Kerry tweeted that the meeting was about how to counter the Islamic State’s narrative. So apparently there will now be movies that make the point that the Islamic State has nothing to do with Islam: pious Muslim clerics fighting nobly and indefatigably against the Islamic State, and the like.
During World War II, Hollywood educated Americans about the threat they faced, and stirred them to fight it. Today a pro-American, anti-jihad movie is an unusual, controversial event.
“John Kerry Meets With Hollywood Studio Chiefs to Discuss ISIS,” by Ted Johnson, Variety, February 16, 2016 (thanks to Pamela Geller):
Secretary of State John Kerry met with the heads of major studios on Tuesday to talk about how to counter the ISIS narrative.
“Great convo w/ studio execs in LA. Good to hear their perspectives & ideas of how to counter #Daesh narrative,” Kerry tweeted, along with a photo of his meeting with Jeff Shell, chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group; MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd; Warner Bros. Entertainment CEO Kevin Tsujihara; DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg; 20th Century Fox Chairman and CEO Jim Gianopulos; 20th Century Fox Co-Chair Stacey Snider; Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Motion Picture Production; Universal Pictures Chairman Donna Langley; Tom Rothman, chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group; Universal Pictures President Jimmy Horowitz; Amblin Partners CEO Michael Wright; and NBCUniversal Vice Chairman Ron Meyer.
Daesh is an acronym for the Arabic phrase “al-Dawla al-Islamiya fil Iraq wa al-Sham,” another term for ISIS. The terrorist group reportedly hates the term, but western leaders have been using it instead of Islamic State.
The meeting was held at Universal Studios, and lasted about 90 minutes.
One attendee who was there said that the executives also exchanged ideas and observations about studio worldwide marketing of movies and TV shows, a way of showing how narrative storytelling can cross cultures. The attendee described part of the gathering as a “brainstorming session,” including how to involve storytellers in regions afflicted or threatened by ISIS, as a way to counter the narratives promulgated by the terrorist organization. “Let’s figure out how to involve people who are there,” the attendee said….

Angemon says
Expect to see a flurry of movies and TV shows portraying muslims as heroes at the expenses of Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists and other “clear and present dangers”. Well, a *bigger* flurry – I distinctly remember more than one episode of NCIS: LA where Sam Hanna (played by LL Cool J) tells muslim terrorists who justify their actions by islam (although, IIRC, not giving actual quranic passages or ahadith) that the prophet (muhammad) was a man of peace, or that he forbade the killing of innocents. And then he shoots them 🙂 .
Al-Dawla al-Islamiya fil Iraq wa al-Sham means “The Islamic State of Iraq and Sham”. Daesh is the transcription of those initials to the Latin alphabet, and, from what I can gather, it sounds phonetically similar to the word “daes”, meaning to crush or trample. But you should be explaining that to me, Variety, not the other way around. Oh, wait – entertainment magazine, not a newspaper.
Shane says
Yes, that show and other TV shows clearly state that Muslim terrorists are misunderstanding Islam and that Islam is really a peaceful religion. What America needs is for a brave Hollywood producer to bring some of the novels by Vince Flynn and Brad Thor to the silver screen as these guys understand the connection between Islam and terrorism. I would love to see Thor’s Scott Harvath kicking terrorist butt and explaining to Democrat politicians that Islam is a religion of jihad and ISIS is Islamic. You can follow Brad Thor on twitter and facebook; he is on our side!
Angemon says
Or Robert Ferrigno’s Assassin Trilogy.
Myxlplik says
What, the mental gymnastics of the Muslim Brotherhood getting old?
Nimrod says
We already know that the reason why the ISIS “narrative” can’t be countered is because the usual people can’t counter the narrative due to the desire to whitewash mainstream Islam.
The only way to counter the narrative with mainstream Muslims of the world is to focus on the question of whether or not the “caliph” is really a legitimate caliph with the mandate of Allah. The only way to do that is to find anything they are doing wrong which goes against mainstream sharia law. Killing and enslaving infidels is not against sharia law when the caliph has ordered a jihad. If anything it just makes him seem more legitimate. All the sharia compliant punishments such as killing homosexuals also makes him seem more legitimate.
The only effective thing to do, aside from de-legitimizing Islam itself, would be to find cases where violations of real sharia law were occurring instead of focusing on sharia-compliant atrocities that only seem like atrocities to those who don’t know or believe in sharia law. Takfir might be a good place to start.
But we all know that the real priority is not on “opposing the ISIS narrative” but on whitewashing mainstream Islam in an attempt to prevent negative perceptions and opinions of Islam and Muslims. Since this goal is in conflict with countering the ISIS narrative, I fail to see how it can happen.
At best the result will be something anodyne and ineffective, at worst it would whitewash Islam and just help ISIS. If we assume for the sake of argument that criticizing Islam just “drives Muslims to join or support ISIS”, then the choices are essentially a) help ISIS, b) have no effect, or c) help ISIS.
The only real hope here is to question the notion of whether whitewashing and avoiding criticism of Islam is really the proper thing to do.
billybob says
You have articulated something that has been on my mind, but haven’t been able to put into words. I can sort of get why Obama (and other leaders) are going to such great lengths to whitewash Islam, but just as you said, I too would question the notion of whether whitewashing and avoiding criticism of Islam is really the proper thing to do.
While we can imagine on some naive level that if we all uphold this fiction that Islam is a religion of peace, it can actually become one, at least in America. But as I said, that would be naive. The extremists will not pay any attention to what non-Muslims say and most of us just wouldn’t play along, even if somebody pointed out the logic to it. This might work with children, but never with a diverse group of well informed adults. Somebody’s always going to blurt it out – ‘Islam is evil!’ – and the game is up.
So then, what is the alternative? What if our leaders don’t whitewash Islam like they are doing now? Suppose they just tried to avoid the subject, but when pushed they admit the truthful minimum. Then what happens to our relationship with the Islamic world, and our own Muslims? It think it starts going down hill.
So finally, what if we make a policy to be fully truthful and firm about it. Take a stand against Islam. Denounce it plainly and directly for what it is, without either timidity or embellishment? Once more, our relationship with the Islamic world and our own Muslims starts going downhill, but we have the moral high ground now. Now we no longer suck up to Islamic countries and denounce their human rights violations. Let them suck it up!
Add to that then – ‘oh by the way, we still protect all Americans from discrimination, and that includes peaceful Muslims’, and be very firm on that. We state – people have a right to believe whatever they want to believe in America, and as long as they obey the law, they are equal to any other.
In other words, I think in the end I am advocating being truthful and firm, because I have had enough of this bullshit that animates us all. Do you get it? If our leaders started being frankly honest, none of us will be going crazy denouncing Islam in every forum on the internet any more, and instead we will just get on with our lives. And we might actually show less discrimination towards Muslims in the end. Really!
Because how much of our ranting, and how much discrimination, is a reaction to the constant BS from our leaders? Then when you encounter a Muslim, and you are getting along with that person and being polite, they will know that you know and you will know that they know that you don’t like the religion but you can separate that from the person, and there is an opportunity for growth there. Like – an opportunity for the Muslim to see Islam through your eyes in a non-threatening manner.
Do you get what I’m saying?
gravenimage says
Billy Bob wrote:
So finally, what if we make a policy to be fully truthful and firm about it. Take a stand against Islam. Denounce it plainly and directly for what it is, without either timidity or embellishment? Once more, our relationship with the Islamic world and our own Muslims starts going downhill, but we have the moral high ground now. Now we no longer suck up to Islamic countries and denounce their human rights violations. Let them suck it up!
………………………..
If we can only maintain a good relationship with Muslims by studiously avoiding the mention of Jihad atrocities, then it’s not much of a relationship.
Moreover, how good is that relationship, in any case? Muslims both from Dar-al-Islam and in our own lands continue to wage violent Jihad against us. Not much of a relationship to maintain.
I very much agree that we should unreservedly condemn Jihad.
More:
Add to that then – ‘oh by the way, we still protect all Americans from discrimination, and that includes peaceful Muslims’, and be very firm on that. We state – people have a right to believe whatever they want to believe in America, and as long as they obey the law, they are equal to any other.
………………………..
Yes–this is what the West in general and the US in particular has always done.
More:
Because how much of our ranting, and how much discrimination, is a reaction to the constant BS from our leaders?
………………………..
I don’t actually believe Muslims face much discrimination in the West, Billy Bob. In fact, they have much more freedom than they do in Dar-al-Islam–except, of course, to murder us and impose Shari’ah law.
More:
Then when you encounter a Muslim, and you are getting along with that person and being polite, they will know that you know and you will know that they know that you don’t like the religion but you can separate that from the person, and there is an opportunity for growth there. Like – an opportunity for the Muslim to see Islam through your eyes in a non-threatening manner.
………………………..
Unfortunately, I doubt many Muslims are going to reject violent Jihad–an intrinsic part of their faith–because Infidels are nice to them. Were this true, Muslims would be rejecting violent Jihad in the millions.
But I very much agree that if we–and our leaders–finally became open about Jihad, it would be all by itself be incredibly salubrious for our society.
Darryl Kerney says
the true essence of islam embodied in isis is on display for the whole world to see,
but most of the world denies that’s real islam, and is clinging to a delusion that ‘no it can’t be that bad’.
survivors of the third reich said the same thing after ww2 ended, that the people just refused to believe how bad it could get, and just let it happen…..
Carolyne says
I believe Hitler also had his government influence the mass media to make propaganda movies. I find it most improper for our government, in the person of the Secretary of State, to try to influence mass media to their point of view on any subject, and especially the nature of Islam. We know that Obama, if not a Muslim himself which I happen to believe, is certainly pro-Islam and has done everything in his power and some things not legally in his power, to convince the American people that “True” Islam is peace loving and assist Islam to take over our country.
On the other hand, perhaps Kerry was just trying to find another super rich woman to marry since Teresa has been ill. You know, plan B.
billybob says
This makes me nervous. Obviously, the objective is state-sponsored propaganda, to be used on citizens of the state. Expect to see this effort dovetail with the efforts already underway to portray Islam as a religion of peace. Problem is, it isn’t, and nobody will be fooled by this effort. It will just make all concerned more cynical, as if we aren’t cynical enough as it is from being constantly lied to by our leaders on the subject.
Mark Swan says
I don’t think they are hoping to convince people who already see Islam for what it is…they have
a lot of undecided…a lot of I’m Ok Your Ok people…and of course…this will sway Jihads’ and
want to be Jihads‘…that they just don’t get Islam.
As Forest Gump would say…“Stupid Is As Stupid Does“…
when talking collaboration between Government and Hollywood…
“Life Is Like A Box of Chocolates…You Never Know What You’ll Get“.
Victor Redlick says
Right, like Jeffrey Katzenberg. He drinks Obama Kool Aid and winds up with the same results you get from swallowing a Fleet enema the night before a colonoscopy
Donovan Nuera says
[Technically, one would drink GoLytely (now in Cherry flavor) prior to a colonoscopy as you drink a gallon of that stuff to flush things out, an enema goes in da butt]. I like the analogy though..
Hope says
You have got to be kidding me. Man, the left-wing crazy bus has gone off the cliff here. Is this what we pay our Secretary of State to do? Meet with film executives? How much more out of touch could the Obama administration be?
Adrian says
Here we go…. there will not be one honest film about Islam or Mahomet, but….
expect to see films and tv shows about fuzzy, lovable muslims battling (non-existent) Islamophobia
Welcome to mind-control 1984!
billybob says
You wanna see mind control 1984?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2ylX5XXk0w
Read the most recent comment (long comment).
Adrian says
thanks, billybob
saw the Dr. Mattu frightening video plus his “Islamophobia” video
i put up my comment tonight
billybob says
Great! I will be interested in your take on it.
Adrian says
billybob,
no, i meant i already put it up last night… here was my comment:
“How pathetic – Doctor Ali Mattu explains “the bias that leads to Islamophobia”?.. the public sees how u and other Islam apologists engage in deconstruction of rational thought under the guise of the “science” of psychology… u call yourself a member of the medical profession and yet u indulge in this film-flam coverup of the death cult of the psychotic epileptic Mahomet?… and instead of having an ounce of honesty and courage to confront the ideology of muslim jihadists, you engage in damage control by labeling normal people who understand 2+2=4 Islamophobic? .. shame on you.”
billybob says
@Adrain
Yes – I noticed your comment there and read it right after I made my comment.
Mike says
Probably a remake of Lawrence of Arabia but called “Kerry of Arabia”
mortimer says
Mickey O wrote: “they should be boycotted”
I predict discerning Americans will boycott any film that is Obama propaganda. Americans won’t pay for their propaganda. They will pay for entertainment.
Any films based on the false premise that Muslims don’t want to impose Sharia and a caliphate are doomed to be stinkers.
Saba says
In the near future, the motion picture film industry will produce and portray Islam in a positive light as being peaceful and loving to all people of faith. Government influencing the film industry is bad news for movie goers, actors and the film industry in general. This is what the Nazi government did during World War II and the U.S. in promoting the war effort. Don’t be surprised to see Jews and Christians demonized in film as being as the cause of everything evil.
mortimer says
Don’t count on the movie houses making movies that insult our intelligence.
mortimer says
Start with a false premise…garbage in: garbage out.
The premise that Kerry is somehow an expert on Islam is downright laughable. Has he read the source texts? The Sira, the hadiths, the canonical commentaries? No? Did Kerry read a manual of Sharia law? No? Did he read fatwas of notable sheikhs? Did he read the major jihad apologists such as Maududi and Qutb? No?
Then in what way does Kerry’s LACUNA of knowledge qualify him as an expert on Islam? Hmmm.
Kolga says
Recently, in Australia, a new show began airing on our TVs.
Made by our handwringing Muslim apologists, it’s a comedy called Meet the Habib’s and, undoubtedly, is designed to normalise Muslims in our society, make us feel a bit warm and fuzzy about them and reconsider the stereotype.
billybob says
Sound like Canada’s “Little Mosque on the Prairie”. I’ve actually never seen it, but I think it won some Juno Award – Canada’s Emmy Award.
Keys says
@billybob
I thought you were joking, but Amazon offers all 6 seasons beginning with Season 1 from 2007.
billybob says
Let us know if it is any good 🙂
gravenimage says
And yet, there are already those decrying this show as “racist”:
“Meet The Habibs- Is This Australia’s Most Racist Show?”
http://www.mumslounge.com.au/lifestyle/latest-news/meet-the-habibs/
The time-worn set up is that the lower-class Habib’s win the lottery and move to Sydney’s poshest suburb.
From what I have read, the family is just a bit loud and boorish–there is nothing that deals with Muslim oppression of women, hatred of Infidels, violence or anything else.
This just sounds like a slightly more profane version of The Beverly Hillbillies.
Donovan Nuera says
Does granny and Pa Habib slaughter one of Elimiya’s halal “critters” out by the “ce-ment pond”
Gray says
Wasn’t it Sam Goldwyn, who famously advised: ‘Leave the messages to Western Union’? Seems like good advice still.
Mark Swan says
Good One Gray
PRCS says
Gotta wonder how those Hollywood execs are going to counter these:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc0hg9w3aDY
and
gravenimage says
John Kerry meets with Hollywood studio chiefs to discuss the Islamic State
…………………….
During WWII Hollywood actually did a great deal to fight the Nazi threat.
I doubt we have that kind of will now.
In fact, I have found fewer and fewer movies and TV shows dealing with the Jihad threat at all–despite the fact that, one would think, this would sell tickets. “Political correctness” appears to trump all.
gravenimage says
Important to mention–before the start of WWII itself, Hollywood actually whitewashed Fascism or failed to mention it at all.
1939’s “Confessions of a Nazi Spy” was the first actual Anti-Nazi film–and it is pretty mild. Star Edward G. Robinson was an early Anti-Fascist, and most of the Germans in the film had actually escaped Hitler’s Germany and were eager to expose it.
Warner Brothers was the only studio that would tackle this subject matter at all–even as late as 1939–and they came under a lot of criticism for daring to do so.
So this disgusting denial of evil in Hollywood is actually nothing new.
Kepha says
Was “Confessions of a Nazi Spy” made before or after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?
Hollywood has always been full of Leftists, including out-and-out Stalniists. Edward G. Robinson, since you mention him, had such proclivities himself.
gravenimage says
Kepha, Edward G. Robinson was critical of the Fascists throughout the 1930s.
He did not criticize the Soviet Union when they were our allies during WWII, but this was true of most Americans–it was, in fact, an official governmental position at the time.
He was cleared of Communist Party involvement by HUAC. Despite your implication, there is *no* reason to suspect he was a Stalinist.
He was, in fact, given an award by the American Legion for his “outstanding contribution to Americanism through his stirring patriotic appeals.” He was the first movie star to appear at USO shows in Europe after D-Day.
I don’t know if I agree with all of Edward G. Robinson’s political views, but he spoke out against the evils of Fascism at a time when it was unpopular and unlikely to do anything to help his career.
I, for one, respect him for that. You can, of course, disagree.
Donovan Nuera says
There was that recent book that uncovered 1930 studio heads’ avid pleasing Nazis for editing US films for the tastes of the German/3rd Reich market overseas. Forgot the name…came out 2014 or so. Very damning.
gravenimage says
That’s why I respect Warner Bros. for bucking that disgusting tacit agreement.
vlparker says
Thank God. I feel so much better now.
sidney penny says
“John Kerry Meets With Hollywood Studio Chiefs to Discuss ISIS,”
He could have spent the 90 minutes with Robert Spencer.
The first thing that Robert Spencer would have told John Kerry is not to give a false narrative.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/02/what-can-the-catholic-church-do.
2. The position I hold is not one in which there is no hope. It is just one that rejects false hope. Wishful thinking never becomes reality no matter how hard one wishes; it is always preferable to assess the situation realistically
Darryl Kerney says
jihadists come to our countries, they see flourishing places,
but these places are not islamic, so they hate them.
they are predators, trying to become the apex predators,
and what do those do ?
lions seeking to form their own Pride for example kill all the cubs and mate with the females,
to erase the previous and propagate their own,
sounding familiar ?
islam is not civilized at all despite the fact they do live in cities,
but they always want the animalistic way.
it seems to me the only rational solution is to issue an ultimatum,
if you muslims wish to coexist AS HUMANS,
choose humanity or submit to the subhuman status you seek to impose on those who do not follow your uncivilized beliefs.
if they can get away with their insistence that they dominate us, why are so many so stupid as to agree with and let them ? why is it “right” for islam to be allowed existence and our opposition to it “wrong” ?
the point is, why should we play by rules we’ve made for ourselves when they reject those rules and are in fact intent on eliminating them ? the west thinks it’s in a boxing match when in fact it’s “gorilla” warfare, and it will lose or stalemate at best unless it takes the gloves off.
but instead our “leaders” are choosing to try to talk nice too, and be friendly with the hyenas, having convinced themselves they won’t eat us if they see what easy prey we are.
Darryl Kerney says
“talk nice to”
not
“talk nice too”.
see what one letter difference makes !
Frank Courtney says
Proper use of capital letters might make your meaning clearer too. The e.e. cummings affectation worked only for him.
Also, are you not being unfair to gorillas?
Otherwise I am in agreement with what you are trying to say. I think.
Peggy says
There are plenty of shows dealing with Serbian “terrorists”. So many shows having an episode or two about evils of Serbs doing bad to poor Muslims and even movies. Such distorted version of events.
Muslims are terrorizing the whole world and Hollywood is not doing their job of exposing it but instead painting victims of Islam as terrorists.
Who is dangerous to the world, Serbs or Muslims? Russian of Muslims? We’ve had a lot of shows portraying as Russians as a danger as well but do we see Russians or Serbs planting bombs around the world? Do we see either one marching in the streets threatening to take over the west?
If the actors had any decency they wouldn’t agree to star in any movie distorting the truth. Maybe if we made it clear that we will boycott any movie and any actor feeding us this dangerous propaganda it will stop them from accepting these roles. For as along as we pay to see this propaganda they will use our own money to destroy us with it.
Darryl Kerney says
i like your sentiments Peggy,
but when these leftist indoctrinated movie stars take on those roles,
if they care even a fraction about the message of the film,
the giant paycheques convince them they have made the right choice.
the real problem is that enough people pay their way unwittingly by funding
the destruction of the capitalist system that made it possible for these movies to even be made
in the first place,
while they promote the very ideas that are against what has made them rich and famous.
i’ve never been a big movie buff, and i’m realizing more and more why that is,
hollywood has put out so much socialist crap it drove me away, and if they try the islamophilia route i will be denouncing it every chance i get !
so, i guess we’re in pretty close agreement.
cheers.
Darryl Kerney says
if the supposedly nasty Jews were in charge of as much as the muslims keep complaining about, we wouldn’t be seeing what we do now.
would the jewish people who have endured so much from the muslims being bending over for islam ?
if Jews controlled all the world banks would they not just squeeze the muslims (who demand their annihilation) out of the picture financially ? would they say (they are against) LIFT sanctions on ANY NEIGHBOR who openly repeatedly and LOUDLY SAYS, Death To Israel ?
tiny israel vs giant monstrosity of islam……
the best they can do while surrounding them from every direction for thousands of miles is BLAME them for their own poverty of wealth, intelligence and worth.
Lucretius says
The wise person shuns John Kerry’s society for fear of being bored. Quite plainly then, it was a room crammed with fools.
John Johness says
“The terrorist group reportedly hates the term,” how does he know that? It like wrist slapping. These are people who have no qualms about mass murder, rape and yet they hate the word “Daesh’. This is constantly reported even though it is really irrelevant. I’d be interested if anyone can find a Jihadi complaining about it. I can see it now:
Mohammed: “Abdul, Abdul someone called us Daesh”
Abdul: “Nooooo those filthy kaffir, the sons of monkeys and pigs,I’ll rape their daughters, behead their children…. I just hate it when they do that”
Abdul goes into his room to sulk.
Mark Swan says
Good One
Donovan Nuera says
Instead of the current administration referring to ISIS as “ISIL” all the time like a nervous tic (like they always pronounce POKEESTAN) , can take a cue from “Johnny Dangerously” and call them “ISHOLES”??!! [with or without the “farging corksucking” qualifiers}
Warren Raymond says
“Daesh is an acronym for the Arabic phrase “al-Dawla al-Islamiya fil Iraq wa al-Sham,” another term for ISIS. The terrorist group reportedly hates the term, but western leaders have been using it instead of Islamic State.”
This is an absurdity. The Obama regime is the greatest enabler of ISIL, and insulting them is not in their interest at all. They have never done so in the past and it is inexplicable why why they would do so now.
DG says
I submit “Islam dindu nuffin!” as the title of the first one.
Mark Swan says
Good One
ICH says
They should of invited sean penn and the film actors guild (F.A.G)
Hes been to IRAQ !!
gravenimage says
Yes–Team America was brilliant!
More Ham Ed says
It’s all about the words! You can solve all the worlds’ problems with just words!. And by redefining the dictionary.
(according to leftists).
Here are some words more in the proper direction to help end ISIS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFT6Puu3v-I#t=2m3s
(turn it up).
Florida Jim says
John Kerry joins the ranks of Lois Lerner, John Koskinen, John Kirby, Psaki, Rice, Hillary, Obama and Valerie Jarrett as incompetent boobs raping taxpayers by receiving one dime for their inept work they should be pilloried.Kerry is begging for a Nobel Peace Prize his friends Gore and Barry have received.
Shane says
If Trump is not elected, perhaps he can buy a movie studio and make some patritotic action movies based on the novels of Brad Thor and VInce Flynn. It would be awesome to watch Flynn’s Mitch Rapp beating the crap out of terrorists and Mexican gangbangers. In one scene, Rapp killed 30 Mexican gang members who were working for Muslim terrorists all by himself! It was awesome.
dragaozao says
In the end reality will win. Not ideology. Of course, in the process our society will probably colapse. That’s why I admire people like Vladimir Putin. In his own words “we must not alow our society to be destoyed as theirs”. Yes! He is KGB and maybe he doesn’t have a soul but, at least, he has a head.