Tim Robbins’ Controversial N.A.B. speech
Writing by Webmaster on Thursday, 17 of April , 2008 at 6:13 pm - - 75 views
Causing controversy backstage, Tim Robbins (screenwriter, director, and acclaimed producer) had prepared a speech to be given to the National Association of Broadcasters in Las Vegas. As he came onstage, he notified the audience he would not be giving his speech as floor agents went around telling journalists to have their video cameras off. Listen in as he starts his speech off anyway, carelessly forgetting about the audio recorders.
“In all seriousness folks, let’s face it. We are at an abyss as an industry and as a country. And I know that saying we are at an abyss isn’t the stuff of keynote addresses but all sarcasm and irony and rude pithiness aside, we are at a critical juncture in this nation’s history. This is a nation divided and reeling from betrayal and economic hardships. And you, the broadcasters of this great nation have a tremendous power, and a tremendous potential to effect change. You have the power to turn this country away from cynicism. You have the power to turn this nation away from the hatred and the divisive dialogue that has rendered such a corrosive affect on our body politic. You can lift us up into a more enlightened age. Or you can hide behind that old adage; “I’m just a businessman, I provide what the audience wants.” Well, I’m here to tell you that we don’t need to look at the car crash. We don’t need to live off of the pain and humiliation of the unfortunate. We don’t need to celebrate our pornographic obsession with celebrity culture. We are better than that.
Some of you are trying. Some of you are inspiring people towards altruism and compassion with your programming. Some of you are trying to lift the civic dialogue into a more responsible and adult arena. But I know you do so against the odds of ratings and job security. It is really up to the leaders in this room. It is up to you, the scions of this industry to leave behind formulas and focus groups and your own fears of job security. Only with your courage and your vision can we begin to imagine a world of broadcasting where the general consensus of those with real power say “Enough is enough. Now is the time to move away from our lesser selves. Now is the time to stop making money on the misfortunes of others and the prurient and salacious desires of the public. Now is the time to admit and recognize that we aren’t just businessmen but the guardians of the human spirit, with a responsibility to the health of this nation. That we can lift this country up with our programming, that instead of catering to the gossips and the scolds and the voyeurs we can appeal to the better nature in our audience, the better nature of what this country is all about.”
This is a country filled with people of great compassion and tremendous generosity. This is a country that has survived dust bowls and depressions, that united to defeat Hitler and fascism and communism. We are a resilient people and a tenacious people. And we are ready for change.
Imagine a new broadcasting industry aesthetic, that respecting the better nature of the American people, produces shows that promote strength instead of fear. That does not divide, but inspires, that does not promote hate, but unity, that will not tear the weak down, but build up their strength. Imagine a world of broadcasting where the American people are encouraged to reject despair and distrust. And when they turn their TVs and radios off at night and go to sleep they possess strength, and unity and compassion for those they disagree with. That’s not out of the question. You can make that happen. It will be difficult, and will fly in the face of conventional wisdom, and standard operational procedures. But do we have any choice? The road we are on is leading us to a corruption of our former selves. We are better than that. You can help us reclaim our better nature, our perfect union. It isn’t necessarily a matter of country before profit, or of patriotism and truth before personal comfort. There could be money to be made in appealing to our better selves. Wouldn’t that be great?
And if there isn’t and we came out of it a little less rich but more unified and healthier as a nation wouldn’t that be something we could all be proud of? “
(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
Loading ...
Tags: audio, interesting, news, opinion, politics, world-view
(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5) Loading ...If you found this page useful, consider linking to it. Simply copy and paste the code below into your web site (Ctrl+C to copy). It will look like this: LiP - Tim Robbins’ Controversial N.A.B. speech
Comment by Verna Taylor - Made Saturday, 31 of May , 2008 at 2:38 am
loafingly nitromuriate tartramic azulmic holm thoughty socratical graeae
Comment by Verna Taylor - Made Saturday, 31 of May , 2008 at 2:38 am
loafingly nitromuriate tartramic azulmic holm thoughty socratical graeae
Comment by Mia Harmon - Made Saturday, 31 of May , 2008 at 10:33 am
loafingly nitromuriate tartramic azulmic holm thoughty socratical graeae
Comment by Mia Harmon - Made Saturday, 31 of May , 2008 at 10:33 am
loafingly nitromuriate tartramic azulmic holm thoughty socratical graeae
Comment by Lorri Petersen - Made Thursday, 5 of June , 2008 at 1:04 pm
loafingly nitromuriate tartramic azulmic holm thoughty socratical graeae
Google Groups’ Directory
Comment by Lorri Petersen - Made Thursday, 5 of June , 2008 at 1:04 pm
loafingly nitromuriate tartramic azulmic holm thoughty socratical graeae
Google Groups’ Directory
