If you thought rampant conservative groups preaching about the safety of our children from the evils of media were strictly the domain of the US, think again. Right here in my home country two very small groups have managed to affect both a film production and TV show airing in the last day or so to the point it's causing headlines in papers country wide.
The most eyebrow-raising news came today from <a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9426476%255E2702,00.html" target="_blank">The Australian</a> which reports that plans for filming of the $100 million action epic "Stealth" in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, have partly been stopped due to a Land and Environment Court decision. Their concern? The fate of the larvae of a giant native dragonfly.
After two months of filming at Sydney's Fox Studios lot, the "Stealth" production left to film this week in the Blue Mountains region and then locations overseas for an additional 2-3 weeks. The scene at the centre of the environmental wrangle, which was meant to start filming today, involves actress Jessica Biel being shot at while running through a hanging swamp nestled between two hilltops surrounded by exposed cliffs and canyons in the picturesque area of Mt. Hey.
The crew had spent two days building and locking equipment into place before the $300,000+ a day shoot was put on hold. It's still there pending an urgent appeal by the State Premier Bob Carr who fears the court's decision sends "the worst possible message for overseas film-makers".
In news of a whole different other lobby group, <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/24/1082812659542.html" target="_blank">The Sydney Morning Herald </a>reports that five major sponsors of the Australian TV broadcast of the lesbian drama "The L Word" have pulled their support of the show following pressure from a small Christian organization called the Saltshakers - though it's not for the reason you'd think.
Like most quality imported television in this country (ie. Sopranos, West Wing, Buffy, Alias, 24, etc.), the show began in a late night timeslot a few weeks ago (have been watching from Ep1 and enjoying it, damn Miss Beals you're stunning girl). Thus the Seven network relied a lot on the program's commercial sponsors, but advertisers Just Jeans, DaimlerChrysler, Roche, Allianz, and Centrum have all pulled their ads from the show after complains by the Saltshakers (a group totalling a mere 600 or so).
The complaints were NOT about the nudity or sex scenes depicted in the programs, but rather that one of the subplots about a lesbian couple looking to conceive by self-insemination and the messages it would send about raising a child in a father-less family (some people really DO have to much time on their hands don't they).
Thanks to 'Rob'
