Newsletter sign-up: 
Get Breaking News on your cellPETA: Don't touch the monkey
1:28 PM Wed, Apr 09, 2008 | Permalink |
E-mail News tips
 |
 |
 
|
|
July 2008
Recent Posts
'The Dark Knight' breaks opening weekend record 'The Dark Knight' raking it in Batman car rolls into Dallas on Friday Chris Vognar on KERA's 'Think' Categories
GuideLive.com
Entertainment Blogs |
Beware if you have a chimp in your movie: PETA is watching. In the last week I've received two E-blasts from the animal rights organization, one concerning the new documentary Circus Rosaire (just played at AFI-Dallas; check the earlier post here), the other condemning the upcoming adaptation of the anime TV icon Speed Racer (which I'm tempted to condemn just because of its live-action format, but I digress). Keep reading for the full text of PETA's Speed lament. On behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 1.8 million members and supporters worldwide, I'm writing to you concerning the soon-to-be-released live-action feature film Speedracer. Unfortunately, in spite of PETA's request to leave real animals out of the film, the Wachowski brothers chose to use a live chimpanzee to play the role of Chim Chim. If you review this film, we kindly ask that you consider conveying to your readers that its use of real chimpanzees is cruel and unnecessary.
While filming in Germany, a whistleblower contacted PETA alleging that one of the two chimpanzees used in Speedracer was severely beaten. The beating was said to have taken place out of the view of the cast and crew. PETA also confirmed the whistleblower's report that a chimpanzee suddenly attacked and bit a young actor.
The filmmakers ignored PETA's recommendation to use more reliable and humane alternatives, such as computer-generated imagery (CGI) or animatronics. In the film industry, infant chimpanzees--only a few weeks old--are forcibly removed from their mothers, causing lifelong emotional scars for both mother and baby. Trainers want these curious and playful animals to know who is boss, so the animals are often subjected to repeated beatings--a practice that the industry accurately refers to as "breaking the spirit."
The American Humane Association (AHA) gives its stamp of approval to a production that uses animals based on the short amount of time that the animals are on the set. The AHA does not take into account abusive training prior to or during production, trainer convictions for animal-related offenses, violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, or long-term living conditions for animals who are no longer used in productions. PETA has found former "celebrity" chimpanzees living in filth at roadside zoos. Great apes are typically discarded by Hollywood trainers around age 8, when they become too powerful to control--despite the fact that these animals can live to be 60 years old.
CGI, animatronics, green screens, puppets, costumed actors, models, and stock footage have been used instead of live animals with great success in productions such as King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia. The success of films like Transformers has proved that audiences appreciate the creative genius behind such technologies. If you review this film, we hope that you will include information about the controversy surrounding the use of great apes in films. |
 | |
|
Spotlight
|
|
Comments
Posted by Justin Longprey @ 10:14 AM Sat, Apr 12, 2008
Regarding PETA, I recommend everyone should visit the website:
www.petakillsanimals.com
Get informed folks!!