Donald Trumpplans to issue 100% price On films and television shows filmed and made abroad, has received more perspective.
A group of more than 100 cinema and television bodies from around the world have united to sign a open letter Calling for governments to “protect the systems that support the independent film and audiovisual creation”.
The letter clearly targets Trump, but also calls into question the “platforms focused on algorithms and the growing domination of world entertainment conglomerates”, in the rise of AI in production. The letter seems to have been timed to be published at the dawn of the Cannes Film Festival and with the industry still in shock from pricing proposals.
Those who report include audioovisual producers Italian association, Screen Producers Australia, the European Audiovisual Production Association (CEPI), the Canadian Media Producers Association, the European Producers Club, the European Film Academy, the company France Société des Authors et Composers Dramata Corps.
Trump shocked the world of entertainment earlier this month when he Announced plans To put a 100% price on films imported from abroad – including American films that run abroad. Later, television production was included in the plan, which intervened after his “special ambassador” in Hollywood, Jon Voight, had revealed a report seeking to save the entertainment industry.
The plan has dropped as well as one could imagine internationally, which aggravates the fears that Trump further defies the directive on the audiovisual media services of the European Union, the quotas of local content and the requirements that streamers invest parts of their income in local markets such as Canada.
An open letter entitled “a global declaration for artistic freedom, cultural diversity and cultural sovereignty” has now been published. This letter begins by note how public funding, cultural policy and regulations have favored independent production, saying: “We, creators, professionals, businesses and organizations in the film and audiovisual sector, as well as culturally committed citizens, united to defend the right to tell our own stories – stories rooted in our cultures, our languages and identities – and ensure that people can continue to continue to access and appreciate.”
Although he does not directly name Trump, who recently killed funding For PBS and NPR through a decree, he continues: “Today, support for independent cinema and audiovisual narration is increasingly threatened.
“We are witnessing increasingly aggressive attempts of powerful political actors and companies to dismantle regulatory protections which ensure the diversity and accessibility of cultural expression.”
The letter indicates that these actions take place alongside wider attacks against pluralism and freedom of expression “and adds that” if they succeed, it will become more and more difficult for various voices to be heard, so that the whole ecosystem creates, produces, distributes, promoted and presents films and audiovisual works with success and for local cultures. »»
The signatories require that their artistic freedoms be maintained and “firmly” opposed “any political, legal or economic initiative which seeks to undermine the national or international rules” supporting this framework. They also call on their governments to strengthen the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
“We call on all governments to remain firm and protect the systems that support the independent film and audiovisual creation so that culture, creativity and democratic access to various screen stories can continue to flourish.”
During the weekend, UK Entertainment Union Equity said it was “Industrial-action” If the interviews with body producers and world streamers collapse. Equity has not signed the open letter today.