or Ethnic Groups:
• African American / Black / African and/or Caribbean descent
• East Asian (including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Mongolian)
• Hispanic or Latina/e/o/x
• Indigenous Peoples (including Native American / Alaskan Native)
• Middle Eastern / North African
• Pacific Islander
• South Asian (including Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Indian, Nepali, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan)
• Southeast Asian (including Burmese, Cambodian, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Laotian, Malaysian, Mien, Singaporean, Thai, and Vietnamese)
Under-represented Groups:
• Women
• Racial or ethnic group
• LGBTQ+
• People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
So to either of the groups above …. you really want to add Jewish?
It is laughable as:
Empirically - Jewish people are NOT under-represented in Hollywood, exactly the opposite
Logically - how is Jewish a racial or ethnic group under the geographical categories above, and certainly not under-represented against groups requiring equity. Why would you not add Muslims as a category? If any trope needs reframing in Hollywood it is Muslim / Middle Eastern characters.
THE POLICY - CATEGORIES
The different categories requiring these quotas from the policy are:
STANDARD A: ON-SCREEN REPRESENTATION, THEMES AND NARRATIVES
At least ONE of the following areas:
A1. Lead or significant supporting actors from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups
A2. General ensemble cast
A3. Main storyline/subject matter
STANDARD B: CREATIVE LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT TEAM
At least ONE of the following areas:
B1. Creative leadership and department heads
B2. Other key roles
B3. Overall crew composition
STANDARD C: INDUSTRY ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES
At least ONE of the following areas:
C1. Paid apprenticeship and internship opportunities
C2. Training opportunities and skills development (crew)
STANDARD D: AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
D1. Representation in development, marketing, publicity, and distribution
Too many exclusions and optionality
There’s a lot of get out of jail free here regardless:
Films Totally Excluded from complying
Best Picture Award (REALLY?!!!!)
Films Optional to comply (why would you?)
Speciality feature categories (animated feature, documentary, international - understandably international)
Best Picture/General Entry Consideration
OPTIONALITY of categories - most are “meet ONE of the following” in the whole section, then underlying roles are “meet TWO of the following” etc.
Tokenism of Roles
These optionality above are key caveats - consider “creative leadership and department heads”- you just need to tick the box with TWO roles and under represented, and ONE racial or ethnic.
At least two of the following creative leadership positions and department heads—Casting Director, Cinematographer, Composer, Costume Designer, Director, Editor, Hairstylist, Makeup Artist, Producer, Production Designer, Set Decorator, Sound, VFX Supervisor, Writer—are from an underrepresented group and at least one of those positions must belong to someone from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.
Facetiously - ensure the majority of hired Set Decorators across Hollywood are all Pacific Islanders and you’re part-way there!
Properly addressing D&I - Like any other industry
In order to properly address D&I we all know the way any other industry does it is from the top down. The Times of Israel notes in a 2016 Review of the Hollywood Top 100 “a lot of MOTs” (Members of the Tribe! [of Israel]) and a lack of diversity41.
Board level women representation, under-represented socio-economic groups etc.
So the best way to do this in Hollywood would be to ensure Directors, Producers, Executive Producers etc. were from these under represented groups, but the standard isn’t worded that way.
So like any under industry, you’re left open to accusations of nepotism and like-me bias to your promotion and hiring decisions.
The only way to address is positive senior role model D&I promotions.
MUSLIMS & JEWS IN HOLLYWOOD
An excellent report was written around Muslims in Hollywood by Haqq (Truth) & Hollywood.
Report - “Haqq & Hollywood - Illuminating 100 years of Muslim Tropes & how to Transform Them” for some detail on Muslim discrimination in Hollywood. Download copy here: 📄🔗⬇️👉 https://popcollab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/HaqqAndHollywood_Report.pdf
The JITC Hollywood Bureau openly call for STORYLINE representation in Hollywood, and caricatures etc. drawing a direct line to antisemitic attack.
From Haqq - there is not even representation or association with Islam on the screen through lack of representation in the industry, together with “terrorism” tropes when there are - there’s a tiny representation of Arab actors to even challenge STORYLINE to the point of Jewish characters. Dissatisfaction at being shown at too privileged in scripting is a different issue from being represented - when you are even on screen - as a terrorist or societally negative terms.
And remember you’re broadcasting to an audience where a large % digest right-wing biased news channels such as Fox as their experience of minorities outside the borders since only 48% of Americans have a passport42, so doubles down on the issue of poor representation in entertainment media.
A research project waiting to happen
OK - so let’s get empirical.
Finally - to back this up - some academic with statistical and research abilities (and a shit load of time and INDEPENDENCE) needs to do some serious research across the different categories, reviewing how many people are already Jewish in the positions outlined in the policy.
This can sensibly be done WITHOUT accusations of being antisemitic.
This should be the process that is conducted for adding ANY proposed group to these standards (or removing existing).
Indeed as with Haq & Hollywood - you should contrast in the study Muslim representation in Hollywood using exactly the same methodology as a comparison case.
Research project waiting to happen.
I don’t get it…
Putting aide the fact the standards already are piecemeal, with opt-ins, selective application of role and no positive discrimination weighted towards senior roles - why is this an issue?
“Jewish” does not make sense against the other categories.
Current over-representation - and you’re only inviting a study to empirically prove this.
Standards would need overhauled to properly implement D&I unconditionally at the senior levels
So why raise this at all?
I don’t get it.
But I welcome it!
RELATED ARTICLES
Summary of Substack Related Articles referenced in this article:
Related Articles on the broader 🇺🇸 US lobby:
🏦💰🇮🇱👤 CONGRESS: The Pro-Israeli Grip on American Politics
🎓🇮🇱👤 ACADEMIA: Culture of Cancelling and Control
🎓🇦🇺🇮🇱🚫 Sydney University: Complicity in Genocide:
🎓🇦🇺🇮🇱🚫 Australian Pro-Lobby Group campaign to silence Australian University encampments:
The Godfather Wiki - Jack Woltz - https://godfather.fandom.com/wiki/Jack_Woltz
The Conversation: Dec 12 2015 “How Frank Sinatra staged his great second act – on the silver screen“ - https://theconversation.com/how-frank-sinatra-staged-his-great-second-act-on-the-silver-screen-47240
The Guardian 2 Dec 2023 - “‘People are being penalised’: Hollywood divided over Israel-Hamas conflict“ -https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/dec/02/hollywood-divide-israel-gaza-conflict-susan-sarandon-cynthia-nixon
Creative Community for Peace Website: Open Letter on Hamas attacks Oct 12 - https://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/blog/2023/10/12/israel-under-attack-open-letter/
Jewish Voices for Peace Oct 4 2018 “Documents Prove “Creative Community for Peace” is Front for Right Wing Israel Lobby Group “StandWithUs” - https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2018/10/04/ccpfisraelilobby/
Stand With Us Donor Stories - “Esther Renzer, Roz & Jerry Rothstein: President, CEO and COO of StandWithUs, Co-Founders of StandWithUs“ - https://www.swuedcenterdonors.org/visionaries
CCFP Website Gala “Celebrating Ambassadors of Peace 2023“ - https://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/gala/
Stand With Us website Dec 13 2023 “StandWithUs “Festival of Lights” 2023 LA Gala a Unifier“ - https://www.standwithus.com/post/standwithus-festival-of-lights-2023-la-gala-a-unifier
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East website, Golan Heights Factsheet June 2010 - “BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN: GOLAN HEIGHTS WINE & LIQUOR BOARDS“ - https://www.cjpme.org/fs_084
i24 News Nov 14 2015 “Winery defies new EU labelling policy by printing Israeli flags on bottles“ - https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/92334-151113-winery-defies-new-eu-labelling-policy-by-printing-israeli-flags-on-bottles
The Vulture - 20 Nov 2023 - “‘I’m Very Careful Not to Use Words Like Genocide’“ - https://www.vulture.com/article/israel-palestine-gaza-war-anonymous-in-hollywood.html
WTF with Marc Maron Jul 27 2020 Episode 1143 Seth Rogan - ‘“ - http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-1143-seth-rogen
Times of Israel 3 Aug 2020 “Seth Rogen says he didn’t apologize for Israel comments“ - https://www.timesofisrael.com/seth-rogen-says-he-didnt-apologize-for-israel-comments/
LA Times 1 Dec 2023: “Melissa Barrera showed solidarity with Palestinians. Hollywood showed its persistent double standard“ - https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2023-11-30/melissa-barrera-scream-israel-palestine-scream-noah-schnapp-stranger-things
Variety Nov 21 2023 “UTA Drops Susan Sarandon After Comments at Pro-Palestine Rally in New York“ - https://variety.com/2023/film/news/susan-sarandon-uta-dropped-palestine-rally-1235804444/
Hollywood Reporter 22 Oct 2023 “CAA’s Maha Dakhil Steps Away From Leadership Role After Israel-Hamas Remarks“ - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/caas-maha-dakhil-steps-down-from-leadership-role-after-israel-hamas-remarks-1235624439
Creative Coalition for Peace website Nov 14 2023 “Roger Water’s label asked to break with him“ - https://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/blog/2023/11/14/roger-waters-label-is-asked-to-break-with-him
The Guardian 31 Jan 2024 - “Roger Waters dropped by BMG over Israel Comments“ - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/jan/30/bmg-pink-floyd-roger-waters-antisemitic-comments
US State Department Travel website, statistics - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/about-us/reports-and-statistics.html/
Times of Israel 9 Jun 2018 - “‘You Don’t Mess With the Zohan’ was Adam Sandler’s liberal Zionist manifesto“ - https://www.timesofisrael.com/you-dont-mess-with-the-zohan-was-adam-sandlers-liberal-zionist-manifesto/
JITC Hollywood Bureau for Jewish Representation - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdPwEa3bz1R8O1nglZPSfT9nWtiEbNjg8uJUSvvyy4I_eTvg/viewform
The Hollywood Reporter 9 Jan 2024 - “Julianna Margulies, Greg Berlanti, Mayim Bialik Among 260 Signatories of Letter to Film Academy Critiquing Jewish Exclusion from Diversity Standards“ - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jewish-hollywood-letter-academy-inclusion-standards-1235782834/
EuroNews 4th March 2024 - “Eurovision 2024: Israel agrees to change lyrics to its controversial entry ‘October Rain’“ - https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/03/04/eurovision-2024-israel-agrees-to-change-lyrics-to-its-controversial-entry-october-rain
The Vulture Apr 9 2024 - “Eurovision Is Facing Boycott Calls Over Israel’s Inclusion“ - https://www.vulture.com/article/eurovision-2024-israel-boycott.html#
Independent 17 October 2023 “Tilda Swinton, Steve Coogan and Miriam Margolyes among 2,000 artists calling for Gaza ceasefire“- https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/gaza-israel-hamas-tilda-swinton-b2431129.html
The Independent 3 Dec 2023 : Olivia Colman among 1,300 actors condemning Scream 7 firing as ‘censorship’ in open letter- https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/olivia-colman-melissa-barrera-fired-scream-7-b2457294.html
Variety 18 Mar 2024 - “Over 1,000 Jewish Creatives and Professionals Have Now Denounced Jonathan Glazer’s ‘Zone of Interest’ Oscars Speech in Open Letter“ - https://variety.com/2024/film/news/jonathan-glazer-oscar-speech-zone-of-interest-open-letter-1235944880/
Variety - Fri 5 Apr “Joaquin Phoenix, Elliott Gould, Chloe Fineman and More Jewish Creatives Support Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars Speech in Open Letter“ - https://variety.com/2024/film/global/jonathan-glazer-oscars-speech-support-jewish-creatives-open-letter-1235960158/
The Hollywood Reporter 28 Nov 2023 - “Gigi Hadid Apologizes After Backlash Over Post Amid Israel-Hamas Hostage Swap“ - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/gigi-hadid-apologizes-israel-1235683520/
Roya News 5 Apr 2024 - “Hadid launches Palestinian-centered film production label “Watermelon pictures”“ - https://en.royanews.tv/news/50507/2024-04-05
PR NewsWire (only Western outlet covering this as the point) 4 Apr 2024 “WATERMELON PICTURES LAUNCHES, ALANA HADID NAMED CREATIVE DIRECTOR“ - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/watermelon-pictures-launches-alana-hadid-named-creative-director-302108488.html
MyArtBroker - “A Brief Guide To Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel In Bethlehem“ - https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-banksy/guides/10-things-to-know-about-banksys-walled-off-hotel-in-bethlehem
The Independent 1 May 2024 “Why have Columbia students renamed the college hall they occupied Hinds Hall?“ - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/hamilton-hall-columbia-university-nypd-hind-rajab-b2537577.html
The Independent: 11 Feb 2024 “A 6-year-old Palestinian girl was killed — as were the paramedics trying to rescue her — by Israeli tanks“ - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/palestinian-girl-killed-israeli-tanks-hind-rajab-b2494129.html
Time Magazine 20 May 2014 “Macklemore Apologizes for Costume Deemed Anti-Semitic“ - https://time.com/105848/macklemore-apology-anti-semitism/
ADL Press Release 20 May 2014 “ADL Welcomes Macklemore’s Apology for Outfit Some Viewed as Anti-Semitic“ - https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-welcomes-macklemores-apology-outfit-some-viewed-anti-semitic
International Criminal Court Case ICC-01/018 “Situation in the State of Palestine“ - https://www.icc-cpi.int/palestine
Newsweek 8 May 2024 - “YouTube Accused of Censoring Macklemore's 'Hind's Hall'“ - https://www.newsweek.com/youtube-accused-censoring-macklemore-hinds-hall-1898269
Oscars Representation and Inclusion Standards - AMPS Website - https://www.oscars.org/awards/representation-and-inclusion-standards
The Times of Israel 23 Jun 2016 “Who said Jews run Hollywood?“ - https://www.timesofisrael.com/who-said-jews-run-hollywood/
US State Department Travel website, statistics - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/about-us/reports-and-statistics.html/