Italian-American Groups Blame Spielberg for ‘Shark Tale’
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Italian-American groups made Steven Spielberg their prey yesterday, blaming him for what they see as negative Italian stereotypes in the upcoming animation “Shark Tale.”
The movie is set in a diverse undersea world dominated by a Mafia-like organization composed of sharks. Mr. Spielberg’s partner, Jeffery Katzenberg, produced the movie, but the groups are blaming Mr. Spielberg because of his crusade against negative stereotypes.
“Someone has to be accountable,” said the president of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, Lawrence Auriana. Mr. Spielberg “should not be a hypocrite and not violate his own moral code. How can he ask others not to engage in stereotyping where a company he has a major stake in is engaged in the practice?”
He said DreamWorks Animation is planning on going public this fall, and that Mr. Spielberg, as a partner in the parent company, will “profit handsomely” if the initial public offering stock price is high. Mr. Auriana believes the film is crucial to the success of the IPO. Last year, Mr. Katzenberg and DreamWorks Animation produced the highest grossing animated film in history with “Shrek 2.”
A spokesman for Mr. Spielberg and for DreamWorks, Andrew Spahn, said Mr. Spielberg “is not involved in this film in any way shape or form.”
“We’re all very proud of the movie,” Mr. Spahn said.
Even Mr. Auriana conceded that the end of the film was upbeat, as the “Godfather” shark, voiced by Robert De Niro, took back his vegetarian, cross-dressing son, voiced by Will Smith.
Neither Mr. Katzenberg nor Mr. Spielberg was available for comment.
Mr. Auriana saw the film during its showing at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this week, but the film had its world premiere in St. Mark’s Square at Venice, Italy on Friday. The premiere sold out, and 6,000 Italians applauded the ending, said a Dream- Works spokesman.
A coalition of Italian-American groups, including the Columbus Citizens Foundation, the Italian American foundation, and the Order Sons of Italy in America, petitioned DreamWorks in January to change the names of characters in the film and to remove “pseudo Italian” language such as “fuggedabouitit” from the film. DreamWorks told the groups they had “nothing to worry about.”
The film will go into wide release on October 1.
