Do You Know Who Phil Straub Is?
Two days ago I saw a very interesting tv show. It was called “Operation: Hollywood” and it is about the influence the Pentagon tries to exert on the production of war movies. As one can imagine, the movies are great advertizing tools-as most manufacturers know. It goes something like this:
CEO: “Sales are down and we don’t have the creativity to build an ad campaign.
What do we do?”
Adman with no imagination: “Hey, let’s get Will Smith to mention our shoes right in
the movie!”
So, we stare at the screen as Bond sells us the newest BMW 2-seater convertable, or the Mitsubishi jeepette (jeppalingur) saves our heros from the mighty T-rex, or What’s-his-face McActionhero lights the coolest cigarette in the world, or the big lipped beautiful Tomb Raider settles down for a Johnny Walker Red Label nightcap. But what we Americans don’t notise as much is when the military is being advertized. Funny, though, we definitely notise when it’s not! “Apocalypse Now” shocked the pants off everyone. “Platoon” raised eyebrows. “Full Metal Jacket” isn’t the kind of movie the military complex in the old US of A would support. But “Saving Private Ryan”, well, there you go. Oh, isn’t it cute the way the army spends loads of money and risks men in order to save one guy who’s down behind enemy lines? How beautiful that the soldiers in “Blackhawk Down” are all model citizens that can do no wrong and they were the primary victims in Somalia. Don’t even get me started on “Behind Enemy Lines” or “Tears of the Sun”. Anyway, the progam I mentioned was very interesting and certainly worth watching and thinking about. Most importantly, I think at least we need to keep ourselves aware of what is going on. It’s okay, in my opinion to go into a movie knowing that what you’re about to see is based loosely on a gossamer thread of reality. It’s even okay to enjoy it for what it is. But we can’t let Phil Straub fool us.
CEO: “Sales are down and we don’t have the creativity to build an ad campaign.
What do we do?”
Adman with no imagination: “Hey, let’s get Will Smith to mention our shoes right in
the movie!”
So, we stare at the screen as Bond sells us the newest BMW 2-seater convertable, or the Mitsubishi jeepette (jeppalingur) saves our heros from the mighty T-rex, or What’s-his-face McActionhero lights the coolest cigarette in the world, or the big lipped beautiful Tomb Raider settles down for a Johnny Walker Red Label nightcap. But what we Americans don’t notise as much is when the military is being advertized. Funny, though, we definitely notise when it’s not! “Apocalypse Now” shocked the pants off everyone. “Platoon” raised eyebrows. “Full Metal Jacket” isn’t the kind of movie the military complex in the old US of A would support. But “Saving Private Ryan”, well, there you go. Oh, isn’t it cute the way the army spends loads of money and risks men in order to save one guy who’s down behind enemy lines? How beautiful that the soldiers in “Blackhawk Down” are all model citizens that can do no wrong and they were the primary victims in Somalia. Don’t even get me started on “Behind Enemy Lines” or “Tears of the Sun”. Anyway, the progam I mentioned was very interesting and certainly worth watching and thinking about. Most importantly, I think at least we need to keep ourselves aware of what is going on. It’s okay, in my opinion to go into a movie knowing that what you’re about to see is based loosely on a gossamer thread of reality. It’s even okay to enjoy it for what it is. But we can’t let Phil Straub fool us.
posted by Our Hero, at 9:37 AM
3 Comments:
I not trying to be sarcastic or anything (this time) but after reading your post I still don’t know who Phil Straub is.
I was trying to inspire you to go look for yourself. He is the head of the Pentagon's office which deals directly with Hollywood.
Oh man, no way. You actually expected me to display some initiative. You’ve got to be kidding.
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