UK drama paints fictional assassination of Bush

Reuters ^ | August 31, 2006 | Adam Pasick

[indcons]

LONDON (Reuters) - British public broadcaster Channel 4 is courting controversy with what it calls a "shockingly real" drama about the fictional assassination of President George W. Bush.

"Death of a President," shot in the form of a documentary examining the assassination, will use a blend of archival footage and computer-generated special effects to portray Bush in October 2007 arriving in Chicago during an anti-war rally.

In the film, Bush is killed by a sniper, and the investigation quickly focuses on a Syrian-born man. It will air in October on Channel 4's More4 digital channel, as well as at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

"It's a pointed political examination of what the war on terror is doing to the American body politic," said More4 boss Peter Dale at a press conference on Thursday.

Promotional materials described the program as "a thought-provoking critique of the contemporary U.S. political landscape."

Dale acknowledged that the program will be controversial, but maintained that it was a sophisticated work meant to spur debate.

"I'm sure there will be people upset by it," he said. "I hope people will see the intention as a good one."

Channel 4, which is publicly owned but funded by advertising, was criticized last week by outgoing ITV Chief Executive Charles Allen for its reliance on reality TV shows and "shock docs."

More4's autumn schedule also includes "The Trial of Tony Blair," a satirical program about the future resignation of the British Prime Minister.

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Either that or it is going to be a cliffhanger, where the FBI, CIA, and NSA have tons of evidence, but no suspect at the end of the 90 minutes.

[TomGuy]

The ole adage, be careful what you wish for, comes to mind.

I used to ponder that Providence would 'demise' x42. But, then I would remind myself that that could canonize him in the same mode as JFK.

Providence was correct in letting x42 leave office breathing.

[vrwcagent0498]

Beautiful. Hats off to you, my man, wish I could shake your hand. (though I'm a 5'.75" female :) )

[lowbridge]

"It's a pointed political examination of what the war on terror is doing to the American body politic," said More4 boss Peter Dale at a press conference on Thursday.

Translation: Liberal wishful thinking.

How about doing a "pointed political examination" on someone who really deserves assassination? Like Castro, the Ronrey guy from North Korea, or Osama Bin Laden?

[Charlespg]

this guy needs to meet a weighted rubber hose

this is almost a act of war

[TigersEye]

Because he is now the evil entity that stands between them and their self-actualization, all things are permissible. Any lie can be told, any photo can be doctored, any document can be faked, any video can be scripted, no deception is impermissible - because in the journalist's mind this is a struggle of good against evil.

This is a perfect description of the fanatic elitist mindset. It's a direct reflection of what I wrote a while back. See my treatise on fanaticism on my homepage (scroll down) and see if it doesn't fit perfectly.

[Milhous]

The old media is increasingly under the control of the terrorists. How and why is this happening? Money, power?

LGF Exclusive: How Much Does It Cost to Buy Global TV News?

. . .

A Separate Service for Arab States

However, there is another significant part of their business model that affects the rest of the business. While most of the world takes news pictures with minimal interpretation beyond editing, the Arab Gulf States have asked for and receive a different and far more expensive service. These states pay for a complete news report service including full editing and voice overs from known journalists. The news organizations in the Arab countries don’t do anything (beyond verify that they are appropriate for local tastes) before broadcast.

What this means is that while there are around 50 people producing news pictures for the whole world working in Camden at any time, there are a further 50 Arabic speaking staff producing finished stories exclusively for the Arab states of the gulf. This has a tremendous effect on the whole feel of the building as these two teams feed pictures and people back and forth and sit in adjacent work areas. The slant of the stories required by the Gulf States has a definite effect on which footage is used and discarded. This affects both the Gulf newsroom and the main global newsroom.

This full service feed is much more expensive for the customers than the usual service, but it is also much higher margin for APTN. This is partly because there is great commonality in what they can send to most of the Gulf States taking this service: stories are made once and used in a number of countries.

[Milhous]

Rush pitched a docudrama on Thursday's show.

The Kidnapping and Beheading of William Jefferson Clinton

The basic premise is that former President Clinton gets kidnapped and beheaded, and the docudrama will be an in-depth study of what happens in America and the free world and the Moslem world. This will be a thought provoking critique of contemporary society, not just in America, and its ramifications for the war on terror. Former President Clinton kidnapped and beheaded, and of course it will be a thought provoking critique of the ramifications of this on Hillary Rodham Clinton.

[Neoliberalnot]

Not familiar with the APTN acronym. I would surmise there is cross-talk occurring with this news agency and selected individuals within AP and Reuters.

[cricket]

Will repeat my response to this endeavor. . .'BRING IT ON'. . .

Am waiting for this to be seriously considered/discussed on Hannity & Colmes.

[cricket]

This is a perfect description of the fanatic elitist mindset.

Every Liberal worth his salt, fills this MO as well.

The Left has always been Utilitarian minded. . .their 'ends' justifying any means. . .and without the constraints of any scruples. . .conscience. . .or other moral parameters; whatsoever.

As well, it is a 'totalitarian' thing. . .and EVIL, by any definition.

[cricket]

The old media is increasingly under the control of the terrorists.

First glance, begs. . .'which terrorists'? Ours? The Lib Left or 'the other guys.

Truth is dress them up in the same clothes; and there is not a dimes worth of difference between what one might reference as 'ours' . . .vs 'theirs'. . .

[TigersEye]

Every Liberal worth his salt, fills this MO as well.

wideawake was speaking of liberals and that is what I was responding to and agreeing with. I most definitely consider today's leftist a full-fledged fanatic elitist.

[cricket]

I most definitely consider today's leftist a full-fledged fanatic elitist.

For sure.

Think they could as well be classified as 'Leftist Fundamentalist'. . .and would like to see them squirm with that one. . .;^)