Hollywood Memo to McCain: "Don't Start Shooting Without a Script."

Over the years since directing Wag The Dog I have been asked whether Hollywood producers are directly involved in political campaigns. I hear rumors from time to time that they might be pulling the strings but no hard evidence. But my suspicion is, no Hollywood producer is involved in the McCain presidential run. I say this for a simple reason, it's badly orchestrated, lacks a narrative, and when they come across a good story idea they bungle it. An example: When McCain left the campaign trail to return to Washington to help solve the financial crisis it blew up in his face. It made him seem erratic, ineffectual, and worse of all, not true to his words. There's an old Hollywood axiom that says, "Don't put the leading man in a scene that makes him look bad."

The shooting script of McCain's failed political move would have been played out differently.

EXT. CAMPAIGN RALLY - DAY

(A light rain falls.)

(DON ANDERSON, a young correspondent, talks to the camera)

DON
We are getting reports that John McCain is leaving the campaign trail within the hour.

ANCHORMAN
(Now on a split screen)

What reason are they giving, Don?

DON
What we are hearing and this is unconfirmed, but Senator McCain is going to Washington. The speculation is, it has to do with the economic crisis the country is now facing.

ANCHORMAN
This would be unprecedented, actually stop campaigning?

DON
That's right. But I have no other information at this time. We can only confirm that he in fact is going to Washington

ANCHORMAN
This is a big story and we're going to stay on top of it.

(4 hours later)

(Don, our correspondent, now in front of the capital.)

DON
We have been hearing rumors that John McCain has been meeting with members of both parties in private talks about the economic crisis. I have heard this from a number of Congressmen, but no one in the McCain camp will confirm this.

ANCHORMAN
And Senator McCain has not spoken to any reporters at all?

DON
No. But an aide has said to me privately that John McCain is trying to stay under the radar--he doesn't want to make this about him. He is trying to work with various members of Congress without the glare of the cameras.

ANCHORMAN
What about the debate on Friday?

DON
Hold on one second, I am getting some new information here.....A close aide to John McCain had this to say, "John would prefer to cancel the debate on Friday due to this unprecedented financial crisis, but if his opponent, Mr. Obama, wants to debate, John McCain will make himself available." So the ball is in Obama's court now.

ANCHORMAN
Will McCain make a public appearance on this situation?

DON
What I am hearing is "no" ......His camp has made it clear, he doesn't want to make this a political football.....there is too much at stake. But I re-iterate, John McCain has not made any statement on what might be called a historic decision. In my memory, I have never heard of a candidate leaving the campaign trail. But it is consistent with his maverick style.

***********

This is a rough draft of a scene, but the point being nothing is better than letting others build the drama, others talking about your integrity, others calling you a maverick.

In the old westerns, the fastest gun in the west never said he was the fastest, others said it. And if the gunslinger said he was the fastest? That was comic relief.

Comments

[hrayovac]

True article and a good suggestion. Another Hollywood axiom: Don't leak the script, they will steal it and make a crummy version of it first.

[HoneyLouise]

Yes! Every time I hear McCain and/or Palin call themselves a "maverick," I think to myself, "Are they supposed to be saying that about themselves?" It's like giving yourself your own nickname of "The Face" or calling yourself "a long cool drink of water." I myself am a "visionary" -- haha. Mr. Levinson, it's a pretty day in Redding, isn't it? (I live here, too.)

[caterpol]

Good and funny observation. It's the same reaction most of us have when people refer to themselves in the third person. LIke they're a brand.

To most of us, they just sound like blowhard------and a word that rhymes with masses with the adjective colossal attached.

[gfreshski1]

This movie is a FLOP.

[reader39]

"Attack of Clones" was already done....

[AliLiz]

Is all politics theater? I must be living in la-la land...I want facts, real debates, clean campaigning, good candidate with experience, and media that tells the truth. Am I asking for too much?

[RegLib]

Politics is indeed theater, and has been since that nasty Adams/Jefferson campaign.

[hrayovac]

What on earth were you thinking? Of course it's theater. Do you think that when Cindy McCain talks about Obama's vote "not funding the troops" she is unaware that John McCain voted similarly? It's all show business but when you are lucky you get a talented candidate such as Obama who understands how to effectively present a truthful, progressive, people-oriented movement. We are verey very lucky.

[Puller58]

The movie about this campaign will never be made.

[Rondo]

Not true, the Simpsons movie came out last year starring Homer Simpson as John McCain and Marge Simpson as Sarah Palin.

[johnqsittinzen]

Try this double feature... "The Candidate" w/Robert Redford, "A Face in The Crowd" w/Andy Griffith, screenplay by Bud 'On The Waterfront' Shulberg.

Throw in "To Die For" with Nicole Kidman, what the heck, it's the weekend.

[LCM1220]

Barry,

But they do have a script!!!! It just so happens it's neither smart or funny!!!! A bizarre tragedy/horror unfolding before the eyes of world!!

Personally, I'm fascinated by this freak show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cloball]

Just like most sequels, they're not as good as the first, or the first wasn't very good and they should've never made a sequel.

BUSH I and BUSH II proved to be too much and were bombs.

We don't want to see BUSH III

Give us something new to watch...........................OBAMA/BIDEN I

[zanzig]

Never mind the McCain campaign; I've been thinking for some time that all 300+ million of you are engaged in filming the sequel to The Truman Show, with the world looking on.

[Indie2008]

The McCain / Palin audience already have their "advance script" from the likes of Limbaugh, Rove and Hannity, and they have it memorized!

[3fingerbrown]

The best thing you can say about McCain's movie is the leading lady really knows her lines.

[enomaj]

I saw Ghost Ship in a theater. I spent the whole movie waiting for it to get scary, then it ended. The guy sitting behind me said 'This movie sucked' 4 times and each time it sounded like he had never seen a bad movie before. I'm hoping this how McPalin supporters feel on Nov. 5th.

[mergina]

"Well my friend, it would not be the first time my friend, that a movie was shot without a script my friend, I mean look at some of the best movies my friend of the 50's, (and yes my friend I am old enough to remember those, bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran), most of them with titles no one remembers my friend, but classics that filled the matinee theatres across this great country my friend, and created millions of jobs like I will my friend, and we'll do it without a script my friend, and if you think that sounds crazy my friend, well then, my friend, I am crazy." .......John McCain oct 2008

[deliriousgod]

McCain campaign: Coppola's Pia Zadora-vehicle .... or ... 'Apocolypse Now'?

[MrsJackson]

How about "Fear of a Black Planet"? It's a Public Enemy album title, but still, very appropriate...

[4fathers]

the western analogy concerning the fastest gun is perfect. a myth is always created by others, not named the mythical figure.