More "socialist soap operas" for Venezuela says Chavez

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday he has asked film producers to make “socialist soap operas,” with government help if needed, because there’s too much capitalism on television.

“A while ago, I was in Cuba and they broadcast soap operas there, not capitalist soap operas but with a social content, socialist” soap operas, Chavez told a group of filmmakers and scriptwriters guested on his weekly radio and television show, “Alo Presidente.”

“I’m going to ask that we make socialist soap operas (in Venezuela), instead of capitalist ones.”

The firebrand leftist leader offered government help to producers following his advice.

“We can also make good movies,” he added. “Not capitalist movies that are poison and incite our children to take drugs and even push them into crime.”

In 2006, Chavez opened Villa del Cine, a filmmaking center outside Caracas that produces full-length and short films and documentaries.