Theater chain refuses to show black film

[proud2BlibKansan]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The CEO of a theater chain said he won't show a film about black college fraternities at any of his Springfield theaters this week out of fear it could trigger the kind of gang violence that erupted during another movie last month.

The decision drew criticism from the president of the Springfield branch of the NAACP, who said it hurts black audiences, particularly black families that would be attracted to what he says is an uplifting film.

The movie, ''Stomp the Yard,'' is about a dance competition between black college fraternities.
Tony Kerasotes of Kerasotes Theatres, a Midwest chain, said he did not make his decision based on race but out of concern that the film would attract gang members.

He said he feared a repeat of a fight and shooting that occurred during a Christmas Day screening of ''Black Christmas'' at Parkway Pointe theater in Springfield. ''Black Christmas'' is a horror film and did not depict the black community.

Police said two groups of youths began fighting inside the theater and at least two fired shots in the theater's lobby. One teen was shot during the melee that police say stemmed from a long-standing feud between two gangs.

more . . . http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/2007/01/theater_chain_w.html

[Mythsaje]

1. Any ol' excuse will do, I guess. n/t

[jelly]

2. That is so sad.

Somehow I never quit feeling shocked when reminded about the amount of rank prejudice that remains in our society.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. It is repulsive, IMO

Just repulsive.

[ReadTomPaine]

9. Perfect word. Repulsive. n/t

[Tikki]

4. Maybe this theatre chain will show, instead....

the movie "Alpha Dog"....the story of young middle-class white drug dealing and murderous monsters. :sarcasm:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Kerasotes, eh?

Won't be going there.

[Benhurst]

6. Following his "reasoning," I guess he wouldn't have been able to screen

Men in Black, The Black Dahlia, or Black Hawk Down.

What an idiot. :rofl:

[KurtNYC]

7. Bad PR move by Kerasote

But I can't imagine this film is as spiritually uplifting as it's supporters say. It seems like a re-tread of a story which has been done about every 2 years forever:

You Got Served (2004)
Bring It On
Breakin'
Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo
Saturday Night Fever
..and about 10 others

[MountainLaurel]

20. Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo

:scared:

[madrchsod]

8. two shots fired inside the theater?

i doubt the gangs could give a shit about anyone else in that lobby. it`s not about race it`s about thugs with guns and it`s not tony that`s hurting the families it is the thugs. it seems every theater in his chain is showing the film

http://www.kerasotes.com/Movie.aspx?FilmID=2029
Now Showing - Stomp The Yard

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. The idea that this particular film is more likely to attract gang members

who shoot at each other is just beyond ignorant.

[madrchsod]

15. ya i agree with you on that

i just thought about after i posted. i do think that he will show the film in the near future in springfield because of three things-- money that he is losing by not showing it , the movie distributor who wants the film shown ,and bad pr...

[RamboLiberal]

16. There was a shootout in the lobby of a theater near me

close to Pittsburgh last year. One of the movies showing was 50 Cent movie, "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'". The theater pulled the film though I don't think they have pulled any other film since. The guy shot was 30 so not exactly teen gangbangers.

I do think there is a problem with big entertainment companies and some of the culture of hip-hop promoting the culture of guns, drugs, bling-bling, etc.

This theater also cracked down on parents dropping off their teens on the holidays (Christmas/Easter) to roam the theater which caused a huge problem one holiday. Probably just a few kids but unfortunately everyone pays for a few peoples bad behavior.

Theaters and malls are the community gathering places, so if there are problems in the community then they are going to take place in these places as well.

I have mixed feelings about this one. So far I think the incidents are isolated but if a theater owner feels a movie may attract an audience element that puts his other theatergoers in danger, well then it's probably in his right not to book it.

I don't think it's necessarily racist. Having said all that I don't think the film in the OP should've been banned. I was the previews of this one and I sure didn't see any reason for banning it.

Maybe next for theaters will be metal detectors at the door.

[frylock]

11. black christmas was a "black" movie?!

Somebody should set this cracker straight.

[and-justice-for-all]

13. I dont think its the movie that is the issue..

...its the wrong people together at the wrong time and place.

It could have happened anywhere and I bet it was inevitable, specially if it was gang related.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Apparently it is the word "BLACK"

that bothers this ignoramus.

[and-justice-for-all]

12. People can be so tribal...

..After all these millions of years of evolution, we still maintain that barbaric, tribal mentality. Sad indeed...

[KurtNYC]

17. Films playing while audience shoots each other - a partial list

This is not uncommon in movie theaters. I googled out a list of films which were on-screen while audience members shot each other. The results were surprising:

Schindler List - 1994 San Diego
X-Men: The Last Stand - 2006, Baltimore
The Warriors - 1979
New Jack City - Los Angeles
Get Rich or Die Tryin'

[GreenInNC]

18. The midwest is so racist

This is what I expect from the midwest, nothing but a bunch of backwoods country fu--s. The guy is probably married to his cousin and dropped out of school in the second grade. Bet he has a rebel flag on the wall of his single wide. I imagine all the people in Springfield are as racist as he is.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Oh yes I'll bet there's a lynching a week there

:sarcasm:

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. As for the film itself, I have low expectations about the the depth of

the storyline but I am looking forward to the choreography, to be sure. (Cardboard cutout dance-off movies like "Breakin'", "Bring It On", "You Got Served", and "Drumline" have left me sour on the genre. But I always watch at least once to savor the choreography.)