Thank you Chris Dodd

The web is buzzing with contempt over a statement by Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Chairman and CEO Chris Dodd to Fox last Thursday:

“Those who count on quote ‘Hollywood’ for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who’s going to stand up for them when their job is at stake. Don’t ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don’t pay any attention to me when my job is at stake.”

As pointed out on the MPAA web site, Dodd is also a former US Senator from Connecticut. Surely he understood the implications of publicly confirming what we have always expected — that Hollywood spends a lot of money on politicans and expects a return on their investments. Rather than condemn him, perhaps we should be thanking him for putting this out in the open.

The movie industry, like many others, is facing a harsh new reality — one that, for the most part, they appear to be in denial about. Pushing for draconian, ill-informed legislation such as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act isn’t the solution. Perhaps it’s time that Hollywood stop trying to purchase politicians and apply some creativity to their business model instead.