Libby,
One can only imagine the CBS producers working on the story in Iraq:
Producer: "Okay, our angle is, they thought they wanted us, but now they don't. Out of the Saddam frying pan and into the fire. Whattaya got?"
Subaltern: "Well, I got this family who hate the Americans. I can translate for you."
Prod: "Okay. Ask them if they've always hated the Americans, and get the cameras ready but don't start yet."
Sub: "They say they always hated foreigners."
Prod: "Hmm. I like the way they look, and this setting is terrific. Tell them that it makes a better story for us if they used to like the Americans, or the idea of the Americans."
Sub: "Okay, I think I made them understand. They want to know how much they will be paid."
Prod: "You know how it works. Get them some vouchers for food, restaurants and gasoline, the kind we always use. Jeezaloo, if this was the states we'd fly them to NY and comp their stay. Anyway, make sure they know who to talk to on our Iraqi staff to 'monetize' the vouchers after we finish. But let them know if they screw it up we'll be here all day, and if it doesn't work, no payday. Are the cameras ready yet? Jeez, this light, with the dust overlay, is wonderful. Let's go for sincerity, and that look of hurt betrayal. I don't care how many takes we have to shoot, I want it to be human."
Sub: "We're ready to go."
Prod: "Okay, remember we only need about 3 minutes of good stuff, so let all the crap go. We can do a lot of cosmetics with voice overs and middle distance shots."
Sub: "Cameras, ready . . ." |
