Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-04
Bob and Jack Show

Your July 80 editorial,
"The Bob and Jack Show"
contains some serious errors
Of omission as well as a vicious
assumption which is entirely
untrue.
In the first place, the film
covers the activities of all the
main participants during the
F, final days Of the showdown.
In addition to the President
and the Attorney General, we
covered-in the same man.
ner-the Governor Of Ala
bama. George c. Wallace,
and the two Negro students
concerned. Vivian Malone
and James Hood. This is, in
no way, "one-sided."
Secondly, the ~ hours Of
film do not cover Just "con-
ferences," as you imply, but
rather the whole range of
activities Of the main partici-
pants In this matter.
Also, your u nfortuna te
phrase, "the synchronized
watch" carries with It the
implication that somewhere
off-camera there was q d.
rector. script in hand, run
ming the whole show. The
basic premise Of our ap-
proach to journalism Is ex-
actly the opposite. In these
days Of handouts, press re-
leases, set-up interviews, and
MISREPRESENTATION, we have
endeavored to show a mo-
ment Of history as it really
happened. In the past three
years we have tried to de-
velop special equipment
which would avoid what all
film equipment UP to now
has done: interfere. It is now
possible for the first time,
with a special camera, for a
film journalist to do what q
word man has long been able
to do: truly observe.
! think 1t is q great credit
to the President, the Attor-
ney General, the Governor,
the two students, and many
other persons involved, too,
that they could all appreciate
this new possibility, trust us
as honest journalists, and go
on about their business.
Prime Minister Nehru, the
Aga Khan, a concert pianist
in a major competition, an
indianapolis driver on race
day, a Harlem youth worker,
a Broadway actress on OPEN
ing night. a TOT pilot on a
transatlantic flight; all these
people have lived through
important personal events
with two Of us present. None
of these people ever "acted"
for us.
Technology and technique
change. and we have applied
both to an approach to jour-
nalism: no set-ups, no hand
outs, no interviews. no SMILE
Observation-Disclosures
before. Does this sound like
q show, an act? Which is
better: what really happened
or som eon e's version Of
someone's version?
When I first went to see
Attorney General Robert
Kennedy in May. I sat in his
office for several minutes
waiting to talk with him. All
around me things were hap
pening, hectic. busy. facinat-
ing things. The whole COM
pick business Of running an
aspect Of government - in
this case q civil rights cam
paign - was taking place.
When he finally asked what
we wanted to do, my only
reply was to wave my hand
around the office and say,
This"
Public officials doing the
public's business, to be shown
on the public's air: what's
wrong with that? It is in
spring. contrary TO your edi-
torial conclusion. When you
see this film, ! sincerely hope
you will change your mind.
Gregory Shuker,
Producer
1.-THE Bob and Jack Show"
certainly highlights the ir-
responsibility Of our White
House occupants. We APP
preciate and applaud your
efforts to call this political,
but deplorable, comedy to
the attention Of the Nation.
Katherine s. Wilson.