The movies and tv shows come to them, and they’re subsequently influenced as part of the deal.
Am I reading this correctly? They’ve really tried to make it scary but I’m left feeling “well, yeah I guess that makes sense, sucks tho I guess”...
Some good things to take from this article though: 1. The integrity of writing and original scripts are being altered to fit a specific message.
2. Propaganda is being inserted into our media with no disclaimer or way to discern it.
3. These institutions are essentially subsidizing film budgets, which seems like an inappropriate use of funds (in my opinion of course)
Of course it isn't anything to be worried about, but it does bring into light how these 3 letter agencies are very aware of their not-so-patriotic actions, and are taking measures to try to erase or distract people.
Hollywood is fully capable, I'm certain, of providing mock-ups and stand ins for much of what the military provides. I'm sure when it comes to the bottom-line though, this is a much better deal from them.
I just don't see a vast propaganda conspiracy.
To a first approximation, movies that cast the government in a positive light sell better, because Americans think of the government as a reflection of themselves and want to feel good. Exceptions exist, but you rarely hit blockbuster numbers with a downer movie with a downer ending.
And that's true regardless of the topic of the film. It doesn't matter whether the movie involves the US military or not.
and as they said openly in the interviews: they often do it for free, but if they dont like the content they will pull out.
One key change at the Navy's request is Maverick dating a civilian instructor, not a women in the Navy, as that is against Navy regs.
In Independence Day (1996) The Pentagon withdrew support over references to "Area 51", the location of the USAF Flight Test Center (Detachment 3) that officially didn't exist.
Decisions regarding Pentagon support for movies are sometimes made by the Secretary of Defense, personally. If he doesn't like it, they withdraw support.
That's a show I should watch again.
Observe the scene from Battleship where Lt. Col. Gregory Gadson, the director of the U.S. Army's Wounded Warrior Program, was cast to play a double-amputee soldier who, among other things, fist-fights an alien. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMX3v6exVf8
The funny thing is that he is not only pro-military, he's anti-government. It's not just that the military has to be seen in a good light, other government people have to also be seen as bad.
I've actually been operating under the mistaken belief that Bay directed that movie. It feels incredibly Bay.
This is bad in the sense pro-military influence & "rub my back I'll rub yours" is bad in general, but I'm not seeing the directed efforts that would justify the tone or title of the article. It smells like clickbait, and now I smell like military apologism from saying so!
But writers who portray them in a positive light get favors and get their tickets bought by mainstream audiences.