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tv   [untitled]    July 18, 2011 11:00am-11:30am PDT

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of the drek that's rated g and pg. but the m.p.a. is the scary-- i mean, we could go on forever, because that's even scarier than, you know, a sandwich company sort of deciding what's on a show, (ken) i think you actually have a shot to negotiate with them. well, you do, only if-- only if you're a signatory. that's the difference between an independent and studio movie. when we were doing an independent movie, they wouldn't return our phone calls. we were just little nobodies who had made this million-dollar movie. and at the time, we're like, "what can we change to get an 'r'? and then they said, "well, we gave you an nc-17, "and we can't tell you what to change, 'cause we're not a censorship group." that's what they tell you. you are. you know, and they're like, "well, sir, we can't give you any specifics." so then you have to go and do a thing where you go and basically get on your hands and knees and beg them. so i went in there, and i'm all just-- and there's these 80-year-old people all staring down at me. and i'm like, "look, there's no nudity in this film. "there's no sex in this film. "it's all just language that you're giving this an nc-17 for."
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and i was, you know, stated my case, and they're like, "okay, thank you. step outside, and we'll tell you what we think." step outside, and literally i didn't even get a chance to close the door before the guy comes out and goes, "it's still an nc-17." and we're like, "can we try again?" "no." it's just-- you can, but it costs-- you've got to do another avid cut. you've got--you know, it's so cost prohibitive. and so then the fascinating thing is, we do the south park movie, and that, from the beginning, is with paramount pictures, right? so the m.p.a.a. gets a cut way before the movie's even done, and we get a call from the studio going, "so the m.p.a.a. thinks you need to take this out, this out, and that out." and we're like, "wait a minute." (stone) they had very specific notes. they wouldn't do this when we were-- you know, i thought they weren't a censorship group. and--and there was this whole process of the studio working with the m.p.a.a. to get that "r" and then give and take and give and take and give and take. that is so frightening, because it was only because it was a big studio movie. when i was just a filmmaker-- you know, when we were just filmmakers on our own
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trying to do this-- i know that the m.p.a.a. is illegal. i know it is. i know if someone was to challenge on legal grounds, it's basically a cartel setting up rules. the big guys get to set up the rules. even the little guys have to follow, but they have no say. what did you have to lose to get south park in the theaters? well, we ended up--every time they said, "cut this," we would put something back in that was worse. (parker) they made the movie worse. there's no question. they made that movie raunchier and raunchier. and here's the fascinating thing. here's what it all came down to. so now we're a week away. we're a week away from the movie coming out, and it's still an nc-17. you know, we've done this give and take, but we really kept just making it worse and worse, 'cause they just made us angry. and, um, finally, scott rudin, the producer from paramount-- (stone) there was one joke. i can't remember what it was. and we called up and said, we are not cutting this joke. i don't care; i don't know what we're going to do, but that's just too bad. and then scott rudin, he's like, "okay, i'll call you." scott rudin called somebody, probably sherry lansing. she called somebody else. and the next day, the movie was an "r," and not a frame of it changed. so paramount pictures basically finally telling the m.p.a.a.,
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"you really need to make this an 'r.'" and they're like, "okay, it's an 'r'." that's disgusting. there was a time in this country where government was leaning on creators, and all the pressure comes from-- i'd be less scared of government. they'd be accountable, 'cause we could vote 'em out. m.p.a.a. is just there. it's like star chamber. great conversation; thank you so much for joining us today. thank you. i appreciate it. captioning provided by the first amendment center, funded by the freedom forum. captioning by captionmax www.captionmax.com (female announcer) for more information about speaking freely, visit our website at:
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>> the san francisco cons tri of flowers in golden gate park is now showing a new exhibit that changes the way we see the plants around us. amy stewart's best-selling book, "wicked plants" is the inspiration behind the new exhibit that takes us to the dark side of the plant world. >> i am amy stewart. i am the arthur of "wicked plants," the weeds that killed
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lincoln's mother and other botanical atrocities. with the screens fly trap, that is kind of where everybody went initially, you mean like that? i kind of thought, well, all it does is eat up bugs. that is not very wicked. so what? by wicked, what i mean is that they are poisonous, dangerous, deadly or immoral or maybe illegal or offensive or awful in some way. i am in the profession of going around and interviewing botanists, horticulturalists and plant scientists. they all seem to have some little plant tucked away in the corner of a greenhouse that maybe they weren't supposed to have. i got interested in this idea that maybe there was a dark side to plants. >> the white snake root. people who consumed milk or meat from a cow that fed on
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white snake root faced severe pain. milk sickness, as it was culled, resulted in vomiting, tremors, delirium and death. one of the most famous victims of milk sickness was nancy hangs lincoln. she died at the age of 34, leaving behind 9-year-old abraham lincoln. he helped build his mother's casket by carving the woodallen petition douche the wooden petition himself. >> we transformed the gallery to and eerie victorian garden. my name is lowe hodges, and i am the director of operations and exhibitions at the conls tore of -- cons tore of
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flowers. we decided it needed context. so we needed a house or a building. the story behind the couple in the window, you can see his wife has just served him a glass of wine, and he is slumped over the table as the poison takes affect. a neat little factold dominion about that house is actually built out of three panels from old james bond movie. we wanted people to feel like i am not supposed to be in this room. this is the one that is supposed to be barred off and locked up. >> the ole andersonner -- oleander. this popular shrub is popular in warm climates. it has been implicated in a surprising number of murders and accidental deaths. children are at risk because it takes only a few leaves to kill them.
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a southern california woman tried to collect on her husband's life insurance by putting the leaves in his food. she is now one of 15 women on california's death rowan the only one who attempted to murder with a plant. >> people who may haven't been to their cons tore or been to -- do serve tore or their botanical garden, it gives them a reason to come back. you think let's go and look at the pretty flowers. these are pretty flowers, but they are flowers with weird and fascinating stories behind them. that is really fun and really not what people normally think of when they come to a horticultural institution. >> "wicked plants" is now showing at the san francisco conserve tore of flowers. unless next time, get out and
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play. >> good evening, everybody. my name is michael farrah. i'm the senior advisor to mayor newsom, and i want to welcome you all to city hall to celebrate the second -- what will hopefully be forever -- arab heritage month celebration at city hall, so thank you all for coming. [applause] as you probably know, tonight is a difficult night for many people. the world series is going on, and i'm here to report to you aid is 0-0 so far, in the second inning. we will have it on during the
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reception. before we get started, i wanted to recognize and bring up two elected officials to speak briefly, supervisors avalos and mayor, who have always stood with the community -- supervisors avalos and mirkarimi, who have always stood with the community. they have consistently had their offices open when we had an issue. they're being here means a lot to us -- their being here means a lot to us. now more than ever, we need to be friends with government, and knowing their door is open to us is appreciated. [applause] supervisor mirkarimi: good evening. i'm ross mirkarimi. i represent the fifth district, and i'm delighted to be standing up here with my colleague who will speak in a moment. i want to thank mike farrah for his leadership and mayor newsom
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for helping facilitate this gathering. i'm iranian american, persians, and throughout my -- [applause] throughout my life, my family had always had very close relationships with the arab and arab-american community. i spent a fair amount of time working in the middle east in jordan and iraq and traveling through loud the milk -- throughout the middle eastern areas, so i feel very much at home, and it is important that feeling is well represented in city hall. i look at the flags that are well illustrated year. it amplifies the need that much more that san franciscans, californians should understand and become more acquainted with the arab-american culture. if the census proves me right, when the numbers come out next year officially, we will see a significant growth of the arab- american population in the san francisco bay area but also
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throughout the state of california. that is critical because it means that much more that arab- americans have the right and the reason to want to make sure that their interests are being well represented in local government and city government, and, of course, in federal government. i continue to look forward to working with everyone here. thank you for the contribution you make to making our city one of the most majestic on this planet. have a great festival. thank you. [applause] supervisor avalos: good evening. i represent district 11 in san francisco, and as i became a candidate for supervisor and had been supervisor, i got to realize and learn more about the contributions of the arab- american community here in san francisco and the bay area. it is profound. i also got to really understand the link between the bay area and the middle east and how the conflict there affects us here
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locally as well, and we all live with this and strive for a world with peace, and part of that is a real understanding about the cultures of this world. we need to have a greater understanding and appreciation of the arab-american culture, the arab culture in the united states and in san francisco as well. this celebration is an important part of that work we have ahead of us together. i want to always say that my office is always open to hear from members of the community and to be invited to events in the community as well. i look forward to a partnership that lasts many years, and that we will all live together in a peaceful world. thank you. [applause] >> we as a community have had really an amazing year, from the hearings about the flotilla at the board of supervisors to the
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hearings at the human rights commission about racial profiling. it has been a profound year for us, and it has raised a tremendous amount of awareness, not only in city hall, but in northern california and the nation about the issues we face as a community, but it has not just been those issues we have faced. we also had what i think is probably the most successful festival we have had in a long time with the arab cultural center, and each year, the film festival gets better and better. it continues to tell the story of our community and change people's minds based on our -- on art. it is with that pleasure that i bring of our awardee for this year's arab heritage month certificate. michel, could you come up real quick? [applause] his work every year really
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changes people's hearts and minds. if you could just speak for a few minutes about the festival and the success you faced this year. here is the award for this year's fair of heritage month. thank you. [applause] -- this year's arab heritage month. thank you. [applause] >> find the executive director of the arab festival. -- i'm the executive director. will i accept this proclamation on behalf of the arab-american community in sentences go with deep gratitude and affection -- the arab-american community in san francisco with deep gratitude and affection. allow me to thank our mayor, gavin newsom, for establishing arab heritage month, which will always be proudly remembered by our community and future
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generations. [applause] our thanks and appreciation also goes to mike farrah, a community member, leader, and representatives who worked diligently to make this a reality for our community. lastly shadi elkarra, who tirelessly put the details for this event together to make it materialize on the ground. thank you for your dedication to our community. most of all, i would like to thank each and every one of you for being here to support this important occasion. this is an occasion that should become the space and base where the community comes together to address all our differences, whether real or perceived.
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the job of making our communities solid, relevant, prosperous comes from each one of us where we can make us successful individuals. one successful community, one voice, to proudly served our community's higher interest to collectively served our city and our country. arab-americans are not the other. our community is not to be feared. our community is to be relied on. it is a rich community in culture and talent and heritage. we are the defendants of people who build great cities like casa blogging, baghdad, cairo, jerusalem, damascus -- casa blanca. we are the people of the world who have given the world great profits and religions. -- great prophets and religions. thank you.
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[applause] >> every year that i have been in city hall, i have tried to take an intern from the community and try to teach them the ways of politics to make sure we have leadership that keeps coming, so eventually, we have candidates for office. like when a friend on the school board. is she here? -- like winifred on the school board. a couple of years back, i was wise enough to bring on an intern that has made all the difference for our community, especially with arab heritage month. he worked so hard for last year's event and has made this year a success. we were really concerned about timing, and we were not sure he would get to it, and shadi came to me and said that we had to do it, had to continue the
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tradition. without his work, this never would have happened. shadi, can i introduce you and have you say a few words? >> thank you, everyone, for being here. i apologize about the delay, but it would not be an arab even if it started on time. thank you for coming to the 2nd annual arab heritage month celebration. there is a lot going on in the city. the giants are in the world series, it is game two, and you guys are here. but we do have a tv set up in the reception room. i want to thank supervisors mirkarimi and avalos, from day one -- i remember meeting ross years ago in district 5, and he was one of the only people that came out to the arab cultural festival. he had a table, and nobody would have known then that he would be one of our community of's strongest allies. and supervisor avalos, who has
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truly been there for our community. once i told him that i would love for them to come, they did not hesitate. can we give them a round of applause for being here tonight? [applause] like mike said, we were not sure if we were going to do it this year. there was a lot of things going on during the month of october, especially during the city, but i felt it was very important, not for us personally, but for the sake of the community. last year, we had an inaugural celebration, which was crucial and very historic in san francisco, so we owe it to the community to continue this event because this is your city hall and our city hall, and the arab community is the dynamic community that has been here for generations and has contributed significantly to the vitality of this city. like michael said, giving the award to the arab film festival
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-- it is the premier arab film festival in the nation. for over 15 years, they have been portraying films that do not only represent our rich heritage but kind of dispel myths and stereotypes of the arab people, who they are, and giving these films an audience that would not usually see them. even though it is through the art and fun, it is a powerful and strong message, and i urge you all to support the arab film festival because they do so much work for our community, and we do not really realize that. we have a fun program for you guys tonight. first of all, like i said, asserting our narrative as arab- americans is very important. through our historic legacy, we have had poetry being a crucial and historic part of our culture. old tradition is a very
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important part of arab culture, so we will be starting with two pieces from two arab-american women that are students at uc- berkeley. the creme de la creme. they are both brilliant individuals. they will do a co-written peace -- piece, so i'm going to hand it to them. thank you. [applause] >> is this working? ok. we are students at the university of california berkeley, and we would like to
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share some poetry with you guys. [speaking foreign language] we circled the dark path was slow, deliberate steps eyes fixed in pain, confusion, and grief we are the ambling madmen we are grievants an insanity we are fragments of broken people >> this is a funeral hymn we sing about our mothers history is lost the struggles of our fathers >> i can sit in the aromas of my past four days in the morning coffee stains my consciousness coffee was once the morning silence, a moment of lists' whose light shine in don
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it is but a memory for forgetfulness the sense of coffee circles the room -- the scents of coffee circles the room my grandmother's perfume was of another era the memory of a memory when perfume smells of hope and shakes the room to tears the perfume circles encircles the room i can sit in the aromas of my past for days. >> the circles of boulevards built by napoleon and palestinian children the circumvent the circulation of air the life-giving water damage children sit smoking teargas circles the air blood runs, and it is the only thing that runs freely in the --
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in this place i can sit in the aromas of my past for days >> my fingers circle the golden rim of the china cup i never knew what to make of dead leaves in boiling water i do not know what tomorrow holds >> or if we will continue running in circles and circles all i know is around comfort where we put forward our offerings >> linen sheets, the contents of the nail, so together families interleaving boundaries we passed the yemeni coffee and the slices of watermelon >> which still grow from
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palestinian soil >> it is moments like these and the roundness of my father's smiling cheeks the line at my cousin's wedding is these moments that i have hope there is hope in the strength and beauty of our mothers the resilience of our children the belly laughs of our huddles >> there is hope in our joint -- joy >> extending god's blessings >> [speaking foreign language] >> because what goes around comes around [applause] thank you guys. that is it for us.
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[applause] >> thank you, ladies. give them another round of applause. [applause] when i first approached them with the idea of reading poetry, both of them look through some classic arabic poetry, but i told them they were both amazing goes, so we should hear their own original work. those are two women in our community that are amazing poets and will probably do amazing things with their lives. so thank you very much. our next thing on the program -- another very rich part of our culture -- is obviously our dress. through our clothing, i think that represents our diversity because throughout the arab world, i think the diversity of our clothing really shows how diverse the arab people are.
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beyond and and that bond, it is the cultural linguistics and political ties that we share -- beyond an ethnic bond. we put together, just from arab- americans in the bay area -- we said, "why don't we showcase our clothing?" this is the first time i have ever put a production like this together, so we will start shortly. let me just said of the music. thank you. -- let me just set up the music. thank you. ♪
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the first pieces of the north african region.