Hollywood producer Don Winslow is calling for a boycott of Georgia’s film industry after last week’s election.
Winslow is the author of books such as ‘The Force’ and the ‘Cartel’ trilogy. He recently optioned several of his books to studios and TV networks. But after allegations of voter suppression in Georgia, Winslow is calling for change.
According to The New York Times, Georgia’s state primary elections had a long list of problems, including malfunctioning voting machines, poorly staffed polling sites, and failure to deliver absentee ballots. But the most egregious problem was the long waiting lines in areas with predominately Black voters in comparison to white neighborhoods. Stacey Abrams discussed the issue in detail on ‘CBS This Morning’ saying “it hits everyone.”
“I will allow no film or television show based on one of my works to be shot in the state of Georgia until its government takes immediate, real and concrete steps to ensure free and fair elections and to end voter suppression,” he writes in a recent op-ed, and he’s calling on the rest of Hollywood to also stop filming in Georgia until the problem can be addressed in a serious way.
In his article for Deadline, Winslow called Tuesday’s events “a disgraceful travesty,” and says Georgia’s Secretary of State is endangering the democracy in America.
“Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to sell a number of my books to networks and studios for television and film adaptation. I will unequivocally state now that I will allow no film or television show based on one of my works to be shot in the state of Georgia until its government takes immediate, real and concrete steps to ensure free and fair elections and to end voter suppression,” Winslow explains.
Winslow adds, “If that means that the project is scrapped, so be it.”
“If that means that the project is scrapped, so be it.”
Winslow continues by calling for a boycott to Georgia’s film industry. “I urge my colleagues to join me in this stance. It might hurt, it might lighten our pockets. But it will also lighten our consciences. We cannot stand on the sidelines and simply comment, as well-intentioned as those comments might be.
“I truly hate to take this step. Boycotts are tricky things, double-edged swords that can sometimes injure the very people that they are trying to empower. I have nothing against the people of Georgia. I have always been treated beautifully and enjoyed any time that I’ve spent there. But something must be done.”
Winslow continues, “The people of Georgia – all the people of Georgia – must be allowed to participate fully in the political life of their state. They must be allowed to vote in free and fair elections. That is their right as Georgians, it is their right as Americans. And as Americans, we must stand up for the legitimacy of our elections.”
Winslow’s upcoming projects include ‘The Force’, which is starring Matt Damon and an FX tv adaptation of the ‘Cartel’ trilogy.
This news comes after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced at least 75 TV shows and movies are set to film in Georgia giving at least 40,000 jobs to Georgians in the next few months.
According to the statement by Gov. Brian Kemp, an estimated 40,000 production workers will find jobs at 75 projects, which are expected to start filming over the next 18 months.
The estimate will also impact other second-line businesses including 17,000 Georgia businesses. These production companies have added a huge impact on Georgia’s economy. In fact, in 2019, nearly 400 movies and TV shows filmed in Georgia impacting 3,040 motion picture and television industry businesses.
“Production companies want to be in Georgia and create tens of thousands of jobs for workers across the state, and today’s announcement is welcome news as we continue safely reopening our state,” Governor Kemp said. “I thank the Georgia Film Office for their work during the pandemic, and I thank the production companies who always vowed to return to Georgia when the time was right for them to safely get back to work.”
More Project Casting Entertainment News:
