Activists Slam Relativity Media for Filming in China City

BEIJING (AP) - Rights activists have belittled a Hollywood studio for filming a friend comedy inside an eastern Chinese city where a blind, self-trained activist lawyer continues to be held under house arrest and apparently beaten.our editor recommendsJoe Matukewicz Named Relativity Media's Senior V . p . of AcquisitionsFriday Box Office: Relativity Media's 'Limitless' No. 1 with $6.6 Million'Blindness' being protested by blind activists'Aftershock' becomes China's top domestic film Relativity Media is shooting part of the comedy 21 well as over in Linyi, an urban area in Shandong province where the activist Chen Guangcheng's village can be found. Government physiques have switched Chen's village of Dongshigu in to a hostile, no-go zone and activists, foreign diplomats and reporters are actually switched back, threatened combined with gems thrown their way by males patrolling the village. What is the news that Relativity Media had selected Linyi, an urban area of ten million, like a spot for its film and was offering its close government connections comes at any time when activists have restored their attention on Chen. A deal to visit the lawyer to focus on his plight has caught on and intensified over recent days, though none happen to be effective and many site site visitors are actually met with violence. On China's popular Twitter-like microblog, Sina Weibo, some authors circulated emails for Relativity staff, promoting clients to produce towards the organization in protest. A few known for any boycott in the film. Relativity declined comment but mentioned in the news release that filming in Linyi began last Wednesday. Inside the release, Linyi's top Communist Party official Zhang Shajun is reported as calling Relativity's leader Ryan Kavanaugh a "close friendInch while Relativity's Co-Leader Tucker Tooley describes Linyi becoming an "amazing" place. "I am hoping Relativity Media will discover much more about the particular Linyi, about Chen Guangcheng, and discover that what's presently happening in Dongshigu village is what is really 'amazing'," mentioned Nanjing-based activist He Peirong inside an interview. "Especially at this time around around, when each day you will discover people trying to go to Chen Guangcheng, individuals who've been conned and beaten, I express deep regret to find out such remarks whitewashing the city of Linyi," she mentioned. Formerly a few days, a lot of activists and Chen's supporters have risked being strongly assaulted to test visits to his home in the bid to focus on his plight. The newest group was composed of 37 petitioners who traveled there by bus from Beijing on Sunday and fled after being attacked by about 50 unknown thugs simply because they approached Chen's village, mentioned one person, Peng Zhonglin, from Jiangxi province. Linyi police rejected to comment when showed up at on the phone. Human Rights Watch senior Asia investigator Nicholas Bequelin mentioned it absolutely was puzzling that Relativity came out comfortable cozying tabs on the city's political leadership. "They are being attempting to assume this role to become a prop in Linyi's propaganda campaign to cast itself just like a civilized town that encourages culture when the fact is that it is not just holding among China's most prominent human rights defenders, but prone to amazing measures to persecute him," Bequelin mentioned. Relativity describes 21 well as over just like a comedy about two childhood pals who drag buddies together to celebrate his 21st birthday the evening before a med school interview inside an evening that becomes "an crazy epic misadventure of debauchery and mayhem." It stars Footloose star Miles Teller and Justin Chon who was simply inside the Twilight Saga. Shooting in Linyi began on Wednesday plus it was unclear how extended they were scheduled to film there. Previous footage happen to be shot in Dallas, the business mentioned. Relativity has produced or co-funded greater than 200 movies including Cowboys & Aliens, Bridesmaids, and Limitless. Blinded having a fever in infancy and self-trained just like a lawyer, Chen increased being an beneficial figure among rights activists for his dogged mission for justice. He recorded forced late-term abortions and sterilizations within the rural community, angering government physiques. He was eventually jailed for four years. Relativity Media's news release Follow Gillian Wong on Twitter @gillianwong Related Subjects Justin Chon Relativity Media Miles Teller