Spin (1995 film)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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"Larry King said he didn't mind being called the father of talk show democracy, even though a little over hundred people got to phone into his programme and ask the candidates questions."--Spin (1995) "The key thing with something like that is, you take the one sentence and turn it around and go on to another issue. Remember, you're answering the questions. You can talk about anything you want to."--anonymous spin doctor to Pat Robertson in Spin "My impression is you know, places like South Central L.A., around the country look more like the real third world countries - They're third world countries without the hope. That is that they have no medical care. They have no real economy - and yet in a third world country, it's developing. There is some onward development. There is some vision for the future."-- CBS This Morning interview with Paula Zahn & Dr Bob Arnot - off-air response to question about South Central, the interviewer called the comments obtuse, in Spin |
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Spin is a 1995 documentary film by Brian Springer composed of raw satellite feeds featuring politicians' pre-appearance planning. It covers, not only the presidential election, but also the 1992 Los Angeles riots as well as the Operation Rescue abortion protests.
Using the 1992 presidential election as his springboard, Springer captures the behind-the-scenes schemings of politicians and newscasters in the early 1990s. Pat Robertson banters about "homos," Al Gore learns how to avoid abortion questions, George H. W. Bush talks to Larry King about Halcion—all presuming they are off camera. Composed of 100% unauthorized satellite footage, Spin is a surreal exposé of media-constructed reality.
The film also documents behind the scenes footage of Larry Agran who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party nomination for president. Agran was generally ignored by the media during his candidacy, a topic covered in the documentary. The media did not report his polling numbers even as he met or exceeded the support of other candidates such as Jerry Brown. Party officials excluded him from most debates on various grounds, even having him arrested when he interrupted to ask to participate. When he managed to join the other candidates in any forum, his ideas went unreported. In photographs with other candidates, he was cropped out.
Stephen Holden of The New York Times said of the film, "a devastating critique of television's profound manipulativeness in the way it packages the news and politics". Spin is a follow-up of the 1992 film Feed; for which Springer provided much of the raw satellite footage.
Transcription of Robertson segment
Anonymous spin doctor to Pat Robertson:
OFF-AIR
Robertson: That guy was a homo--as sure as you're alive.
Spin Doctor 1: Yeah, you didn't look rattled.
Spin Doctor 2: ...The key thing with something like that is, you take the one sentence and turn it around and go on to another issue. Remember, you're answering the questions. You can talk about anything you want to.
Robertson: What's that?
Spin Doctor 2: Did you get a good question?
Robertson: No.
Spin Doctor 1: This last one is.
Robertson: The last one, yeah, but I didn't get it.
Spin Doctor 2: I called them up and said who in heck is screening these calls? I've had one person call him a bigot. I've had another call him a zealot. Let's get some balance out there...
Robertson: It's too late. The last on is okay, but the first three were all homosexuals.
Spin Doctor 2: I know, I know.
Robertson: I've had this before.
Spin Doctor 1: You can answer the question any way you choose to.
Robertson: I hear you.
Spin Doctor 1: All right. Remember, so take it where you want it to go, take it where you want it to go.
Spin Doctor 2: I don't like the producer of this segment.
Robertson: Well, they were trying to set me up.
Spin Doctor 2: That's what they told me, that's what the Harris people told me.
Robertson: Did they accomplish it or have I come back all right?
Spin Doctor 2:No I think you are fine, I'm just upset...
Spin Doctor 1: It hasn't come across on your face as being angry.
Robertson: I'm not angry, who's angry?
Spin Doctor 1: I mean you look good. Just remember you can answer any way you want.
Robertson: I hear you. You're right."
See also
- Live television
- Media manipulation
- Propaganda
- Spin (propaganda)
- Manufacturing Consent
- Backhaul (broadcasting)
- Gatekeeping (communication)
- Orwell Rolls in His Grave
- 1992 Los Angeles riots in popular culture
- Germán Legarreta
- George H. W. Bush vomiting incident
- Kerner Commission
- Columbus Day
- Quayle vs. Murphy Brown
