All it took to for the LA Times to earn the wrath of Disney was the publication of the two-part story: “Is Disney paying its share in Anaheim?” and “How one election changed Disneyland’s relationship with its hometown.” The mega-corporation did not take kindly to anybody daring to question their business practices, and swiftly barred LA Times reporters and critics from covering their films. Disney went on to defend the decision, saying they believed the Times reporting was “biased and inaccurate.”
Now, the LA Times is getting some massive support from their colleagues in their battle against Disney. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics have announced that they are disqualifying Disney’s films from awards consideration this year until the ban against the LA Times is lifted.
It’s a bold and powerful move, and one that should have Disney sitting up and paying attention. The studio has launched their For Your Consideration site, which already includes pages for “Beauty And The Beast,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Coco,” “Cars 3,” and “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.” Undoubtedly, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” will be added in the weeks ahead. While it’s not the Oscars, garlands from critics are great publicity boosters for any movie, and Disney certainly doesn’t want major critics from across the country turning their backs on them.
Meanwhile, the critics have support from filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who is behind the camera for Disney’s “A Wrinkle In Time” opening next year:
Saluting the film journalists standing up for one another. Standing with you. https://t.co/M9Fs22vv4L
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) November 7, 2017
There’s no response from Disney just yet, but we’ll see what the next move in this chess match will be. Read the full statement from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association below:
Nov. 7, 2017 — The members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics jointly denounce the Walt Disney Company’s media blackout of the Los Angeles Times. Furthermore, all four critics’ organizations have voted to disqualify Disney’s films from year-end awards consideration until said blackout is publicly rescinded.
On Nov. 3, The Times published a statement that its writers and editors had been blocked from attending advance screenings of Disney films, in response to The Times’ news coverage of Disney’s business arrangements with the City of Anaheim. Disney’s actions, which include an indefinite ban on any interaction with The Times, are antithetical to the principles of a free press and set a dangerous precedent in a time of already heightened hostility toward journalists.
It is admittedly extraordinary for a critics’ group, let alone four critics’ groups, to take any action that might penalize film artists for decisions beyond their control. But Disney brought forth this action when it chose to punish The Times’ journalists rather than express its disagreement with a business story via ongoing public discussion. Disney’s response should gravely concern all who believe in the importance of a free press, artists included.
The New York Film Critics Circle will vote on its annual awards Thursday, Nov. 30; the Los Angeles Film Critics Association will vote Sunday, Dec. 3; the Boston Society of Film Critics will vote Sunday, Dec. 10; and the National Society of Film Critics will vote Saturday, Jan. 6.