In a decision that could damage its relationship with the state's most prolific filmmaker, the Texas Film Commission has rejected Robert Rodriguez's application for tax incentives for Machete , citing state code barring incentives for films that display "inappropriate content or content that portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion." The letter did not mention specific plot lines or performances that the commission found offensive; however, the movie features a fictional Texas politican who murders illegal immigrants, incites anti-immigration fury among his supporters, and sets up a Mexican mercenary to take The Fall for an assassination attempt." The film had been denounced by numerous conservative talk-show hosts. The (anonymous) operator of the Austin,TX-based BigShinyRobot.com website, called the decision "ridiculous" and noted that the film commission was aware from the beginning what the content of the film was going to be. "You give film incentives to shoot locally because you want to support a local film industry, create local jobs, and compete with other states' incentives," he wrote. "Aside from the most egregious violations, should you care about content that much? No. If you do, that's something we like to call 'Censorship.'"

09/12/2010