US Senator Ted Cruz introduces bill aimed at reducing China's influence on Hollywood
Anger is mounting against China across the world over the coronavirus outbreak. The United States is no different. It wants to go after the villain in the story and the plot is thickening.
Now American Senator Ted Cruz wants to go after China's favourite weapon - its censors. He wants to introduce a bill, it is called the "stopping censorship, restoring integrity, protecting talkies" Act.
In short, the script act and it seeks to change the script that Hollywood has followed all along. In other words, the bill aims to reduce China's influence on the American film industry that is if the film studios toe Beijing's line they will have to pay the price bowing down to China's censors and editing movies would mean the film studios will be blocked from receiving help from the Pentagon.
American movies have often been edited to please China's censors. The films are tweaked before Chinese audiences view them. Bohemian Rhapsody is a case in point. In the biopic on Freddie Mercury - the lead singer of the rock band Queen, a scene about the singer's sexuality was removed before Chinese viewers watched the film.
China's censors did not want homosexuality to be featured not just homosexuality. Reports say films linked to politics and military themes are subjected to extra scrutiny and that's where the Texas Republican wants to step in.
"For too long, Hollywood has been complicit in China’s censorship and propaganda in the name of bigger profits. The Script Act will serve as a wake-up call by forcing Hollywood studios to choose between the assistance they need from the American government and the dollars they want from China," US Senator Ted Cruz said.
The Senator plans to introduce the bill when the Senate is next in session but what's the Pentagon got to do with Hollywood?
A lot more than you think. A report by the Independent tells you how deep the ties run between the two. Between 1911 and 2017, over 800 feature films got support from the Department of Defence including franchises like Iron Man and The Terminator. So, if film studios want support, they will not be allowed to give in to Chinese pressure meaning, China's censors will not apply to Hollywood.