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White House Looking to Enlist Hollywood in Terrorism War
Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, October 20, 2001; Page C01 LOS ANGELES White House representatives met with producers and leaders of the
television industry this week to explore ways of deploying the
entertainment industry in the war against terrorism their first
significant contact with the Bush administration this year. Chris Henick, deputy assistant to the president, and Adam Goldman, an
administration liaison to the entertainment industry, met in Beverly Hills
on Wednesday with about 30 television power brokers, including CBS
President Leslie Moonves, HBO Film President Colin Callender, Showtime
President Jerry Offsay and Warner Brothers Television President Peter
Roth. "We listened to their ideas, we talked about resources we might have in
government to be helpful to them," said White House spokeswoman Claire
Buchan. "The purpose of this meeting was to open a dialogue and provide a
source or channel of information." The television leaders said the meeting was a preliminary contact with
an eye to developing a relationship with the White House, which so far has
been minimal. "A dialogue had to begin," said Lionel Chetwynd, a conservative
producer who has been working to promote contact between the Bush White
House and the largely liberal entertainment industry. "There was a feeling
around the table that something is wrong if half the world thinks we're
the Great Satan and we want to make that one right. There's a genuine
feeling that we as Americans are failing to get our message across to the
world." Moonves said that "the whole idea was a throwback Frank Capra was
mentioned often in the meeting the idea that Hollywood has historically
helped spread the message." Capra directed many inspirational films during
World War II, a time when the government played an active role in
encouraging patriotic movies. "It really was a fact-finding session. They
were listening more, as opposed to asking for X, Y or Z," he said. Neither side offered many specific ideas during the two-hour meeting,
according to participants. Some said it was not clear if the White House
was actively seeking Hollywood's help or merely offering assistance to
entertainment industry initiatives. The lack of clarity left some at the meeting, among the industry's most
powerful figures, frustrated. "It's incumbent on them to get specific and concrete," said Sandy
Grushow, Fox Entertainment Group chairman, who attended the session. "At
this point, it's amorphous. It's pretty obvious that they came to
Hollywood with more questions than answers." But Buchan, the White House spokeswoman, said the idea was for the
entertainment industry to propose collaboration. "The industry will make
their own determination as to what they wish to do," she said. "The
entertainment industry is responding to the crisis, they plan to continue,
and they want to do so in way that's responsible." The meeting was set up by Chetwynd and attorney-to-the-stars Bruce
Ramer, both friends of the Bush administration. The Clinton White House
had a close relationship with movie and television moguls and stars.
Moonves, for example, was a friend of Clinton. Among the possible collaborations between Hollywood and the White House
discussed at the meeting were public service announcements and
documentaries or other programs produced by the studios that could be
broadcast over the Voice of America. President Bush's counselor, Karen P. Hughes, recently asked Fox to use
its prime-time show "America's Most Wanted" to focus on terrorists
suspected of involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks, which the network
did. Says Grushow, "We were flattered and proud to be able to assist them."
The White House has also explored putting together a benefit concert to
aid victims of the attacks. That proposal is separate from the benefit
concert tomorrow at RFK Stadium. Some at the meeting expressed concern over who would finance any future
projects. "Everyone has a bottom line to think about. Who's going to pay
for it?" said one network president, who asked not to be named. Among those attending the meeting were actress-producer Sally Field,
actor Ron Silver, Bryce Zabel, who heads the Academy of Television Arts
& Sciences and representatives from Sony and Universal. An administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
that there would be a meeting at the White House on Monday to discuss the
next move but added that the topic of marshaling Hollywood's resources was
not a high priority. Said one network head: "I don't think they've thought about their point
of view on Hollywood. Several of us said, 'You need to tell us what you're
looking for.' There are a lot of skills in the room, and we need some
direction." He added, "I'll go a second time, but I hope there'll be more
substance." Staff writer Dana Milbank contributed to this report.
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