Dear Doug Morris, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment:
As an activist supporting the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, I would like to register my concerns about the film "October Baby" which is being distributed by Provident Films, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. I am deeply troubled by the connection between "October Baby" and anti-choice organizations that deceive women. Most importantly, it's disconcerting that your marketing team promotes this film as a coming-of-age story without a political agenda. Moviegoers shouldn't be deceived in this way, especially if proceeds of the film are going to groups that mislead women.
Jon Erwin, the co-writer and producer of "October Baby," told The New York Times that he "didn't see [the movie] as a political issue." However, last fall, the directors held advance screenings of the film to build support for a ballot measure in Mississippi that would have banned abortion and many common forms of birth control. Given this link, it is disingenuous for the filmmaker to claim there is no political motivation related to the movie.
In addition to this political activity, the makers are giving 10 percent of the film's proceeds to a fund benefiting anti-choice "crisis pregnancy centers" (CPCs). Anti-choice groups created CPCs to look like comprehensive health clinics, but many do not provide women with accurate pregnancy-related information. Investigations by NARAL Pro-Choice America's state affiliates have revealed again and again that many CPCs intentionally misinform and mislead women. In fact, some CPCs subject women seeking objective health-care information to lectures and force them to watch anti-abortion films, slide shows, and photographs. Some even refuse to provide information about or referrals for birth control. For example, a CPC in Virginia falsely told a woman that, "Abortion increases your risk of breast cancer by 100%" [Crisis Pregnancy Centers Revealed, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Foundation].
It is profoundly concerning that a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment would be associated with funding organizations that deliberately mislead women as it markets "October Baby." Moviegoers deserve to know where their ticket money is going and to get the facts about the movie's affiliation with the anti-choice movement.
As you can see, this subject is complex. I urge you to meet with Nancy Keenan, president of the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, to review additional examples of why CPCs are dangerous to women.
--------
To sign the letter of support, visit the NARAL website:
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/index.html