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I am amazed by the amount of e-mail I receive from individuals who snickeringly write, "That response you gave is wrong. I know better because I served here or there." Or, "I had to laugh because your FAQ http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/7... section is so wrong." The e-mails go on like this, but you get the gist. Now, I've mentioned before that I give the answers but I'm not going to argue about them. However, I will certainly change my point of view if offered new information. My answers come from a variety of sources; including other people who are experts in their own areas.
Geez, if it's wrong tell me. I can't improve on the Hollywood Military Advisor http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/7... site without some input. My service is for you; the writer. Now, to the news at hand. On 26 JAN 98, the Center for Defense Information http://www.cdi.org/ , a Washington D.C. - based think tank, produced this videotape on "The MILITARY in the MOVIES" http://www.cdi.org/adm/Transcripts/1020/ . The videotape was a sort - of round table discussion hosted by Admiral John Shanahan (USN, Ret.), Director, Center for Defense Information and consisted of PHILIP STRUB Department of Defense, Hollywood Liaison, Dr. LAWRENCE SUID, Author, "Sailing on the Silver Screen," and JOE TRENTO, National Security News Service. Basically the emphasis for the article came from the contention that every time Hollywood wants to make a movie, they look to the Pentagon for unbridled access to everything from tanks to rocketships. Of course, many examples were given in the article. Every war movie from WINGS to TOP GUN were cited as examples of where the Pentagon uses Hollywood for its own purposes to propagandize its worldwide political and military ambitions. My entire reaction to Messrs. Suid and Trento is "uhh?" I work in this industry. The reason I exist, the only reason I exist is because Hollywood can't get cooperation out of the Pentagon. I take that back for just moment. A production company can get cooperation, but they won't get a free ride. That is to say, the Pentagon is not about give support to a film that portrays it in a bad light. I do give full cooperation to any production company that is paying the bills. You want to produce a movie making the military out to be bad guys? Okay, but my fee just doubled. As Robert Heinlein said, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch."
The copyright of the article And The Truth Shall Set You Free in Military Movies is owned by . Permission to republish And The Truth Shall Set You Free in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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