Thread: You can't be a conservative in Hollywood

More of the interview with David Zucker


Just ahead, a conservative in Hollywood? Yes, yes. We were just talking about him, David Zucker, the director of "Airplane," brand new movie out. It`s called "An American Carol." We`ll talk to him about it next.

GLENN BECK, HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: Being a conservative in Hollywood is not really, you know, not exactly being in the in-crowd. It`s pretty tough, I would imagine.

I`ve been here for a few days and I was walking down the street. Walking down the street with my wife and children and people were screaming at me. It`s great to be conservative out on the left coast.

That didn`t stop some conservatives from getting a little equal time here in Hollywood and in the big screen.

David Zucker has directed some of the funniest movies in the past 25 years like "Airplane," "Naked Gun," "Scary Movie 3" and "Scary Movie 4". The latest project is "An American Carol" and it sets its sights on our rather rotund (ph) friend Michael Moore.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need a Hollywood director to help us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But he must hate America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This will not be hard to find in America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. But your average girlie man Hollywood director won`t be enough. What we need is someone who really, really hates America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ok, is the camera on. Ok. Action.

Here I am in the island paradise where there`s a hospital on every block. As we can clearly see Cubans have the very best health care in the world not like America where it can kill you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: That`s hysterical.

David Zucker, welcome to the program. Did you have a hard time finding actors willing to do this? Come on.

DAVID ZUCKER, CONSERVATIVE HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR: The pool is limited. So, I mean you can`t go to Sean Penn. That`s a given. But there are some people like James Woods and John Voight, Kelsey Grammar, Bruce Willis. We went to him at one point. He couldn`t do it. But he wished us well. Then Kevin Farley, I didn`t even know was Conservative.

BECK: Is it true that Kevin Farley, when you first met with him you both were speaking code language to each other?

ZUCKER: That was absolutely true. He came in and I just thought he was like everyone else. He was perfect for this role.

BECK: You know what this is? This is 1970s homosexual language. I mean like everybody was like everybody else.

ZUCKER: Yes. It`s like do you ever go to a Bette Midler concert? Do you like Judy Garland? You know this is code, right?

Sometimes you talk in codes. You say, do you listen to talk radio? You mention, you know, whoever is listening to it. If it`s PBS, then you don`t.

But, in this, I said look, we`re doing this movie. We`re just trying to do a comedy. I`m a centrist. I was a Kennedy Democrat and we just want to support the military and support the values that America`s a force for good.

Like my mother always told me always tell the truth just don`t always be telling it. So Kevin, people tell me he looks so much like Chris.

BECK: Is he as funny as Chris?

ZUCKER: He`s as funny. This is a very different role than Chris ever played. But Kevin is just wonderful in this. He`s a wonderful comedian and really sweet guy too. And so -- and he said, oh, yes, you know I`m a centrist too. He was much more far to the right than I am because he actually never voted for a Democrat. Then it wasn`t until we got on the set that he came out.

BECK: He came out.

ZUCKER: Yes.

BECK: It`s funny to me that -- it was Tim Robbins who said a few years ago there`s a chill wind blowing in this land. Did you ever hear that speech where he was talking about how the Republicans are trying to shut everyone up, any kind of dissent. Yet with global warming you got to shut up. If you`re against Obama, you got to shut up. In Hollywood Jon Voight came out; they tore him apart.

ZUCKER: Yes. It`s pretty dicey because it`s a minority. I think -- I estimated it being maybe 10 percent and 5 percent who will admit it. It shouldn`t be such a big thing, especially with McCain. I mean McCain is such a centrist; he can be accused of being a Democrat himself.

BECK: Before he put Palin he was, he was my grandfather`s Democrat.

ZUCKER: He`s so user friendly. He`s like a Republican with training wheels. You could be a centrist Democrat and be almost comfortable voting for McCain.

BECK: This is like the 1,400th time and that`s cool, but you say you`re a centrist.

ZUCKER: A centrist is now a Republican. I have to be a Republican.

BECK: So you`re a Republican.

ZUCKER: Oh, yes, there`s no question about it. If you hold the views that I hold you`re labeled as a Republican. No one is more embarrassed than I am to be a Republican.

BECK: I`m pretty embarrassed to be accused as a Republican because I`m not a Republican. I think both parties have sold their souls to the devil.

ZUCKER: Yes. There`s plenty to be angry with at both parties. The Republicans went far afield with their, you know, if you want a party that doesn`t spend like a drunken sailor. And I don`t know, McCain with his being anti-earmarks, I guess we have hope there, and Palin. I don`t know.

BECK: You were in the "L.A. Times" and they kind of came after Palin.

ZUCKER: Yes. They do. But, you know, each side comes after the other side for whatever they can do. They just say it`s horrible, she`s a -- you know she`s such a right-wing Evangelical. And she supports, you know, she`s pro-life and she`s going to teach Creationism in the schools. A lot of this doesn`t have to do with defending ourselves against our enemies.

BECK: Are you pretty much a one issue guy?

ZUCKER: As far as being a Republican, I pretty am one issue guy except I`m for lower taxes, smaller government. I`m totally for that it. I don`t think I realized how much of a difference there is between the parties, you know, in my Al Gore days and my Barbara Boxer days because, I am definitely on the side of, smaller government.

BECK: Just can`t imagine -- the Michael Moore thing that you just showed in front of the hospital which I think is a scream. By the way let me ask you this. ADD moment. The people who are wearing the "Che" shirts, do the people in Hollywood, do they know who he was?

ZUCKER: No they don`t know and haven`t read any of the books. I don`t think they have gone really deeper than the rah-rah. In my college days Che Guevara was a hero on the University of Wisconsin campus. So was Ho Chi Minh.

You give people a pass in college. I also thought for a day that Paul McCartney was dead. One day. Oh, my God Paul is dead. Oh, my God. It`s like college students you got to give them a pass for just not really -- they are kind of emotional and it`s very idealistic.

BECK: If they are not reading what are they doing?

ZUCKER: You know, everybody is, you know, busy at their job. We in Hollywood are not political experts, you know. We`re experts in what we do. And I`ve done a -- my hobby is history and just read a lot and I read a lot of politics and I`ve made my decision on that.

BECK: Do you believe that we`re entering a new period like, for instance, McCarthyism. To me what`s happening in Hollywood right now feels like McCarthyism where you better not say what you really believe unless it`s in line with everybody else.

ZUCKER: You know, there`s no statistics on this. All I know is that they`re just anecdotal information about the rank and file it. Mean, whether they are paranoid or not, or whether it`s just a fight, they are reluctant to say they hold conservative views.

BECK: Have you seen anything like that? Have you personally witnessed that or have friends that have --

ZUCKER: Yes, I have friends that have told me stories. But for my -- from what I witnessed at the rubber chicken dinners, in the board rooms, in meetings with agents, the currency is they speak about Bush like he`s the worst president ever. He`s just stupid.

If you don`t feel like arguing you just don`t say anything. But they would never, no one would ever be that on the other side just be outspoken about how bad Obama would be for the country if they felt that way. You just wouldn`t because you don`t want to know what the other person`s view is.

It`s like talking about religion. You don`t say, "That`s silly to hold this or that view." But they do in Hollywood because it is a 90 percent liberal town.

BECK: Unbelievable.

All right, back in just a second.

BECK: Back with Director David Zucker. He has done some of the funniest movies that we`ve had in the last 25 years. And he`s got a new one coming out in early October. It is called "An American Carol" and again, the premise of the movie is --

ZUCKER: It`s "A Christmas Carol" only instead of Christmas, it`s the 4th of July and instead of Scrooge, it`s Michael Moore saying bah-humbug to America. A little bit of an exaggeration.

BECK: Can I say something? I tour the country, and I do, believe it or not, comedy stage shows, and it`s weird when I go to certain areas, like, for instance, San Francisco. The conservatives will come out, and you can feel the audience. They`re like, oh. You know, they just feel like, I`m safe here, I can laugh, I can be myself.

The audience, for your movie, when it comes out, is going to be -- it will be a gathering place for conservatives. They`ll feel safe.

ZUCKER: Some of the previews we had, the conservatives were afraid to laugh at first, because they didn`t know, it`s like they weren`t used to being in a movie theater and actually feeling comfortable enough to laugh at the left.

BECK: It`s kind of like what we were talking about a second ago, about how you -- I mean, you can say these things, and you can be as politically incorrect, as long as you`re on the left.

ZUCKER: Right. In the -- in the rooms, in the meetings, with agents, in the board rooms, in the casting sessions, people just feel free to, you know, bash the right.

BECK: Oh, I`m in the elevator at CNN all of the time, and is you hear things, and it`s just like, I can`t believe you just said that.

ZUCKER: And it`s assumed, rather, that everybody agrees with you. Because it is so -- you know, it`s a little bit startling.

BECK: You`re a big tree guy.

ZUCKER: I`m big tree guy.

BECK: Do you hug the tree?

ZUCKER: I`ll do anything I can to promote planting trees. I`m in a great organization called "Tree People," which is a bunch of lefties. But they don`t know -- and I`ve talked to Andy Liftkis, head of this great organization that this is really a conservative organization because and instead of relying on government to do for the environment what should be done, they -- demand from individuals personal responsibility.

Plant a tree in your own neighborhood and we can change the city and unpaved the L.A. river, but it starts with the individual. So I so much agree with that philosophy.

BECK: I was having a conversation with somebody, I got here, what, Saturday into Los Angeles and -- oh, having a conversation with a cab driver. And he was saying that, you know, his neighbor has just run into these ELF people. And, I mean, the -- the actual terror that goes on in California with the Environmental Liberation Front.

ZUCKER: Well, it could be extreme. But "Tree People" is not extreme.

BECK: No, no, I`m not saying that.

ZUCKER: Much of the environmental movement is a little bit crazy. But, you know, you have to pick and choose, as in any field.

BECK: Yes. But are you -- it is so extreme in parts of the country where in some places, like, for instance, global warming. I mean, you have to be an idiot. You would have to be blind not to look at the thermometer prior to the last couple of years. It has been -- the climate has been changing. Whether or not we are responsible for that, I have no idea.

ZUCKER: Exactly. Right.

BECK: And yet you`re a hate monger. I mean, the things that RFK Jr. has called me because I say I believe in climate change, I`m just not sure if I`m the cause, and I`m really not sure if these are the answers to solve it. How come you`re a hate monger for that?

ZUCKER: Well, you shouldn`t be at all. And that`s getting off the subject. Because if we think that there is a climate change, and there`s much reason to believe, let`s get to the solutions. Let`s not, you know, get crazy about the blame game.

And, like, for instance, I mean, here I`m talking about "Tree People" so much but Andy Liftkis really has a plan and a program that`s already working to mitigate climate change. And if the cities would adopt this, and it`s all a matter of energy efficiency, I agree with the people who rather than drill your way out of it, let`s promote energy efficiency.

BECK: Well, I tell you. I think the biggest problem is and I talked to George Clooney about this on Darfur. I don`t necessarily agree with the solutions through the United Nations that George Clooney did. But I agree on the problem.

If people would stop calling each other names when it comes to climate control, I don`t believe we can control the climate. However, I agree on getting off of foreign oil. We`re never going to survive on the long run, just on our oil, so let`s develop. Why can`t we bring sides together?

ZUCKER: And have a marketplace of solutions, rather than blame. So, I mean, I`m working with Frank Gaffne (ph), the head of the Center for Security Policy and with my brother on a Website called Nozzle Rage, which, you know, just let`s get off -- let`s work on solutions to get off foreign oil. And Frank`s idea is to get a bill through congress that will promote flex fuel; so give people fuel choice.

BECK: Do you believe in ethanol and methanol?

ZUCKER: I`m not sure what -- I mean, there are -- it`s very, very complicated, but there are solutions that involve this, that -- that aren`t so black and white. Because -- and I`ve talked to these people. And a lot of it is because of the artificially-supported price of corn.

And we have very high tariffs on Brazilian sugar cane which is crazy. The bottom line ought to be defending the country and not giving all of our money over to these countries who don`t like us. Yes.

BECK: Yes, they hate us.

ZUCKER: What we can do, we`ve got to change the cars, I think because we`re always going to need the oil.

BECK: If you look at all of the -- if I said to you, which state in the union has more natural gas vehicles than any other state, what state would you say it is?

ZUCKER: I wouldn`t know.

BECK: I think most people would say it`s California.

ZUCKER: California, yes.

BECK: It`s Utah.

ZUCKER: Utah, of all places.

BECK: I mean, what is that?

ZUCKER: That`s a flyover state. There can`t be anything in Utah.

BECK: I don`t understand why we`re not promoting things that we already have, and have an abundance of. It seems to me that it`s just -- that the environmental movement is being used for something that is much more sinister or Marxist or Socialist in nature.

ZUCKER: Yes, well, all I know is, we`ve got to go through it through a supply side and an energy efficiency side. So, I mean, the Republicans have all of these solutions. Like, you know, drill a lot and build more nuclear power plants. I`m not for that. I don`t think there`s anything wrong with the drilling.

BECK: Right. Are you for nuclear energy?

ZUCKER: No, I`m not, because I think it`s just a really expensive and dangerous way to boil water. And we can get the same result from energy efficiency. So the government is going to have to spend huge amounts of money in mitigating the responsibility, you know, the liability for nuclear power.

BECK: Well, I learned from Hollywood --

ZUCKER: Yes, oh, my God.

BECK: That we should listen to France and follow France, because they`re far superior.

ZUCKER: This is like so hypocritical. We should follow France -- I think they`re grasping on the one thing we should follow France, nuclear power. No. You`ve got it all wrong.

I have debates with my Republican friends like my friend Craig Mason, and he is a nuclear power guy. So we yell at each other about that.

BECK: He`s got a friend. He`s got a conservative friend.

ZUCKER: I`ve got one.

BECK: David Zucker, hang on just a second.

Back with final thoughts in a second.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Back again with David Zucker, creator of "Airplane" "Naked Gun" and a new film, "American Carol," which comes out early October.

Let me go here. The anti-Americanism that seems to be so prevalent in Hollywood movies; is it because you can`t make a dime on -- because it`s the world market that matters, or is it we just don`t really like America?

ZUCKER: Well, no, I think they do want to make movies that will make a profit. And I think there`s just an overwhelming feeling that America is to blame for things in Hollywood. I mean, because they are all, you know, such a -- that mind-set. So I don`t think they think too deeply about it, about what they`re doing.

BECK: I think that could be a blanket statement.

ZUCKER: Yes, but sometimes it does pay off. When Michael Moore did "Fahrenheit 9/11" that it was obviously good investment.

BECK: I just read yesterday though in the "L.A. Times" there was a story about all the movies that are coming out. Did you see this and the new Leonardo Dicaprio movie? I don`t remember the name of it. But we talked about it, and it`s not really even a concern of ours. Whether or not we make a -- you know, a profit on it. This is a major movie.

ZUCKER: Well --

BECK: And I thought, if I were investing, that would concern me.

ZUCKER: Well, it would. But, you know, maybe -- see, that`s where they get a break and we don`t; although I hate to claim the victim role here. It`s still a market-run business. And they will let you work if you continue to make successful movies.

BECK: Right.

ZUCKER: But I think, because the boardrooms are so far left, I suppose they will make an occasional movie.

BECK: Do you think anyone, if it wasn`t you, could have gotten the financing and the go ahead for this movie?

ZUCKER: No. Well, in fact, we didn`t get the financing and go ahead for this movie, because, you know, we`re an independent -- you know, I don`t think we could go a studio. The movie is just too out there and too wacky.

BECK: Yes, but all of your movies have that -- everyone`s insane in your movies.

ZUCKER: But to satisfy -- you know, stockholders of a big company, I don`t know if -- if this kind of direct assault on the left would have gone through. That major studio couldn`t take responsibility for it.

BECK: I have a feeling -- I haven`t seen the movie yet. But your opening weekend is going to be big.

ZUCKER: I hope so.

BECK: There`s going to be a lot of people in the --

ZUCKER: That would be October 3rd you`re talking about.

BECK: Yes, I just wish I could remember the name of the movie.

ZUCKER: Oh, yes, "Airplane," no "American Carol" please.

BECK: David, thanks a lot.

From Los Angeles good night, America.

END

To tell a conservative story in hollywood you have to make it FANTASY.

Think "Unbreakable" where Bruce Willis isn't happy because he isn't doing what he was MEANT to do.

Or "The Dark Knight" with it's gritty and ultra-realistic take on terrorism.

IF these tales were told as outright conseervative tales they would probably never even get made.

Dress them uo as fantasy? They make MILLIONS! Wonder why?

The world is actually STARVED for some truth and reality, even in their entertainment.

That is why Dark Knight had such a huge audience. Finally a story about good and evil and good won. What do you know about that.

It may be a bit scary for young kids. Heath Ledger played the Joker like he was the devil, even flicked his tongue when he talked, like a snake. Very evil.

The heroine dies and lots of killing. But good wins in the end and it also has a twist no one expects in the end as well.

Originally Posted by YNKYH8R

So.....what isit you'd like to see? I've seen unbreakable but not the dark knight so....I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about.

When you watch the Dark Knight you might understand what I mean better.

The movie is basically a morality play. It PRACTICALLY calls President Bush the Dark Knight. The moral of the story is this...

When you are facing down evil, sometimes you have to be willing to be seen as the bad guy. It takes a special kind of person to go against public opinion to do what NEEDS to be done.

Though overly simplistic and idealist to believe that is the ENTIRE truth about President Bush...

It DOES force one to think. MAYBE, Bush isn't this cavalier and arrogant man who doesn't care what people think. MAYBE he is doing what he actually believes NEEDS done.

They make a GREAT argument in the movie that appeasement and reason can often fail when you have NO real idea what your enemy wants.

What if ALL your enemy wants or is willing to accept is your demise? HOW can you reason with that?

THAT is one of my biggest fears with Liberal candidates. The idea that some ideologies, some PEOPLE are just evil and can NOT be negotiated with. Unfortunately liberals don't seem to believe in or RECOGNIZE evil. They will call Bush evil but NOT Hussein or Kim Jong Il or ANY other tyrannical despot.
They call those who would oppose abortion or homosexuality evil while saying that the people killing babies or fighting for "Gay rights" should be hailed as heroes....

Some Liberals NEED to realize that EVIL is very real and not just a name you call those whose opinions differ from yours!

SOME need to realize that there are soem things SO vile, SO despicable they can NOT be tolerated.

That SOME people NEED to be put down like dogs in the street.