Mon, 14 Feb 2005
CBC Arts
ROSEAU, DOMINICA - The Carib Indians of Dominica are upset over a Walt Disney film that would portray them as cannibals.
The film is a sequel to 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which starred Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.
Johnny Depp is seen here in Los Angeles earlier this month at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. (AP photo)
According to Dominica's government, Disney planned to shoot the picture there.
A Carib Indian leader told the BBC's website that he objects because there is "a strong element of cannibalism in the script which cannot be removed."
The Caribs dispute the notion that they descended from cannibals.
"Our ancestors stood up against early European conquerors and because they stood up ... we were labelled savages and cannibals up to today," said Carib chief Charles Williams.
"This cannot be perpetuated in movies."
About 3,000 Caribs live on the island, which has a population of 70,000. Shooting is reportedly set to begin in April.
Based on the theme-park ride of the same name, Pirates of the Caribbean was a huge success for Disney, grossing more than $305 million U.S. in North America alone.
Depp was lauded for his performance as pirate captain Jack Sparrow, which he modeled on Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and cartoon skunk Pepe Le Pew.
Williams told the BBC that indigenous leaders around the world have sent messages of support for his efforts to get the script changed.
However, he said that there are also some members of his own Carib council who have not offered to back him up.
They do not "understand our history, they are weak and are not committed to the cause of the Carib people," he said.
The third film in the Pirates series will be shot immediately after the second.
ROSEAU, DOMINICA - The Carib Indians of Dominica are upset over a Walt Disney film that would portray them as cannibals.
The film is a sequel to 2003's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which starred Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.
Johnny Depp is seen here in Los Angeles earlier this month at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. (AP photo)
According to Dominica's government, Disney planned to shoot the picture there.
A Carib Indian leader told the BBC's website that he objects because there is "a strong element of cannibalism in the script which cannot be removed."
The Caribs dispute the notion that they descended from cannibals.
"Our ancestors stood up against early European conquerors and because they stood up ... we were labelled savages and cannibals up to today," said Carib chief Charles Williams.
"This cannot be perpetuated in movies."
About 3,000 Caribs live on the island, which has a population of 70,000. Shooting is reportedly set to begin in April.
Based on the theme-park ride of the same name, Pirates of the Caribbean was a huge success for Disney, grossing more than $305 million U.S. in North America alone.
Depp was lauded for his performance as pirate captain Jack Sparrow, which he modeled on Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and cartoon skunk Pepe Le Pew.
Williams told the BBC that indigenous leaders around the world have sent messages of support for his efforts to get the script changed.
However, he said that there are also some members of his own Carib council who have not offered to back him up.
They do not "understand our history, they are weak and are not committed to the cause of the Carib people," he said.
The third film in the Pirates series will be shot immediately after the second.
No comments:
Post a Comment