Robert Rodriguez’ Trouble Maker Studios is living up to its name. The Austin film director released a fake movie trailer, as he is known to do. But this one, released on Cinco de Mayo, poked at the new Arizona immigration law and it’s drawn the ire of anti-immigration crusaders from Austin to Arizona.
The fake trailer (available after the jump) was for Rodriguez’ upcoming release Machete. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and some conservative bloggers took the trailer at face value and claim Rodriguez is trying to incite a race war.
“We need to get the funding at the state level stripped out of the film commission if they do not stop this,” conservative radio host Alex Jones (FWST)
Since Machete is a film made in Texas the studio can apply for tax incentives through the Texas Film Commission. The commission is part of the governor’s office. Gov. Rick Perry (R) is in a heated re-election bid this year against former Houston mayor Bill White (D). The two have steered clear of the immigration issue, but the way this story plays out could insert the issue into the election. The Texas Film Commission has never denied a Texas made film the incentives based on content. No word yet on if Machete will get a break from Texas or not.
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