DESPITE BANS PRO-LIFE FEATURE 'UNPLANNED' TOPPLES THE GOLIATH LEFT
Despite bans and Hollywood's threats of blacklisting, the movie "Unplanned" and its team has weathered the pro-choice storm and emerged a hit with viewers.
▶ BY KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER
It appears as if the Hollywood left and lame-stream media’s threats to ruin the reach of the pro-life film Unplanned by ban and blacklisting of industry professionals involved in Unplanned didn’t exactly go as planned, although it did take a skilled acrobat to maneuver through all of the hoops and obstacles the pro-choice coalition constructed to block a pathway to success.
Actress Stacey Bradshaw, cast as Karen in the film, posted on Facebook that during the filming of the project that she was not phased by the advancing threat.
“When Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, writers and co-directors for Unplanned called to offer me a role, they warned me that Hollywood would probably blacklist me after I acted in this film,” Bradshaw posted. “I replied that I would be perfectly happy acting in pro-life films the rest of my life. This is a cause I care deeply about and I am so grateful for the chance to labor alongside so many amazing men and women as we used our unique talents to make a difference in the crusade for the unborn.”
Actress Robin DeMarco, cast in the role of Kathleen, said she was aware of some threats regarding the movie, but not originating in the United States.
“I know there was boycotting in Canada and I heard about death threats to some Canadian theaters who were showing it,” DeMarco told CM. “I personally have had no attacks. If the industry is boycotting me, I’m not aware of it.”
Daryl Lefever, one of the executive producers of Unplanned, pointed to Canada, as well, as engaging in a ban of the film.
“In Canada the theaters dropped our theatrical run after just one week despite being the #1 per screen average film in North America,” Lefever told CM. “So they were making more money per screen off of Unplanned than Spiderman, yet they dropped Unplanned. You don't drop a film that is making money, that's just bad business... unless of course you don't like what the film has to say.”
Lefever conveyed in spite of the negative press and attempts to block Unplanned, the film continues to “embolden people wherever it is shown.”
“We are now working our way around the world, and when people see that they are not in a small minority of pro life advocates, they are encouraged,” he added. “When people see the truth about what happens to a baby in the womb it changes hearts to want to defend life.”
The motion picture’s co-writer, director Chuck Konzelman, presented the challenges the project faced before a Senate hearing only a few months ago.
“From the outset, making a pro-life film in a pro-choice town, Los Angeles, we knew we would face a number of challenges,” Konzelman said at the hearing. “The MPAA saddled us with an ‘R’ rating, which strongly discourages much of the Christian audience, and all of the Church of Latter-day Saints from seeing our film, since they have a general prohibition against seeing ‘R’ rated films. It also precluded us from using the single most effective form of motion picture advertising–paid placement of our theatrical trailer before other films in theaters.”
Konzelman stated that cable stations wouldn’t allow the Unplanned producers to buy advertising spots, with the only exceptions being FOX and CBN. Google also banned placement of any ads. Excuses usually were “because of the sensitive nature” of the film’s topic.
“We consider these blanket refusals highly unusual and highly discriminatory, and have formally petitioned the FCC to look further into the matter,” Konzelman said in his speech.
Regardless of how big this opposition Goliath was, David succeeded to victory. Unplanned remains a growing surge no gate can stand against.
Actress Robin DeMarco said she’s received nothing but kind commentary about the film and her role in it.
“There’s been so many nice comments,” DeMarco said. “Mostly thanking me for taking the risk in doing this movie. Also, about people changing their minds [on the pro-choice issue].”
It appears as if the Hollywood left and lame-stream media’s threats to ruin the reach of the pro-life film Unplanned by ban and blacklisting of industry professionals involved in Unplanned didn’t exactly go as planned, although it did take a skilled acrobat to maneuver through all of the hoops and obstacles the pro-choice coalition constructed to block a pathway to success.
Actress Stacey Bradshaw, cast as Karen in the film, posted on Facebook that during the filming of the project that she was not phased by the advancing threat.
“When Cary Solomon and Chuck Konzelman, writers and co-directors for Unplanned called to offer me a role, they warned me that Hollywood would probably blacklist me after I acted in this film,” Bradshaw posted. “I replied that I would be perfectly happy acting in pro-life films the rest of my life. This is a cause I care deeply about and I am so grateful for the chance to labor alongside so many amazing men and women as we used our unique talents to make a difference in the crusade for the unborn.”
Actress Robin DeMarco, cast in the role of Kathleen, said she was aware of some threats regarding the movie, but not originating in the United States.
“I know there was boycotting in Canada and I heard about death threats to some Canadian theaters who were showing it,” DeMarco told CM. “I personally have had no attacks. If the industry is boycotting me, I’m not aware of it.”
Daryl Lefever, one of the executive producers of Unplanned, pointed to Canada, as well, as engaging in a ban of the film.
“In Canada the theaters dropped our theatrical run after just one week despite being the #1 per screen average film in North America,” Lefever told CM. “So they were making more money per screen off of Unplanned than Spiderman, yet they dropped Unplanned. You don't drop a film that is making money, that's just bad business... unless of course you don't like what the film has to say.”
Lefever conveyed in spite of the negative press and attempts to block Unplanned, the film continues to “embolden people wherever it is shown.”
“We are now working our way around the world, and when people see that they are not in a small minority of pro life advocates, they are encouraged,” he added. “When people see the truth about what happens to a baby in the womb it changes hearts to want to defend life.”
The motion picture’s co-writer, director Chuck Konzelman, presented the challenges the project faced before a Senate hearing only a few months ago.
“From the outset, making a pro-life film in a pro-choice town, Los Angeles, we knew we would face a number of challenges,” Konzelman said at the hearing. “The MPAA saddled us with an ‘R’ rating, which strongly discourages much of the Christian audience, and all of the Church of Latter-day Saints from seeing our film, since they have a general prohibition against seeing ‘R’ rated films. It also precluded us from using the single most effective form of motion picture advertising–paid placement of our theatrical trailer before other films in theaters.”
Konzelman stated that cable stations wouldn’t allow the Unplanned producers to buy advertising spots, with the only exceptions being FOX and CBN. Google also banned placement of any ads. Excuses usually were “because of the sensitive nature” of the film’s topic.
“We consider these blanket refusals highly unusual and highly discriminatory, and have formally petitioned the FCC to look further into the matter,” Konzelman said in his speech.
Regardless of how big this opposition Goliath was, David succeeded to victory. Unplanned remains a growing surge no gate can stand against.
Actress Robin DeMarco said she’s received nothing but kind commentary about the film and her role in it.
“There’s been so many nice comments,” DeMarco said. “Mostly thanking me for taking the risk in doing this movie. Also, about people changing their minds [on the pro-choice issue].”
