From: Stig_Agermose@online.pol.dk (Stig Agermose)
To: updates@globalserve.net
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 07:33:32 +0200
Subject: USAF, UFOs And The Movie Industry
Found at Ogden Publishing Corporation's StandardNET. URL:
http://www.standard.net/cgi-win/table.exe?archive+18tv1.htm
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TV--Aliens at Hill?
Only in "Visitor'=20
September 18, 1997
By NANCY VAN VALKENBURG=20
Standard-Examiner staff
Remember: It's just fiction.=20
The tip-off that the new Fox series "The Visitor" (debuting 7p.m.=20
Friday on KSTU Channel 13) is pure fabrication is not that John=20
Corbett plays an alien abductee who hasn't aged a day since he=20
was kidnapped half a century ago. The evidence that the show is=20
pure fiction is not that Corbett supposedly pilots a stolen=20
saucer back to earth, or even that he crash lands in rural Summit=20
County, of all places.=20
No, the absolute proof that the story is fictional comes from a=20
single locator at the bottom of the screen during a scene=20
depicting military personnel. The given location: Hill Air Force=20
Base.=20
Bruce Collins, deputy director of public affairs at Hill, said he=20
has no recollection of any alien spacecraft landing in Utah, and=20
would certainly remember if a well-known actor popped the hatch=20
and climbed out.=20
Then he let out a hardy laugh.=20
"The Air Force did a study, Project Bluebook, which indicated=20
there was no reason to pursue a study of UFOs," Collins=20
explained.=20
Furthermore, producers for "The Visitor" did not even ask=20
permission to use the name of Hill Air Force Base.=20
"We have cooperated with requests from the film and television=20
industries after reviewing scripts for accuracy, but I'm fairly=20
certain any stories featuring UFOs would not meet our accuracy=20
requirements."=20
Chuck Davis, Air Force chief of television and movie liaison,=20
confirmed Collins' hunch.=20
"We have not received any request from Fox TV concerning any=20
military facilities," he said, from his office in California.=20
Collins said the Air Force is usually happy to cooperate with=20
television and film projects that depict the services accurately,=20
as did this summer's "Air Force One." Producers are charged for=20
use of equipment and technical advisers. The military does not=20
rent out uniforms, but plenty of commercial costume companies do.=20
Then again, if "The Visitor" producers want to build their own=20
military set and print on the screen that it's Hill Air Force=20
Base, there's nothing anyone can do to stop them.=20
"We do have freedom of speech in this country, and producers are=20
free to build any sets they like, or even use computer technology=20
to replicate a setting. These days, you can do anything with a=20
computer.=20
Like put actors in places they never were or edit public figures=20
into fictional stories. Examples include this summer's "Contact,"=20
which included carefully edited footage of President Bill Clinton=20
that seemed to make him integral to the plot, and -- from a few=20
years back -- "Forrest Gump," which featured actor Tom Hanks=20
appearing in various historical footage.=20
Collins said he does get irritated by some media depictions of=20
the military.=20
"There are good, conscientious people in the military, and they=20
sacrifice a great deal in their day to day jobs to do things for=20
the American people. We're not going to pretend we enjoy being=20
portrayed inaccurately."=20
But he will try to keep a sense of humor if he gets calls from=20
worried Fox viewers after Friday's series debut.=20
"Our office will probably get some calls on this," he said, with=20
a chuckle. "It wouldn't be the first time we got calls about=20
something wild that people saw on TV."=20
A cover up of the non-military variety=20
For news people, the executives at KTVX Channel 4 are awfully=20
tight-lipped.=20
Last week, Channel 4 announced the removal of its long-time news=20
director, John Edwards, after 15 years of service. Edwards was=20
released from his post the same day the ABC affiliate hired Con=20
Psarras, former news director at rival KUTV Channel 2.=20
Psarras' new title is managing editor, but he'll also serve as=20
interim news director while a permanent replacement for Edwards=20
is sought, according to a statement released by Channel 4. The=20
unsigned statement acknowledged Edwards had "been one of those=20
responsible for guiding and directing the Channel 4 news team to=20
its many successes."=20
Psarras and Channel 4 general manager Peter Mathes did not return=20
calls placed by this reporter, and Edwards declined to comment=20
when reached at home by an Associated Press reporter.=20
If other people in Utah news responded with such unified silence,=20
Channel 4's newscasts would be pretty darn short.=20
Back to network debuts=20
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