Thursday, June 28, 2007

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Cruise’s Scientology Stirs Ire in Berlin

Posted: 27 Jun 2007 03:46 PM GMT-06:00

BERLIN (AP) — Two hot-button issues in Germany - the Nazi era and Scientology - are being pushed simultaneously by a new film in which Tom Cruise plays the country’s most-famous anti-Hitler plotter, sparking controversy in Berlin.

Cruise, one of Scientology’s best-known adherents, is to play Col. Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg - the aristocratic army officer executed after a failed attempt to assassinate Hitler in 1944 - in director Bryan Singer’s new film “Valkyrie.”

The film’s German co-producers say they were given permission to use the former German general staff headquarters in Berlin, where Stauffenberg worked and where he was executed, and that they plan a detailed, historically accurate treatment.

But word that a Scientologist would play Stauffenberg has rubbed some the wrong way. Germany’s government considers Scientology a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people, and critics maintain that one of its adherents should not be playing one of the Nazi-era’s few heroes.

Stauffenberg “is to be played by an actor whose sect, through dubious methods, attempts to lure people and make them pliable,” Social Democratic lawmaker Klaus Uwe Benneter said on his Web site. “This is a slap in the face to all upstanding democrats, all resistance fighters during the Third Reich, and all victims of the Scientology sect.”

Sabine Weber, a spokeswoman for Scientology in Berlin, said she was “shocked” that politicians would speak out against Cruise starring in the movie, saying that it was a “call to discrimination” against someone because of religious beliefs, which violates German and European human-rights codes.

The film’s producers maintain the criticism is misguided, accusing politicians of making hay of a non-issue.

“Basically, some politicians are using the popularity of Tom Cruise to become popular themselves,” Carl Woebcken, head of the Babelsberg studio that is slated to co-produce the film in Germany, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

“This is not a Scientology film, it is a Bryan Singer film, and Bryan Singer is Jewish … and they want to make this film to show that during the Nazi regime there was heroic resistance,” Woebcken said. “The personal beliefs of Tom Cruise have to be separated from his skills as an actor. He is one of the best, if not the best, actors in the world for heroic roles and that is why Bryan Singer approached him.”

United Artists called its film “a historically accurate thriller” and said in a statement that “Mr. Cruise’s personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on the movie’s plot, themes or content.”

Germany’s federal agency that tracks extremism has had Scientology under observation for a decade on allegations that it “threatens the peaceful democratic order” of the country. The Scientologists long have battled to end the surveillance, saying it is an abuse of their right to freedom of religion, and the U.S. State Department regularly criticizes Germany in its annual Human Rights Report for the monitoring practice.

Stauffenberg’s son Berthold Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg has spoken out against Cruise playing the role, telling the Sueddeutsche Zeitung that “he should keep his fingers off my father,” and adding that he feared the movie would be “terrible kitsch.”

Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung was quoted as saying such a film involving Cruise could not be made at his Ministry - the same building where Stauffenberg kept his offices and was dragged into the courtyard and shot after his plot failed.

But, Woebcken noted, the film company had not asked to film at the part of the Defense Ministry building occupied by the military, and already has preliminary permission from other agencies to film at the area where Stauffenberg’s offices were, and where he was executed.

A Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed that the moviemakers had not asked to film in his ministry’s areas, and said if they did, the application would be considered like any other.

Stauffenberg and the other plotters were caught and executed after Hitler survived the explosion at his headquarters in what was then East Prussia.

Woebcken said authorities should be welcoming the decision to shoot the film at original locations.

“The Defense Ministry … says that if a Stauffenberg film is done, it has to be authentic, and for exactly that reason United Artists wants to do the film in Berlin in the original places,” he said. “Otherwise they could have done the film anywhere in the world.”

“Valkyrie” is scheduled for release in 2008. (Columbian.com)

Tom Cruise Responds To Filming Ban By The German Defense Ministry

Posted: 27 Jun 2007 03:32 PM GMT-06:00

Tom Cruise has responded to the German Defense Ministry after they banned the actor from shooting his new movie, “Valkyrie,” on military bases where part of the plot takes place. On Monday, Defense Ministry spokesperson Harald Kammerbauer said the movie star would not be given permission to shoot at the German sites because of his involvement with Scientology.

German Defense Minister Franz-Josef Jung had also noted that Cruise would take away from an “authentic portrayal” of the incidents that occurred during Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg’s failed assassination bombing plot against Adolf Hitler in World War II.

However, Cruise, who has been a Scientology member for years, says his performance as Stauffenberg will not be affected by his religious beliefs.

Paula Wagner, the actor’s producing partner and United Artists CEO, is quoted as saying by StarPulse, “Aside from his obvious admiration of the man he is portraying, Mr. Cruise’s personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on the movie’s plot, themes, or content. And even though we could shoot the movie anywhere in the world, we believe Germany is the only place we can truly do the story justice.”

“Valkyrie” is still scheduled to begin filming next month. (AllHeadlineNews.com, June 26, 2007)

Cruise responds to German filming ban
Latest: Tom Cruise has vowed Scientology will have no impact on his portrayal of a legendary German assassin, after being banned from filming at the country’s military bases because of his controversial beliefs. The actor is set to begin shooting Valkyrie in Germany this summer (07). In the film he plays Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, leader of an unsuccessful plot to kill Adolf Hitler during World War II. However, permission to film scenes on genuine army sites has been denied by the country’s Defence Ministry because Scientology is viewed as a “money-making cult” instead of legitimate church by the German government. However, Cruise is adamant his beliefs have nothing to do with characterisation, and is desperate to shoot the movie on location in von Stauffenberg’s homeland. His producing partner and United Artists CEO Paula Wagner says, “Aside from his obvious admiration of the man he is portraying, Mr. Cruise’s personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on the movie’s plot, themes, or content. “And even though we could shoot the movie anywhere in the world, we believe Germany is the only place we can truly do the story justice.” Von Stauffenberg’s briefcase bomb in 1944 only succeeded in wounding Hitler. He was executed by firing squad for the plot the next morning. (ContactMusic.com

Tom to promote ‘Lions’ at Cinema Expo in Amsterdam

Posted: 27 Jun 2007 03:04 PM GMT-06:00

Tom comes to Holland!
Tom will pay a quick visit to the Cinema Expo International at the ‘RAI’ in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) to promote his latest movie ‘Lions for Lambs”, as confirmed this Tuesday by the organisation of the expo.

Cinema Expo International, held from June 25th untill 28th, is the only international convention and trade show dedicated to the European cinema exhibition and distribution community.

‘Lions for lambs’ is a drama, directed by Robert Redford, and takes place partly in Afghanistan. Tom plays an American congres man. The movie will be in Dutch theaters in November. (RTL Boulevard)

Cruise bears ‘Lions’ at Cinema Expo
Tom Cruise may have been shunned by the German government this week, but he is welcome in Holland.
Cruise and partner Paula Wagner will make an unannounced stop at the European exhibitors confab Cinema Expo to unveil a first look at fare from the new United Artists: a 5½-minute clip of Robert Redford’s “Lions for Lambs,” the company’s first release.

The duo also will tubthump “Valkyrie,” the WWII thriller that the German Defense Ministry has prohibited from shooting at military sites in the country due to the actor’s ties to the Church of Scientology.

The Cinema Expo stop will be Cruise’s first at the event, which is in its 16th year.

Dennis Rice, UA president of worldwide marketing and publicity, is convinced the controversy won’t derail UA’s European launch. “It hasn’t affected our focus at all. We are excited about ‘Lions for Lambs’ and ‘Valkyrie.’ ”

Rice added, “Cinema Expo is a great place to launch United Artists to the European marketplace. We recognize that this is increasingly a worldwide business, and Cinema Expo is as important, if not more important, than the other tradeshows.”

Last year, 1,250 people attended. No figures are available yet for this year. (Variety)

posted by Rex at 6:41 AM

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