Chapter 243 The Supreme Courts Impact on Hollywood
"The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Johnson. Justice William Brennan wrote the majority opinion, joined by Justice Socrates, Justice Harry Blackman, Justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony
Justice Kennedy joined the opinion. Justice Kennedy also wrote a separate concurring opinion.
Chief Justice Rehnquist wrote a dissenting opinion, arguing that the Stars and Stripes, as a public recognition of a unique national symbol, should receive special protection. Johnson's burning of the Stars and Stripes did not constitute an act of expression and was not an important part of any ideological elaboration.
Instead it was an inarticulate roar.
Arguably, his most likely purpose was not to express any particular point, but to rile others up. Rehnquist argued that the Texas statute was only a reasonable restriction on the way Johnson could express his point of view, and that Johnson could still use
Various other symbols and various forms of rhetoric were used to express his deep dissatisfaction with state policies."
The results of the Supreme Court's retrial of Texas v. Johnson were playing on the TV. Ronald was in the living room of the hotel suite with the specially invited lawyer Lindsay Dole, and the production of Daydream.
Film executive Michelle Cannold and marketing consultant Michael Gray are discussing the impact of the verdict in this case on the film and television industry.
The living part of the mansion adjacent to Beverly Hills has been completed, but Ronald refused to move there. Subconsciously, he always felt that the newly renovated house was not suitable for people to live in, especially pregnant women. He refused to let him move in first to avoid reporters.
proposal.
So she was still living in the hotel with Diane. Also living in the hotel was Lawrence, a private accountant, a middle-aged woman recommended by the Chinatown Association in Los Angeles to take care of Diane.
"Tea, please." This woman named Wang wears her hair in a bun. She has been working as a nanny for a wealthy family in Chinatown, sorting clothes, cleaning rooms, and can do any kind of work. She can also speak some simple English.
Ronald hired her to take care of Diane. It just so happened that Diane was very satisfied with her after two days of working together, and she could continue to take care of pregnant women and children in the future. Wang was very agile. He didn't have much to do at this stage, so he just took some care of her.
The task of making tea and coffee took over, sparing Ronald's stomach the trouble.
"Thank you, Mother Wang." Ronald took the black tea and took a sip, finally tasting the sweet taste again. He finished the tea in the cup in two sips. The temperature and taste were just right, and he quickly signaled for Mother Wang to pour another cup.
.
Ronald asked Lindsay Dole for advice, "Why is this the result? Why do I feel like there is something wrong with my eyesight? It's completely different from what I thought."
This decision overturned the Texas decision, declaring that burning the Stars and Stripes was within the scope of First Amendment protection, and Johnson should be acquitted.
Ronald's confusion mainly lies in the fact that among the five supporters, there were actually two conservative justices with backgrounds from the Elephant Party, Scalia and Kennedy, who were nominated by the previous President. And among the opposing votes, there were actually people with backgrounds from the Donkey Party.
left-wing Justice White.
This case is about the key ideological point of contention between the two parties, the First Amendment. The justices on both sides temporarily sided with the other side, which is really incomprehensible.
"In addition to the First Amendment, this case also involves the game of state rights and federal rights." Lindsay Dole had the highest score among the courses she majored in at Harvard University. She smiled and told Rona
De explained.
In America, 48 states have passed laws to protect the Stars and Stripes, and burning the Stars and Stripes is illegal in these states. The recent judicial trend is to reduce the power of the states at the legislative level and expand the power of the federal Congress.
One of the things that the previous president was most proud of was that through federal subsidies, all states passed legislation prohibiting minors from drinking. But this success was achieved through each state's own legislation. The current participation at the federal level
The House of Representatives and the House of Representatives hope to return this legislative power to the federal government.
And the three conservative justices who were appointed to the Supreme Court by the previous president were actually from the establishment and were more inclined to the interests of big business. Therefore, they chose to strengthen the power of the Federal Parliament in their votes.
It's not news to those in the know.
"Will this have any impact on Hollywood and television?" Ronald didn't understand these policy formulations at all. He could only listen to the opinions of experts in different fields.
"Actually, Hollywood's various regulations are closely related to the Supreme Court's precedents." Lindsay Dole has served Ronald for many years and has become an expert in film law. She has brought the history of the Supreme Court to
's jurisprudence says something about its critical impact on Hollywood production.
In 1915, the Supreme Court held a trial in the case of "Mutual Film Company v. Industrial Commission of Ohio." The result was that movies and news media were separated, and it was ruled that movies were purely commercial products and did not fall within the scope of First Amendment protection.
Since then, the screening of movies in various states has been subject to strict censorship. Each state has different standards, and the film industry has become a very chaotic market.
In order for a movie to be screened in various states, it would not have to be edited into different versions. An agency established by the producers and distributors on their own initiative, combined with departments in each state, jointly formulated a production code. This is the famous Hays Code.
By 1965, as television gradually matured, the tastes of viewers gradually moved in the direction of freedom and openness. This year, the Supreme Court ruled another case, "Friedman v. Maryland." This time, the Supreme Court overturned the 1915
The judgment of 2007 declared that film is also a form of creation and enjoys the protection of the First Amendment just like novels, paintings, and news media.
Three years later, the Hays Code was also abolished, and the MPAA Film Association established a rating system to adapt to the new law. The scale of Hollywood film creation gradually increased. Many of the original restricted areas were also broken through, and they were no longer restricted.
The cliché of good guys defeating bad guys.
Only some things recognized by audiences across the country, such as patriotism, family values, and other moral codes, are still observed by the vast majority of films participating in regular distribution.
"So, are we going to join this trend and make more R-rated films that break the original moral code?" Ronald asked Michelle Cannold.
"We might as well have more R-rated films. Our video distribution experience shows that fists and breasts are still the most popular elements among audiences. However, I don't know how many viewers will approve of burning the Stars and Stripes."
Michelle Cannold is not very in favor of following the trend of filming. How the audience will view this remains to be seen.
Several senior executives agreed to wait and see which direction the wind was blowing, and they quickly re-evaluated the movie scripts they had in hand.
"That's it for now. Thank you all for coming to my place for a meeting. I won't send you off..." After discussing business, Ronald did not invite them to stay for dinner. He had more important things to do.
"Honey, what should we have for lunch?" Diane saw that everyone had dispersed and came over to join Ronald.
"Let the chef make some. What do you want to eat? Don't eat too much. You have to go to the hospital for a check-up in the afternoon."
Ronald's working hours are now reduced to a minimum every day, and he doesn't go to the office if he can. He spends more time with Diane, being a model husband.
…
"Diane, I have arranged for you the best obstetrician in Hollywood. Your driver can drive directly to the VIP parking lot of the hospital, where there will be no harassment from reporters. There are special entrances and exits, and there will be no opportunities for reporters to take photos.
"
Paula Wagner came to accompany Diane for a check-up in the afternoon. She opened the car door and got into the back seat, and began to explain the arrangements to Diane.
Diane's priority is now very high, second only to Tom Cruise's importance among their agents. Wagner personally accompanies her in all her personal matters when he has time.
"You have chosen a good car. It is low-key and unobtrusive, safe and comfortable enough." Wagner looked at the BMW sedan. Its black and low-key appearance will not attract paparazzi's attention as soon as it drives out like a luxury car.
Diane's resignation from Disney's new film has attracted the attention of some media with keen sense of smell. Maybe there are reporters outside now.
"Driver, did you hear that? Go to the... hospital through the side door." Paula Wagner knocked on the back of the driver's seat. The driver was not very clever and even spoke without giving a reply.
"As you command, Ms. Wagner."
It was Ronald's voice that came from the front, which startled Paula.
"Ronald said that he would accompany me through everything like a normal couple. He also said that I would sit in the back seat and not be allowed to sit in the passenger seat." Diane chuckled from behind.
"Oh, God." Paula Wagner put her hand on her forehead and lamented in her heart. When her mother was pregnant, Rick didn't spend much time with her. Moreover, after the birth, she quickly returned to work and helped Cruise make arrangements.
Life……
"Honey, would you like to try the omelette I made?" Diane finished the examination and came back in Ronnie's car. She decided to reward her husband and cooked an omelette by herself.
"Oh, Honey, the doctor said you should keep exercising, and cooking is not included." Ronald chewed the omelette that he had forgotten to add salt and pepper with a calm expression, "From now on, let the chef do this kind of thing, if you want to eat it temporarily
You can ask Wang to help with anything."
Ronald asked Diane to sit next to him. He was watching the TV news report about the Supreme Court case.
"This ruling is extremely unpopular among the American people and has caused "shock and outrage" among many citizens across the country.
In a national telephone poll conducted by this station, 75% of respondents disagreed with the decision, and nearly two-thirds supported protecting the flag. And the proportion of them who have confidence in the Supreme Court increased from 34% before the ruling.
That dropped to 17% post-ruling.”
NBC anchors criticized the decision. Ronald switched to other national television channels with similar views. Legal expert guests who supported the Supreme Court decision were attacked by experts from the other side and call-in viewers.
, struggling to defend the Supreme Court.
However, in some local TV stations, such as Channel 5 in Los Angeles, it is a different story. Local media here and in New York are more supportive of this verdict.
Former hippies, who are now the backbone of society in big cities, and today's successful people, were originally very dissatisfied with the Vietnam War and other old problems committed by the American government. Now they can legally protest and treat the Stars and Stripes however they want. It can be said that they should be punished.
A breath of bad breath.
In order to humiliate the politicians who started the Vietnam War, they could not burn the chess pieces, so many people made underwear with stars and stripes and then wore them outside to dispel them.
"Our breaking news..."
Ronald's remote control stopped at NBC, and the news column switched to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. A female anchor stood in front of the white building and reported breaking news on the spot...
"Dear viewers, the day after the Supreme Court overturned the decision in Texas v. Johnson and acquitted Johnson of burning the Stars and Stripes, there was a rare tidy scene on Capitol Hill.
This afternoon, the 101st Congress voted 97-3 in the Senate to pass a resolution expressing "deep disappointment" with the court's ruling. The House of Representatives voted 411-5 to pass a resolution expressing "deep disappointment" in the court's ruling.
Expressed "deep concern" about the ruling.
The huge disparity in votes represents the high degree of unity of public opinion this time..."
"Lindsay, this is Ronald, which congressmen voted against it?" Ronald grabbed the phone and called his private lawyer who had returned to New York.
"Congressman Ted Weiss from New York State, Senator Ted Kennedy from Massachusetts, and California..." Lindsay was also watching the live broadcast. She watched the C-SPAN TV station directly, which was broadcast live from the Congress.
This is a television station established in 1979 to provide the public with direct contact and understanding of the government. Every parliamentary debate and vote is broadcast live.
Sure enough, Ronald thought to himself. Except for a few big cities with a liberal ethos, public opinion in most states is against this proposal.
In this way, instead of making some follow-the-trend movie that insults the Star-Spangled Banner, Daydream should make some patriotic movies for the majority of American people, seize the limelight of this public opinion, and quickly make a few B-level movies to make money!
"The Commander-in-Chief is going to speak to the news media. Let's see the reports from the frontline reporters from the White House..." The host ended the connection with reporters on Capitol Hill and switched to the White House press conference.
"I also strongly oppose this ruling. Burning the flag is completely wrong. I think this is neither an elephant party nor a donkey party, nor a liberal nor a conservative. I have no opinion on opposing the Supreme Court's decision.
to any partisanship.
I hereby ask Congress to pass a new amendment to supersede Johnson's ruling to prohibit the burning of the Stars and Stripes."
"Oh, sure enough, it's not a partisan dispute, but a battle between federal and state rights." Ronald put down the phone and sighed. Lindsay Dole's judgment was correct. Regarding this matter, the Supreme Court and the two houses of Congress,
Even the commander-in-chief used this matter to expand his influence at the federal level.
"Hey, Michelle? David (Simkins) is here too? We have to have a meeting to get all the movies with patriotic plots on board..."