Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wants to block movies backed by the Pentagon from being subjected to Chinese censorship.
Cruz is putting together legislation, “The Stopping Censorship, Restoring Integrity, Protecting Talkies Act” (SCRIPT Act) to halt contracts between the Pentagon and film studios that edit movies for Chinese audiences, according to the National Review.
“For too long, Hollywood has been complicit in China’s censorship and propaganda in the name of bigger profits,” Cruz said. “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.”
Every foreign film that asks to be screened in China is reviewed by officials in that country. And the National Review noted Chinese officials have been known to recut or cancel screening to audiences.
Last year, "Top Gun: Maverick" encountered some controversy after the trailer appeared to show that aspects of the film had been changed to “appease the Chinese Communist Party."
The trailer for the movie showed that patches featuring the Japanese and Taiwanese flags had been replaced on the back of the jacket worn by Tom Cruise's character.
"Top Gun is an American classic, and it's incredibly disappointing to see Hollywood elites appease the Chinese Communist Party," Cruz had told The Washington Free Beacon in 2019. "The party uses China's economy to silence dissent against its brutal repression and to erode the sovereignty of American allies like Taiwan. Hollywood is afraid to stand up for free speech and is enabling the Party's campaign against Taiwan.”
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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