Responding to
complaints that the movie musical Dreamgirls
distorted the history of Motown, makers of the
Oscar-nominated film said in newspaper ads on
Wednesday that the picture was a work of fiction and
apologized for any confusion with the legendary record
label.
The full-page
advertisements paid for by DreamWorks Pictures were
published on Wednesday in Hollywood's two major trade
papers--Daily Variety and The
Hollywood Reporter--a day after voting on the
Academy Awards ended.
The film
industry's highest honors will be handed out on Sunday, with
Dreamgirls vying in eight categories, including the
Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress
categories for Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson,
respectively.
The film, adapted
from the hit Broadway musical of the same name, is
loosely based on the story of one of Motown's greatest acts,
Diana Ross and the Supremes. But the film has rankled
a number of recording artists, writers and others
connected with the label who felt Motown was falsely
depicted in a negative light, Motown spokesman Paul
Freundlich told Reuters.
Their objections
led to "amicable discussions" between representatives
for Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., 77, and executives
from DreamWorks and its parent studio, Paramount Pictures, a
unit of Viacom Inc. Freundlich said.
Those talks, in
turn, resulted in the ads taken out by DreamWorks. The
timing of those ads ensured that any misgivings or other
fallout from the studio's unusual disclaimer could not
affect the outcome of the Oscar race.
"Dreamgirls is a work of fiction. It is also an
homage to Motown," the ads state. "For any confusion
that has resulted from our fictional work, we
apologize to Mr. Gordy and all of the incredible
people who were part of that great legacy. It is vital that
the public understand that the real Motown story has
yet to be told."
The statement
does not specify how the film might have confused the
public. And a spokesman for DreamWorks declined further
comment.
But Motown great
Smokey Robinson has complained in recent weeks about
film scenes depicting a Gordy-like character played by Jamie
Foxx launching his fictional label with money obtained
from mobsters and engaging in the illegal practice of
"payola," in which music producers pay radio stations
to spin their records. Robinson has said Gordy engaged
in neither of those activities.
"I applaud
Dreamworks and Paramount Pictures for doing their part to
clearly differentiate the fictional movie Dreamgirls
from the real Motown," Gordy said in a statement. "I
wish them all the best in the forthcoming Academy
Awards."
Motown is now
part of Universal Music Group, a unit of Vivendi (Reuters)