Tattler readers may recall from a controversial post that I suffered a nasty run-in with last year with former Director of the Los Angeles Film Festival - Richard Raddon - when I approached the devout Mormon about covering the annual Westwood-based event.
In fact, I am still baffled by Raddon's bizarre conduct, to this day.
Post:
http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/06/los-angeles-independent-film.html
Shortly after I published the tell-all on the Internet, I spied a sudden surge on searches for Richard Raddon on google, which piqued my curiosity.
For some inexplicable reason, Raddon was suddenly a "hot potato" in the blogosphere; so, I dived in head-long and conducted my own dragnet on the high-profile film fest organizer to get to the bottom of the "dish".
Within minutes, I stumbled upon a whole heap-load of nasty sh** on the odd-ball local celebrity in the film biz.
A headlining scandal took the cake.
Allegedly, as "gays" in the Los Angeles lower mainland were engaging in a bitter fight tooth & nail over the issues pertaining to Proposition 8 (initiative to ban gay marriage in California) individuals - Raddon, for one - were stabbing 'em in the back by silently donating significant funds to support the cause.
Raddon's contribution to the witch-hunt?
A thousand bucks!
Shortly afterward, a war of words between "gay activists" and "Mormons" hit the fan, and a controversy erupted in the community that led to angry marches in the street and near riots.
Gays got organized in military-style precision!
Before you could say tit-for-tat, a boycott was launched against all businesses and individuals that contributed funds to the Prop 8 initiative, to demonstrate the clout of the pink dollar.
A trendy Mexican diner on Beverly Boulevard in West Hollywood - frequented by gays in the neighborhood for decades - was the first to feel the pinch and cave in.
The Los Angeles Film Festival was also a prime target ripe for levelling.
Unless Raddon was "let go", gays and their vocal supporters, threatened to boycott the Fest - shut-it down - if possible.
Bowing to pressure, Richard Raddon resigned, and justice appeared to rule the day.
However, the controversy was still bubbling on a back burner behind closed doors.
On the heels of the resignation, actor Don Cheadle - a member of the Festival Board - proceeded to urge Raddon not to kow-tow to the demands of the angry mob (along with a handful of other Directors at the Los Angeles Film Festival who held similar views).
This triggered a heated dialogue on various issues which was awash in the press for weeks on end.
When push came to shove, Raddon honored the resignation, and gays breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Now, as the new Festival (2009) prepares to launch in Westwood in the next ten days or so, there remains one burning question to be answered.
Since Richard Raddon supporters are still firmly ensconced at the LA Film Festival - and no doubt still hold their prior views on gays, the Mormons, the right to contribute funds to political causes (no matter how morally reprehensible), and a ban on gay marriage in California - should the gay community launch a boycott this year to ferret the rest out?
Enquiring minds want to know!
Shortly after I published the tell-all on the Internet, I spied a sudden surge on searches for Richard Raddon on google, which piqued my curiosity.
For some inexplicable reason, Raddon was suddenly a "hot potato" in the blogosphere; so, I dived in head-long and conducted my own dragnet on the high-profile film fest organizer to get to the bottom of the "dish".
Within minutes, I stumbled upon a whole heap-load of nasty sh** on the odd-ball local celebrity in the film biz.
A headlining scandal took the cake.
Allegedly, as "gays" in the Los Angeles lower mainland were engaging in a bitter fight tooth & nail over the issues pertaining to Proposition 8 (initiative to ban gay marriage in California) individuals - Raddon, for one - were stabbing 'em in the back by silently donating significant funds to support the cause.
Raddon's contribution to the witch-hunt?
A thousand bucks!
Shortly afterward, a war of words between "gay activists" and "Mormons" hit the fan, and a controversy erupted in the community that led to angry marches in the street and near riots.
Gays got organized in military-style precision!
Before you could say tit-for-tat, a boycott was launched against all businesses and individuals that contributed funds to the Prop 8 initiative, to demonstrate the clout of the pink dollar.
A trendy Mexican diner on Beverly Boulevard in West Hollywood - frequented by gays in the neighborhood for decades - was the first to feel the pinch and cave in.
The Los Angeles Film Festival was also a prime target ripe for levelling.
Unless Raddon was "let go", gays and their vocal supporters, threatened to boycott the Fest - shut-it down - if possible.
Bowing to pressure, Richard Raddon resigned, and justice appeared to rule the day.
However, the controversy was still bubbling on a back burner behind closed doors.
On the heels of the resignation, actor Don Cheadle - a member of the Festival Board - proceeded to urge Raddon not to kow-tow to the demands of the angry mob (along with a handful of other Directors at the Los Angeles Film Festival who held similar views).
This triggered a heated dialogue on various issues which was awash in the press for weeks on end.
When push came to shove, Raddon honored the resignation, and gays breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Now, as the new Festival (2009) prepares to launch in Westwood in the next ten days or so, there remains one burning question to be answered.
Since Richard Raddon supporters are still firmly ensconced at the LA Film Festival - and no doubt still hold their prior views on gays, the Mormons, the right to contribute funds to political causes (no matter how morally reprehensible), and a ban on gay marriage in California - should the gay community launch a boycott this year to ferret the rest out?
Enquiring minds want to know!
Not!
No comments:
Post a Comment