Four prominent film critics groups announced Tuesday that they will bar Walt Disney Co. films from receiving awards consideration until the company reverses its decision to bar the Los Angeles Times from advance screenings of its films and access to its talent.
The move by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics comes after editors of the Times said Friday that Disney denied the newspaper access to its upcoming slate of films over what it called "unfair coverage" of the Disneyland Resort's relationship with the city of Anaheim. Upcoming Disney films include "Thor: Ragnarok," "Coco" and "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." The Times says it will review and cover Disney films when they become available to the public.
In a joint statement released early Tuesday, the critics groups noted that it was "admittedly extraordinary" to "take any action that might penalize film artists for decisions beyond their control."
"But Disney brought forth this action when it chose to punish The Times' journalists rather than express its disagreement with a business story via ongoing public discussion," the statement continued. "Disney's response should gravely concern all who believe in the importance of a free press, artists included."
A Disney spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The statement comes after some critics and organizations said they wouldn't provide advance reviews of Disney films in protest of the company's response to the Times.
Washington Post critic Alyssa Rosenberg wrote Monday that she would "show solidarity" with Times critics by seeing movies "under the same condition they do." She added that she was speaking as an individual and "The Post has not taken a decision to participate in any boycott." Two pop culture websites, the A.V. Club and Flavorwire, made similar announcements Monday. Flavorwire went a step further, stating it wouldn't cover any Disney releases "as long as the Times ban stands."
The company said Friday that a two-part Times series in September that detailed what it characterized as a complicated and increasingly tense relationship between Anaheim and the company showed "a complete disregard for basic journalistic standards." It added that the Times published a "biased and inaccurate series, wholly driven by a political agenda."
Daniel Miller, the Times reporter who wrote the series, tweeted that "Disney never asked for a correction." The newspaper declined further comment.
Droga5 Appoints Emma Montgomery As Global Chief Strategy Officer
Creative agency network Droga5 has appointed Emma Montgomery as global chief strategy officer. She is the third global appointment for the agency this year, with Pelle Sjoenell named worldwide chief creative officer this past March, and global CEO Mark Green recently appointed this fall. Montgomery will be responsible for connecting and supercharging Droga5’s strategy and creative offerings globally. She will be based in its headquarters in New York City.
“Emma is a world-class strategic leader and authority that I’ve long admired and dreamt of being partners-in-crime with,” said Sjoenell. “Her work inspires the creativity that connects people and brands in ways that move business and culture forward, so I’m excited to finally be able to work with her alongside Mark, and to see her lead and further strengthen our leadership and strategy teams around the world.”
Montgomery joins Droga5 after serving as CEO of DDB Chicago. She’s been in the industry for over 20 years, and has served in several high-level leadership positions throughout her career, including as president and CSO of Leo Burnett Chicago, global CSO of TBWA, and CEO of Leo Burnett Australia. She’s also worked across a breadth of categories and multiple global clients such as Kraft, Aldi, Diageo and Molson Coors, among many others, including challenger brands and startups.
“I’m excited to join Droga5 and have the opportunity to help carve out a new path for the brand globally, building on its tremendous legacy of creative leadership,” said Montgomery. “The potential of Droga5, combined with the possibilities of Accenture Song, was too exciting to pass up. No other agency has what they have, and as marketing shifts, the chance to make creativity a genuine... Read More