Dalai Lama on “Ideas In Action”

Here is a press release for the Dalai Lama’s appearence on Ideas In Action.  I worked on this episode as shoot coordinator and post production producer.  The Dalai Lama spoke about seeking “meaningful autonomy” for Tibet in relation to China, Middle East uprisings and his decision to step down from political leadership.  Click here to learn more about the Dalai Lama’s interview.

For Immediate Release

DALAI LAMA CALLS CHINESE OCCUPATION OF TIBET A” RULE OF FEAR AND TERROR,” SAYS THERE IS A “SEMI-CULTURAL REVOLUTION” IN TIBET

Annapolis, MD June 1, 2011 – An exclusive thirty-minute interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama will air on public television and the Voice of America over the weekend of June 3-5, 2011 as part of the weekly television series, Ideas In Action with Jim Glassman.

During the interview the Dalai Lama candidly discussed his views on the future of his people, the struggle for freedom by people in the Middle East, how he plans to remain as spiritual leader while giving up his role as the political leader of his people and his desire for Tibet to be an autonomous region within China.

With the increase in Chinese military and security personnel in Tibet, His Holiness commented, there is a “rule of fear, rule of terror there.”

In discussing the systematic efforts by the Chinese government to stamp out the Tibetan culture, the Dalai Lama says local Tibetans tell him that now a “semi-Cultural Revolution [is] returning,” a reference to the Cultural Revolution in China in the 1960’s and 70’s when the communist authorities waged a reign of terror against the Chinese people and instituted a strict regime of political indoctrination.

On the recent wave of Middle East uprisings His Holiness said that he supports the people fighting for freedom, saying that once their goal of changing the system is achieved, they should avoid criticizing each other and “…. work together and build [a] new society.”

The Dalai Lama interview is part of the Freedom Collection, a repository of video histories and documents from the hallmark freedom movements of the twentieth century up to the present that is being created by the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas, TX.  Videotaped interviews and important documents will be available at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas and on the Freedom Collection website later this year.

Ambassador James K. Glassman is the Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute, the public policy arm of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.  Ideas in Action with Jim Glassman airs on public television stations across the country.  Viewers should consult their local listings for times, or can visit the www.ideasinactiontv.com website to watch the program or look up program schedules.

Ideas in Action with Jim Glassman is a co-production of Grace Creek Media and the George W. Bush Institute.

ABOUT GRACE CREEK MEDIA (www.gracecreek.com)

Grace Creek Media, Inc. is an independent production and distribution company based in Annapolis, MD that specializes in the development, production and distribution of documentaries, series and educational television programming.

THE GEORGE W. BUSH INSTITUTE (www.georgewbushinstitute.com)

The George W. Bush Institute is an independent, nonpartisan think tank engaged in policy, research, and action guided by the principles of freedom, opportunity, responsibility, and compassion.  Working with philanthropic-minded individuals, social entrepreneurs, other non-profit private institutions, businesses, and international and domestic government agencies, the Bush Institute’s goal is to transform ideas into action, producing results that can be tested, proven, and replicated in the real world.

Press Contact: Christina Mazzanti – christina.mazzanti@gracecreek.com

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Review: Capitalism – A Love Story

First let me say that I agree with Michael Moore’s general premise in his documentary Capitalism: A Love Story that corporate greed is out of hand and that average citizens are paying the price.  I think many people do.  What I was hoping to see was informative examples and enlightening arguments to support his point of view. 

What I got was a depressing visual essay in which Moore used loads of stock footage to illustrate his feelings.  That is not to say that there were no good points made or that the archival material wasn’t effective at times.  The best use of classic footage was the opening montage – a black and white reenactment about the fall of Rome intercut with recent American political figures.  But the old clips used to demonstrate the ideals of capitalism, the weaknesses of capitalism, the promise of the American dream, the failure of the American dream, and everything leading up to them was very heavy handed.  Perhaps Moore was trying to lighten the mood but instead gave the film a cartoon-like feel.

Moore is always strong when he hits the road in search of help for the common man.  Demanding money back from the banks with a burlap sack and attempting to make a citizen’s arrest of bank managers are funny reminders of how badly the banks have ripped off the people of this country.  There are also some salient examples of ripping off tactics.  Moore shared some now all too familiar touching stories of foreclosure victims duped by unethical mortgage loans.  And, I was surprised to learn that corporations take out million dollar life insurance policies on their workers.

The movie needed more interviews from the opposing side or people who used to work for the opposing side.  We all know what the problem is. But WHY do bigwigs think they are justified in hurting the little guy?

The movie ends with Moore inviting viewers to join him in putting a stop to capitalism and corporate greed.  He didn’t give examples in the film but you can find some on the Capitalism: A Love Story website.  Overall, the movie made good points but lacked depth.  It was terribly depressing yet slightly inspiring at the same time.  After paying to see the movie, I am left with this question: how much of my $9 goes to the mega-media giant Viacom, the parent company of Paramount Vantage who is one of the producers of this film?