January 17, 2004
Dean Bio Shelved

Click "More" for the letter I sent out regarding a stop work order from A&E that the production team on the Dean bio received this week. I'll add responses to the letter and my answers as I get around to it.

All of this so my friends in Mexico and Guatemala can get a taste of the personal and political issues sweeping our lives here in the States.

And digital democracy is growing in their countries as well!

To all:

Here's an update on the Dean biography which, as some of you know, I
began editing 2 weeks ago. The biography was to be produced by ABC News
Productions under contract to A&E. With too little time and too small a
budget (as usual these days) but with excellent interviews, including
Zephyr, we were racing to get it finished in time for New Hampshire.

Without seeing any scripts or roughcuts, an A&E executive decided to stop
production on the bio. The reason given - bios of politicians do poorly in
the ratings. Based on what evidence? A Tom Ridge biography they had
commissioned.

Along with the CBS decision not to air the MoveOn spot, you may file this
under "Why Big Media does not get it."

Dave Pentecost

Posted by Dave at January 17, 2004 01:11 PM