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Omaha Steve

(99,707 posts) Wed Dec 25, 2013, 03:57 PM Dec 2013

NJ tribe sues makers of film 'Out of the Furnace'

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Members of the Ramapough Native American tribe have filed a $50 million lawsuit against the makers of a recent Hollywood movie they say depicts their people in a negative light.

The federal suit was filed Monday in New Jersey against the writers and producers of "Out of the Furnace." The suit claims the film makes false representations about the people who live in the Ramapo Mountains along the New York-New Jersey border about 25 miles west of New York City.

It claims that unsavory characters in the film have last names that are common among the Ramapough and that it perpetuates negative and unfounded stereotypes.

Relativity Media, which released the film this month, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. But a representative told other news outlets that the company couldn't comment because it hadn't seen or had time to review the suit.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20131225/AP09/312259932#nj-tribe-sues-makers-of-film-out-of-the-furnace

8 replies

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NJ tribe sues makers of film 'Out of the Furnace' (Original Post) Omaha Steve Dec 2013 OP

So...suing based on SoapBox Dec 2013 #1

I don't think you can defame a group of people as far as the law is concerned. Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2013 #2

Even if they were to incorporate the suit would likely fail I am willing to wager cstanleytech Dec 2013 #3

I see their point dlwickham Dec 2013 #4

By this logic cosmicone Dec 2013 #5

Never expect anything less from Hollywood. dawn frenzy adams Dec 2013 #6

Not actually Native Americans ramapo Dec 2013 #7

I'm confused because I know many of the names and their descendants... Historic NY Dec 2013 #8

SoapBox

(18,791 posts)

1. So...suing based on

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Wed Dec 25, 2013, 04:21 PM

Dec 2013

common last names and unfounded stereotypes?

Unfounded stereotypes???

Hell, the LGBT community should be able to make a fortune, if this suit were to win!

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,337 posts)

2. I don't think you can defame a group of people as far as the law is concerned.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Wed Dec 25, 2013, 04:26 PM

Dec 2013

Now if they were to incorporate....

cstanleytech

(26,319 posts)

3. Even if they were to incorporate the suit would likely fail I am willing to wager

Reply to Hassin Bin Sober (Reply #2)

Wed Dec 25, 2013, 04:58 PM

Dec 2013

not to mention they could be on the hook for all the legal fees the makers of the film have to spend.

dlwickham

(3,316 posts)

4. I see their point

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Wed Dec 25, 2013, 05:04 PM

Dec 2013

I don't think they'll win their suit but I understand why they filed it

If you live in Town A and someone made a movie set in Town A and used the name of someone living there as the bad guy, I can definitely see that people could certainly think that that person is connected to the character portrayed in the movie

cosmicone

(11,014 posts)

5. By this logic

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Wed Dec 25, 2013, 05:49 PM

Dec 2013

Italian Americans could sue for Godfather.

Mexican Americans could sue for Fistfull of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More.

and so on ....

Unless someone intentionally and maliciously set out to make a film to make a group look bad, it is fiction.

dawn frenzy adams

(429 posts)

6. Never expect anything less from Hollywood.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Wed Dec 25, 2013, 08:01 PM

Dec 2013

When it comes to various ethnic groups, Hollywood is incapable of presenting them in anyway but stereotypical. You can count on it being demeaning. Hollywood gives America a false consciousness about itself. It propagates racist views. This tribe is a mixture of Hessians, runaway slaves, and Native American. I would imaging Hollywood was salivating when they got their hands on this. I hope they have some victory in this lawsuit.

ramapo

(4,589 posts)

7. Not actually Native Americans

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Wed Dec 25, 2013, 08:21 PM

Dec 2013

The Ramapoughs as they are now known, were called Jackson Whites, a rather derogatory term, through the 1970s. Genealogical studies showed them descendants of Afro-Dutch heritage dating back to the 1700s. In the late 1970s the group incorporated as the Ramapough Mountain Indians. They applied for official recognition to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Twice the BIA has denied their application citing that they did not meet the criteria.

Many of the Ramapough live adjoining county or state parkland. I can tell you from personal observation that many do not respect the land nor obey regulations. Their use of ATVs where expressly forbidden, use of firearms, and dumping of garbage are three egregious examples of lack of respect for the land. An incident some years ago, resulted in a NJ park officer shooting and killing one of the members of this 'tribe'.

The group has played the Indian card to their benefit at every chance. This is another try to cash in.

Historic NY

(37,453 posts)

8. I'm confused because I know many of the names and their descendants...

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Wed Dec 25, 2013, 10:52 PM

Dec 2013

it isn't a stereotype, its Regional history and its more than well documented. As for the names public records would not support their claims, from yesterdays (1700's) court cases to today police blotter.

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