CARRES Coalition Alerts Parents to Shark
Tale Violence and Stereotyping
Calls for National Boycott of Marketing Partners
WASHINGTON, DC - Sept.
24, 2004 The
Coalition Against Racial, Religious and Ethnic
Stereotyping (CARRES) today alerted parents to
the violence and ethnic stereotyping in DreamWorks'
soon-to-be-released animated childrens movie, Shark Tale and called for a national boycott
of all products that promote the film and its characters.
The
movie is about a fish named Oscar, who gets involved
with gangster sharks and killer whales. The gangster-fish
have Italian names and are voiced by Robert DeNiro,
Martin Scorsese and actors from The Sopranos. It
premieres nationally Oct. 1, the first day of Italian
American heritage month.
Shark Tale is
a production of DreamWorks SKG, owned by Steven
Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen.
To promote it, DreamWorks formed partnerships with
some of the nation's largest corporations, including
Coca-Cola and Burger King.
Since January CARRES
has petitioned DreamWorks to change the names of
the gangster characters and remove Italian expressions
from the dialogue. It also has written to the movie's
corporate sponsors asking them not to promote the
film.
"Since our requests
fell on deaf ears, we are calling for a boycott
of Coca-Cola, Burger King, Krispy Kreme, General
Mills, Hasbro Toys and Activision, the movie's
principal marketing partners, says CARRES spokesperson
Dona De Sanctis.
It is the first time
that the major Italian American organizations have
called for a national boycott to protest the defamation
of people of Italian heritage.
Italian Americans
represent the fifth largest ethnic group in the
United States, numbering 16 million according to
the U.S. Census Bureau.
CARRES is composed
of more than 25 ethnic organizations, including
all the major national Italian American organizations:
The Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA)
UNICO National
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
The Columbus Citizens Foundation
The Italic Institute of
America
"Shark
Tale is a kid's version of GoodFellas,"
says CARRES member John Mancini, chairman of the
Italic Institute. "We
are profoundly disappointed in Steven Spielberg who
chooses to negatively influence children's minds
this way."
"Shark
Tale will be translated into many languages and reproduced on DVDs," says
OSIA National President Joseph Sciame "The characters will be in video
games, on cereal boxes and fast-food meals all over the world."
Referring
to the movie's corporate partners, UNICO National President Michael Mariniello
notes, "How could these otherwise socially responsible corporations,
whose businesses are sustained by American families of every racial and
ethnic background, be a party to such a reactionary movie based on ethnic
caricatures? It literally takes America back to the 1940s."
Lawrence Auriana,
president of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, targeted Spielberg's role.
"Despite his enlightened statements about stereotyping, Spielberg has allowed
DreamWorks to produce the first children's movie in at least
25 years that promotes bias. By supporting this movie, Spielberg is being
hypocritical." Auriana's
foundation, which organizes New York City's annual Columbus Day Parade,
banned members of the cast of The Sopranos from marching in the
2002 parade.
U.S Congressman, Bill Pascrell Jr (D-NJ) contacted
DreamWorks on Jan. 9 and again on Sept. 8, requesting a review copy of
the film before its Oct. 1 national premiere. "I
am concerned that the character images of this film do not meet a wholesome
standard and will instill societal prejudices in our children," he wrote.
To
download the CARRES boycott brochure Click
Here. This
brochure may be copied and distributed.
For additional information
and interviews, contact:
Dr.
Dona De Sanctis, CARRES spokesperson, 202/547 3833
Prof. Rosario Iaconis, president, Italic Institute of America, 516/488 7400
Dr. Emanuele Alfano, spokesman, UNICO National 973/429 2818
Larry Auriana, president, Columbus Citizens Foundation, 212/588 9148
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