LONDON (Reuters) - Channel 4 is courting controversy with what it calls a "shockingly real" drama about the fictional assassination of President George W. Bush.
"Death of a President," shot in the form of a documentary examining the assassination, will use a blend of archival footage and computer-generated special effects to portray Bush in October 2007 arriving in Chicago during an anti-war rally.
In the film, Bush is killed by a sniper, and the investigation quickly focuses on a Syrian-born man. It will air in October on Channel 4's More4 digital channel, as well as at the Toronto Film Festival in September.
"It's a pointed political examination of what the war on terror is doing to the American body politic," said More4 boss Peter Dale at a press conference on Thursday.
Promotional materials described the programme as "a thought-provoking critique of the contemporary U.S. political landscape."
Dale acknowledged that the programme will be controversial, but maintained that it was a sophisticated work meant to spur debate.
"I'm sure there will be people upset by it," he said. "I hope people will see the intention as a good one."
Channel 4, which is publicly owned but funded by advertising, was criticised last week by outgoing ITV Chief Executive Charles Allen for its reliance on reality TV shows and "shock docs". More4's autumn schedule also includes "The Trial of Tony Blair," a satirical programme about the future resignation of the Prime Minister.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/31082006/325/channel-4-air-bush-assassination-drama.html
one can dream....
"Death of a President," shot in the form of a documentary examining the assassination, will use a blend of archival footage and computer-generated special effects to portray Bush in October 2007 arriving in Chicago during an anti-war rally.
In the film, Bush is killed by a sniper, and the investigation quickly focuses on a Syrian-born man. It will air in October on Channel 4's More4 digital channel, as well as at the Toronto Film Festival in September.
"It's a pointed political examination of what the war on terror is doing to the American body politic," said More4 boss Peter Dale at a press conference on Thursday.
Promotional materials described the programme as "a thought-provoking critique of the contemporary U.S. political landscape."
Dale acknowledged that the programme will be controversial, but maintained that it was a sophisticated work meant to spur debate.
"I'm sure there will be people upset by it," he said. "I hope people will see the intention as a good one."
Channel 4, which is publicly owned but funded by advertising, was criticised last week by outgoing ITV Chief Executive Charles Allen for its reliance on reality TV shows and "shock docs". More4's autumn schedule also includes "The Trial of Tony Blair," a satirical programme about the future resignation of the Prime Minister.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/31082006/325/channel-4-air-bush-assassination-drama.html
one can dream....
