Issues
We exist because we have the right to use not only our place in public, but also our voice. The First Amendment guards this right to freedom of speech.
THE CREATIVE COALITION EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR ROBIN BRONK'S STATEMENT TO CONGRESS ON
PROTECTING AMERICAN CREATIVITY
- Click here to
read her statement
THE
CREATIVE COALITION'S RESPONSE TO FCC DECISIONS
- Click here to read the response
Testimony of TCC Co-President Joe Pantoliano before the
United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
My name is Joe Pantoliano and along with Tony Goldwyn
I serve as Co-President of The Creative Coalition. We
are the leading nonprofit, non-partisan advocacy arm of
the arts and entertainment community. We advocate
for First Amendment protections, arts education in
schools, and combating runaway television and movie
production. On this last issue, The Creative
Coalition has been a leading voice in successfully
passing state, local and federal tax incentives that
bring film and television jobs back into the United
States. We would like to bring this same inventive
leadership to the issue of broadcast decency. As
leaders in the entertainment industry, we hope to offer
meaningful approaches to addressing parental concerns
about broadcast content, while preserving creative
expression on the airwaves.
I’m honored to be here today to talk about issues
that are important to me not only as the Co-President of
The Creative Coalition, but more importantly as a
father. Throughout my career I have performed in a
diverse array of movies ranging from the live-action
animated children's movie “Racing Stripes” to the
R-rated sci-fi thriller "The Matrix." I also played a
role on “The Sopranos,” a show that I was proud to be a
part of and one that critics hailed as one of the most
innovative shows on the small screen… a show that
contains graphic language and violence.
I am somewhat flabbergasted on the many occasions
that parents approach me with their young children and
encourage their children to tell me how much they love
"The Sopranos.” On these occasions, I can't help but
think "why would they let their children watch this
show"? It is simply not appropriate for anyone
under the age of eighteen. But the fact remains that
adults should have the flexibility and opportunity to
watch shows like “The Sopranos,” or "South Park" or
"Desperate Housewives." If people stopped watching
these shows, they'd be off the air. Instead,
they're some of the highest-rated programs on TV today,
one on premium cable, one on basic cable, and one on
network TV. However, these shows are clearly not
intended for children. Parents need to know which shows
are, and aren't, appropriate for kids. That's why
my family loves the MPAA ratings system. My
youngest daughters can open the movie section of the
paper and instantly tell from the ratings what they'll
be allowed to see. And my wife and I can monitor
what they watch in theatres because we're the ones who
drive them there. Monitoring what they watch at home,
however, has become increasingly difficult. Given
the array of media options out there, this generation of
families needs to be media literate. Parents need
as many tools as they can find
–
from clear ratings guides to TV channel blocks
–
in order to monitor what their children watch. The
Creative Coalition is playing a prominent role in
educating families about available tools. We are
using our public platform to encourage parents to make
educated and appropriate choices. Because parents and
caregivers, not the government, are the proper parties
to make these choices. The government should help
educate… not regulate. Empowering parents is
always preferable to government intervention.
Creative expression is the core of the Bill of
Rights... It is the fuel that propels the economic
engine of the American entertainment industry.
This industry represents 20% of our gross domestic
product and 40% of our exports.
Government censorship or fines will have a negative
impact on the creative programming that many of us
enjoy. We've seen the World War II classic “Saving
Private Ryan” pulled off the air in one-third of the
country on Veteran’s Day. Local TV stations around
the country deleted entire sections from a PBS
documentary about the Iraq war due to soldiers’
language. The history of innovative broadcast
programming –
from Edward R. Murrow to “All in the Family” to “NYPD
Blue” to talk radio
–
has relied on free expression without fear of government
retaliation. The indecency fines which passed the House
of Representatives could undermine free expression by
threatening all American citizens with a $500,000 fine
for exercising their First Amendment rights on the air.
These fines are often referred to as performer fines,
but that is a misnomer. This is not a
Hollywood issue; it is an everyman issue.
These fines would not be limited to high-profile
celebrities such as Janet Jackson or Howard Stern.
They would apply to every American citizen who the FCC
deems in violation. Thus, “man on the street”
interviewees, athletes, elected officials, and call-in
show listeners could face financial ruin if they say the
wrong thing, even if it's accidental. The legal
fees alone involved with hiring a special FCC lawyer
could drive the average person into the poor house.
Chairman Stevens and Members of the Committee, I
implore you to reject these fine increases that are an
affront to our most basic liberty. Please don't
sell away our artistic freedoms for half a million
dollars.
In conclusion, I think that President George W. Bush
had it right. He said that "as a free speech
advocate, I often told parents who were complaining
about content, you're the first line of responsibility;
they put an off button on the TV for a reason.
Turn it off."
Chairman Stevens, I applaud your leadership in this
regard and we at The Creative Coalition look forward to
working with you and members of the Committee as this
issue moves forward.
Thank you.
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