Scientologists deny campaign against ‘Going Clear’ for Oscar win
In March this year, the television channel HBO debuted “Going Clear” on the big screen in New York and Los Angeles, making it eligible for an Academy Award. And the movie — directed by Alex Gibney and based on a non-fiction book by Lawrence Wright — took home an Emmy last month. I saw the documentary a few months and was shocked by some information in it about what really goes on in the church of Scientology. The film airs allegations of the abuse of church members and misconduct by its leadership, particularly David Miscavige, who is accused of intimidating, beating, imprisoning, and exploiting subordinates. Ten days before the film’s premiere, the Church of Scientology took out full-page advertisements in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times to denounce “Going Clear”. Immediately following the film’s release, Scientologists blasted it on Twitter as “propaganda”.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scientology is waging an aggressive campaign to prevent “Going Clear” from winning an Oscar. The magazine writes that in recent weeks at least three prominent members of the Academy’s documentary branch — Rory Kennedy, John Battsek and Jon Else — have been approached by members of the group. Simultaneously, the Church of Scientology is allegedly producing a documentary about Gibney, and commissioning a profile of him for its official magazine, “Freedom”, in an effort to discredit the director.”In the last few weeks, Scientology has dramatically ratcheted up its corporate campaign against me and those in the film,” Gibney told The Hollywood Reporter.” And just weeks ago, its members allegedly pressured movie theatres near its Florida headquarters to cancel plans to screen the movie. I don’t think they hold as much sway over Hollywood as they once did so it will be interesting to see what will happen if/when “Going Clear” wins an Oscar.
The post Scientologists deny campaign against ‘Going Clear’ for Oscar win appeared first on The Digital Feed |A Social News & Entertainment Website.
