CBS weighs indecency rules for '9/11' documentary...
Ubiquitous
NEW YORK -- CBS will air an updated version of the "9/11" documentary about
the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the firefighters who
responded that September day five years ago.
The Emmy- and Peabody-winning documentary, produced by brothers Gedeon and
Jules Naudet and retired firefighter James Hanlon, will air Sept. 10.
Airing the documentary represents something of an act of courage by CBS,
given the gritty language that "9/11" contained in its two previous airings
and the chill that is going through the airwaves over federal efforts to
curb broadcast indecency. CBS has made no cuts to the language for this
telecast. CBS sources said the documentary, which is the true-life portrait
of what happened that day, is bound to generate controversy in some
quarters.
"It's important to take note of the event as it happened," CBS executive
producer Susan Zirinsky said. "And (the filmmakers) have done an amazing job
in staying with these guys over five years and evolving with them. You will
feel at the end that we've taken a journey again."
The French filmmakers had planned to make a documentary about a year in the
life of a rookie firefighter. It became a gripping record of one of the most
important days in U.S. history as Jules Naudet went out on a call with the
firefighters on Sept. 11, 2001, and filmed American Airlines Flight 11
slamming into the North Tower. What transpired was a transfixing portrait of
the firefighters dealing with the crisis that became more dire by the
minute. The updated version, which has been in the works for a year, will
include interviews with 20 of the firefighters from the downtown Manhattan
firehouse where the Naudets had been filming for months. Robert De Niro, who
narrated the film, will tape new portions next week. More than 39 million
people watched the documentary during its first airing in March 2002.
The stakes are higher for CBS this time around. With potential indecency
fines increasing from $32,500 per utterance per outlet to $325,000 each, the
multitude of expletives heard in "9/11" could quickly run CBS and its
affiliates into serious money. CBS has been the most aggressive of the
networks in this regard and has paid the price with fines ranging from the
2004 Super Bowl halftime show to a "Without a Trace" repeat last year. But
the network isn't standing on such principles now: Sources said the network
briefly discussed potential FCC issues before deciding that "9/11" wasn't
indecent and also that it was too important to "sanitize" by toning down the
language.
But CBS is taking steps to make sure that no one is caught by surprise,
including informing affiliates of its plans to air the broadcast and, like
the previous two telecasts, including strong warnings in the promos before
the broadcast and at various points during the two-hour telecast.
"It's so important to the story to let the reality exist," Zirinsky said.
"We did that for the previous times it has aired -- we put an advisory out,
and we have De Niro responding to it. But it's important to take in the
reality in what is the most horrific terrorist attack in our country's
history. ... The men had never been tested like that. It was important to
allow this to be what it was, for all its sensibilities."
There have been and are no graphic images in the film, save for firefighters
carrying out the body of FDNY chaplain Mychal Judge. Jules Naudet said he
censored himself on the spot, not filming the horrible images he had seen
from the moment he walked into the lobby of the North Tower.
"I was just protecting myself, in a way," he said. "I remember the first
time I was confronted with that -- there were three people burning alive, I
got a glimpse of it, and unfortunately these images are seared into your
brain. I was thinking (then) that nobody should see that."
The update keeps much of the core of the original documentary, particularly
the harrowing journey with the firefighters as they battle to save lives and
fight the fires high above them and then fight to save their own. Three
hundred forty-three firefighters, including several the film, were among the
2,700 people who were killed in the Manhattan attacks.
"We've been in constant contact with the men (of the firehouse) after making
this documentary," Hanlon said. "We were really a part of that family; we've
stayed in touch with everyone. And a year ago, we realized that a lot of the
guys had never spoken about it after that day and would really only talk
about it in a closed circle of firefighters."
The filmmakers also have seen the firefighters at several department
functions annually throughout the years, Jules Naudet said. He was married
at the firehouse about a year after the attacks.
Several of the firefighters have transferred, and others have retired. At
least two, though, are still on the job: Joseph Pfeiffer, the battalion
chief who lost his brother, Kevin, at the World Trade Center, is now FDNY's
chief of counterterrorism and preparedness. Rookie firefighter Tony
Benetatos is now on the haz-mat squad.
While some of the interviews were done at the Engine 7/Ladder 1 firehouse,
others were done at the Naudets parents' house on 73rd Street in Manhattan.
Hanlon said that many were initially apprehensive about talking, and they
always had a lunch first without cameras, then caught up with many moments
of silence before the interviews begin. At the core, the filmmakers say,
it's a story not just about heroes but ordinary men who went through
extraordinary times.
Gedeon Naudet worked on an international version of the update, which will
run in 112 countries as a separate half-hour show after the original "9/11"
documentary runs. The Naudets have other projects they're working on, as
does Hanlon. And "9/11" hasn't run its course either. Evoking Michael
Apted's landmark documentary series that began in 1964 with "7 Up," Hanlon
and the Naudets plan to keep checking in with the firefighters. Some of the
ones who declined to talk to them this time around have promised to sit down
in front of the camera at the 10-year anniversary.
"We've bonded with those men, and we will be forever," Hanlon said. "To
revisit them every five years is something that we have discussed. I think
the American people want to know what happened to these men."
--
ISLAM: Winning the hearts and minds of the world, one bomb at a time.
RichA
Ubiquitous wrote:
> By Paul J. Gough
>
> NEW YORK -- CBS will air an updated version of the "9/11" documentary about
> the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the firefighters who
> responded that September day five years ago.
>
As long as the D.E's. were limited to comments about the terrorists,
I'd allow them all
I'd encourage them.
Bush: A 'stark reminder' of war
* Airline terror plot is "stark reminder" U.S. is at "war with
Islamic fascists," President Bush says
* Some suspects were of Pakistani descent; planned to bomb up to 10
planes, source says
* Plot involved hiding liquid explosives in carry-on bags, U.S.
officials say
FDR
"RichA" <rande...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1155227364.4...@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
How many were from Iraq?
BudGan61
Better question: how many were trained with money from Iraq?
FDR
"BudGan61" <BG...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fQCg.1635$1D....@tornado.texas.rr.com...
You mean since we toppled Saddam and brought terrorism to Iraq.
trotsky
We were welcomed as liberators--by the terrorists!
FDR
"trotsky" <gms...@email.com> wrote in message
news:0K%Cg.889226$084.275905@attbi_s22...
George Bush, meet Pandora's Box.
Ubiquitous
>>>>As long as the D.E's. were limited to comments about the terrorists,
>>>>I'd allow them all. I'd encourage them.
>>>>
>>>>Bush: A 'stark reminder' of war
>>>>
>>>> * Airline terror plot is "stark reminder" U.S. is at "war with
>>>>Islamic fascists," President Bush says
>>>> * Some suspects were of Pakistani descent; planned to bomb up to 10
>>>>planes, source says
>>>> * Plot involved hiding liquid explosives in carry-on bags, U.S.
>>>>officials say
>>>
>>> How many were from Iraq?
>>
>> Better question: how many were trained with money from Iraq?
>
>You mean since we toppled Saddam and brought terrorism to Iraq.
You misspelled "freedom", but you're talking about the insurgents
coming in from Iran because it's in their best interests to not
have a democratic free nation next door.
--
It is simply breathtaking to watch the glee and abandon with which
the liberal media and the Angry Left have been attempting to turn
our military victory in Iraq into a second Vietnam quagmire. Too bad
for them, it's failing.
FDR
"Ubiquitous" <web...@polaris.net> wrote in message
news:35WdnebGcvqDWUDZ...@comcast.com...
> _removespam...@hotmail.com wrote:
>>"BudGan61" <BG...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> FDR wrote:
>>>> "RichA" <rande...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>>>>As long as the D.E's. were limited to comments about the terrorists,
>>>>>I'd allow them all. I'd encourage them.
>>>>>
>>>>>Bush: A 'stark reminder' of war
>>>>>
>>>>> * Airline terror plot is "stark reminder" U.S. is at "war with
>>>>>Islamic fascists," President Bush says
>>>>> * Some suspects were of Pakistani descent; planned to bomb up to 10
>>>>>planes, source says
>>>>> * Plot involved hiding liquid explosives in carry-on bags, U.S.
>>>>>officials say
>>>>
>>>> How many were from Iraq?
>>>
>>> Better question: how many were trained with money from Iraq?
>>
>>You mean since we toppled Saddam and brought terrorism to Iraq.
>
> You misspelled "freedom", but you're talking about the insurgents
> coming in from Iran because it's in their best interests to not
> have a democratic free nation next door.
Iran is a Republic. Elections. Constitution. Iraq may look a lot like
Iran in terms of government when all is said and done.
But we wanted that.
Newport
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
Ubiquitous
>We were welcomed as liberators--by the terrorists!
"Military Stryker vehicles saturating Baghdad's most dangerous neighborhoods
have been credited with what Iraqi authorities say is a 30 percent drop in
violence in the city since the deployment of 5,000 additional U.S. troops to
the region," ABC News reports from the Iraqi capital:
While U.S. figures show a 22 percent drop in
violence, either way, its good news for the troops.
"It's been great. We get a lot of smiles and waves,"
said Lt. Patrick Paterson of the 114th Cavalry.
One of the most dramatic changes has occurred in
the Dora neighborhood. In July up to 20 people
were killed in the area every day. As part of this
new military effort, U.S. and Iraqi troops have
been searching thousands of buildings in an effort
to stop car bombs. . . .
And there are signs it's working. During 14 days
of patrols in Dora, there has been just one killing.
We look forward to hearing Rep. John Murtha, the Democrats' leading military
strategist, explain how this could be better done from Okinawa.