Press Releases (Nov 22, 09)

(PDF Version) (SEE ALSO: TMP Scheduled For Shut Down)  (SEE ALSO Stars Shun Native America - 100 Years Of Hollywood Racism Continues!) 

Ticci Man Project Announces Shut Down – Hollywood Bigotry Blamed   

HOLLYWOOD, CA - Nov 22, 2009

The Ticci Man Project to help Native Americans gain equality in Hollywood has announced it will officially close doors by year’s end, barring a change of heart from industry, community leaders, and donors. The Celebrity Festival For Native America (CFNA), which the nonprofit had planned for summer 2010, was to offer a week long, world televised event ending with a black tie theater and after party gala with over 400 celebrities and world leaders in attendance. The humanitarian project received no moral or actual support from Hollywood even though a projected $10 million in local business revenues and over 250 jobs, many in theater and television production, had been expected.

“I never thought for one moment we would be turned away by the mayor’s office, chamber of commerce, studios, networks, top talent agencies, over 300 major celebrities, and others for simply trying to celebrate and help our nation’s smallest and most mistreated minority in the name of promoting social and industry equality,” said Zelan Bonn, project leader, nonprofit Kon Ticci International president and Imajilan Pictures™ producer. “I’m completely stunned—ashamed actually, for everyone who works in our industry.”

The giant street festival had included a horn of plenty in the way of Native American food, entertainment, culture, history, and education. Over 1 million tourists, fans, and locals had been expected to enjoy the downtown festivities. With over 28 countries and fans as far away as China and India following the project on the Net, nearly a ½ billion global viewers had also been anticipated.

Without support from humanitarian minded celebrities willing to donate 3 hours to their fans in exchange for exclusive gala tickets to mingle with world dignitaries, all other project supports failed, said organizers. And paying celebrities to endorse social and industry equality for Indians was not only impracticable financially, given the number of celebrities needed to draw world audiences, but was also considered in very poor taste due to Hollywood’s debt for past treatment of Indians, said spokespersons.

“This was an historical opportunity for celebrities to press their unique, collective power into a selfless starburst of social light to advance Hollywood from the stone age of racism for Native Americans—and do it in a classy, beautiful, and positively charged way—that’s what CFNA was designed to do,” said Bonn. “Now we all have egg on our face—we can no longer, as an industry, say categorically that Hollywood is not a racist town—not after this affront on Native America—our Native American citizens deserve better from all of us—what’s worse, is that we should be demanding it of ourselves,” he said.

Learn more in the press section on the Ticci Man Project website.

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Research Links

Ticci Man Project Announces Shut Down – Hollywood Bigotry Blamed Newswire 11-22-09)

Rev Jesse Jackson Open Letter To Entertainment Industry

Marlon Brando Wikipedia

Marlon Brando Interviews You Tube (Part 1)

Marlon Brando Interviews You Tube (Part 2)

Nazi Propaganda by Joseph Goebbels

Russell Means "On Racism" Video

© 2003-2009 Ticci Man Project™. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: Persons or entities mentioned on this Website, unless specifically "quoted," have not, by implied or express consent, endorsed TMP and/or its principles or employees. TMP is an antonymous nonprofit organization and is not associated with either World Celebrity Festival™, Imajilan Television™, Imajilan Pictures™, or their affiliates. Updated 5-1-2010

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