“HOUNDDOG”: ABOUT BOX OFFICE AND CENSORSHIP

“Hounddog” had to be released in 400 theatres across USA. But only opened in 11 cinemas and then (during 6 weeks) it has only been at 5 cinemas. In spite of this, Hounddog has a total box office of $106,246 until now ant that’s good, considering the very limited release.
So…, what went wrong? Why Hounddog only opened in those cinemas?

First of all, “Hounddog” is directed by Deborah Kampmeier, produced by Robin Wright Penn and starring Dakota Fanning, Robin Wright Penn, Piper Laurie and David Morse. Empire Film Group, Inc. released the highly anticipated drama, "Hounddog" to theatres on September 19th; Empire planned to reach all of the top 100 markets in the USA, with more than 400 total play dates. These were their plans but ultra right-wing Christian group “Concerned Women for America” called it child pornography and wanted it pulled. Concerned women for America told WINK news their boycott was the reason AMC pulled the film.

Concerned Women for America is a conservative Christian political action group active in the United States. The group was founded in 1979 by Beverly LaHaye, wife of Christian Coalition co-founder Timothy LaHaye, as a response to activities by the National Organization for Women and a 1978 Barbara Walters interview with noted feminist Betty Friedan.

CWFA’s mission:”We are the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization with a rich 28-year history of helping our members across the country bring Biblical principles into all levels of public policy. We help people focus on six core issues, which we have determined need Biblical principles most and where we can have the greatest impact.”

And what are some of their areas of discontent?

Opposition to LGBT rights

Opposition to Abortion’ rights

Abstinence-only sex education

Promotion of Christianity

Censorship and the media

But fortunately not all women’s groups are fighting the film; in fact some support it.
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is urging their supporters to see the film and counter protests outside theatres.

"Hounddog is a film that calls you to action. It returns innocence to the adolescent discovery of sexuality, and restores hope for those whose innocence has been taken,” says Hollywood NOW President Lindsey Horvath. "It’s a brilliantly poignant film that clearly depicts how free expression of female sexuality remains unacceptable in today’s world, and what survivors of sexual violence must do to reclaim their bodies and selves from their perpetrators. We need more women in Hollywood like Kampmeier to uncover society’s oppression of women."

"It's taboo no one wants to talk about it," says Christine Kobie of Abuse Counseling and Treatment in Fort Myers. Kobie thinks the movie could help survivors or victims of abuse. "I think it should be mandatory for specific people and for specific age groups," she says. Kobie says the energy spent on stopping the film could have been used for a greater cause. "I think if they were to see it, it might inspire them to do something different with the actual problem going on," she says.