President Obama is not the only one thinking about the precedent set when Sony decided not to release the comedy The Interview. Around Hollywood, the action drew immediate rebuke as celebrities took to Twitter — like director and producer Judd Apatow:
Late night host Jimmy Kimmel agreed, writing, "An un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent."
In writing rooms and comedy clubs in Los Angeles, however, the conversations are more nuanced.
"I feel like there's been like a schizophrenic range of reactions," says Rob Kutner, a writer for comedian Conan O'Brien who has also worked for The Daily Show and Dennis Miller. "Because I feel like in the sort of public realm, like in social media, people are saying like, 'This is an outrage and it's so stupid of Sony and so cowardly.'
"Nobody censors us," says Stephanie Striegel, an independent producer who's worked for Spyglass and New Line Cinemas. Like Kutner, she's been following the Sony story for weeks.
"We get to watch what we want, read what we want, produce what we want," she says. "You know, that whole First Amendment thing."
But, Kutner says, "I feel like in private conversations ... in the calm of, 'What would I do?' there's a little more trepidation." What if we did show the movie, and something happened — a bombing or a shooting?
Or nobody comes because they're scared of something happening, Striegel points out. "That could be the other thing."
Striegel worries Sony's decision could have a far-reaching effect on Hollywood.
"From a creative point of view, if you're a producer, or you're an actor, you're a writer, you know, it feels like the margin's narrowed about what kind of movies Hollywood will be making," she says.
The effect may ripple beyond Hollywood. At Flappers Comedy Club in beautiful downtown Burbank, Calif., comedians like Greg Kashmanian are taking cracks at Kim Jong Un.
"Part of me wants to believe that he's like a super big cinephile and he was like, 'Oh, they're doing a movie about me? Who's in it? James Franco? Oh, he's good,' " Kashmanian cracked. "'Who's killing me? Seth Rogen? No. No, I saw Neighbors. Zero sex appeal.' "
But Flappers owner Dave Reinitz worries that these kind of jokes could provoke an attack on his business.
"We're a tiny company, mom-and-pop place," Reinitz says. "But we got a server, we've got a website and we need that for our business. So there is a chill effect when you feel threatened."
Reinitz says that's the scariest thing, because the world needs comedy. "Comedy helps open minds and that's why they're scared of it. That's the real reason. 'Oh, we're insulted,' — No, you're worried that your people are going to see this movie and realize how hysterical and ridiculous your tinpot dictator is and maybe try to take some action to change that system."
He just hopes that we don't have to change ours. In the words of the incomparable Mel Brooks: "Humor is just another defense against the universe."
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Transcript
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Around Hollywood the action to withdraw "The Interview" drew immediate rebuke as celebrities took to Twitter. Judd Apatow, the director and producer, said I think it is disgraceful that these theaters are not showing "The Interview." Will they pull any movie that gets an anonymous threat now? The late night host Jimmy Kimmel agreed calling it, quote, "An un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent." But as NPR's Nathan Rott reports, in writing rooms and comedy clubs in Los Angeles, the conversations are little more nuanced.
NATHAN ROTT, BYLINE: All right. Let's ignore the fact that "The Interview" is said to be a dumb comedy made by two guys that typically make stoner movies. The conversations it's evoking are anything but.
ROB KUTNER: I'm Rob Kutner. I'm a writer for Conan.
STEPHANIE STRIEGEL: My name is Stephanie Striegel. I'm an independent producer.
ROTT: Kutner also wrote for the "Daily Show" and Dennis Miller. Striegel has worked for Spyglass and New Line Cinemas and been in the industry for two decades. Both have followed the Sony story for weeks.
KUTNER: I feel like there's been, like, a schizophrenic range of reactions because I feel, like, in the sort of public realm, like, social media, people are saying, like, this is an outrage and it's so stupid of Sony and it's so cowardly and...
STRIEGEL: No one censors us. We get to watch what we want, read what we want, produce what we want, you know, that whole First Amendment thing.
KUTNER: In private conversations, sort of in the calm of what would I do, there's a little bit more trepidation.
ROTT: A little more what if we did show the movie and something did actually happen - a bombing or a shooting.
STRIEGEL: Or no one comes - that could be the other thing.
ROTT: Because they're scared of something happening. All this to say it's a very complex situation and it's one that Striegel worries could have a far-reaching effect on Hollywood.
STRIEGEL: From a creative point of view, if you're a producer or you're an actor, you're a writer, you know, it feels like the margin's narrowed about what kind of movies Hollywood will be making.
ROTT: And it may not just affect Hollywood.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Flappers Comedy Club's Flappy Hour Audition Show.
(APPLAUSE)
ROTT: At Flapper's Comedy Club in beautiful downtown Burbank, comedians, like Greg Kashmanian, are taking cracks at Kim Jong-Un.
GREG KASHMANIAN: Part of me wants to believe that he's, like, a super big cinephile and was like oh, they're doing a movie about me - who's in it? James Franco - oh, he's good. He's good. Who's killing me, though? Seth Rogan - no, no, no. I saw "Neighbors" - zero sex appeal.
ROTT: But it's not all laughs. David Reinitz is the owner of Flappers and a comedian himself and he worries that these kind of jokes could provoke an attack on his business.
DAVID REINITZ: You know, we're a little, tiny company - mom-and-pop place - but we got a server. And, you know, we've got a website and we need that for our business. So there is a chill effect you feel threatened.
ROTT: And Reinitz says that's the scariest thing because, he says, the world needs comedy.
REINITZ: Comedy helps open minds and that's why they're scared of it. That's the real reason. We're insulted. No, you're worried that your people are going to see this movie and realize how hysterical and ridiculous your tinpot dictator is and maybe try to take some action to change that system.
ROTT: He just hopes that we don't have to change our system. After all, in the words of the incomparable Mel Brooks, humor is just another defense against the universe. Nathan Rott, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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