Disability Groups Furious As Dreamworks And Ben Stiller Make Fun Of Retard Sim

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Disability Groups Furious As Dreamworks And Ben Stiller Make Fun

Of " Retard " Simple Jack

http://www.businesssheet.com/2008/8/disability-groups-furious-as-

dreamworks-and-ben-stiller-make-fun-of-retard-

Controversy is swirling about DreamWorks' upcoming Tropic Thunder, in

which Ben Stiller's character makes a movie called Simple Jack. Jack

is referred to as a " retard. "

Several disability organizations are meeting with DreamWorks on

Wednesday to discuss their concerns. It's unknown what they want, but

if they ask for changes, they're cutting it close: the movie comes

out in a week.

(The New York Times claims the same assertions are made in marketing

materials related to the film. When we tried to access the fake

Simple Jack Web site early this morning, however, there was nothing

on the homepage. Similarly, the fake trailer for the film, available

on Stiller's Tom Cruise-like Tugg Speedmann Web site, also could not

be found.)

NY Times: DreamWorks executives have agreed to talk by telephone and

in person on Wednesday with representatives of more than a half dozen

disabilities organizations to discuss the groups' concerns about the

portrayal of a developmentally handicapped character in the coming

movie " Tropic Thunder. "

" We want to be really plain about what our issues are with the

movie, " said Anne Sommers, the policy counsel for the American

Association of People with Disabilities, who helped organize the

meeting.

Debate has centered on the film's approach to a character named

Simple Jack, right, who is played by Ben Stiller's character, an

actor, in the movie. Movie and marketing materials refer to the

character as a " retard. " Ms. Sommers said the groups, which include

the National Down Syndrome Congress and the Special Olympics, had not

yet formulated specific requests for DreamWorks.

DreamWorks executives have said the film, a movie industry spoof,

aims its humor at the industry, not at disabled people. The company,

a unit of Paramount Pictures, plans to release " Tropic Thunder " on

Aug. 13.