The military reality of the "dream factory": how Hollywood and the Pentagon work together

Ulyana Artamonova, an analyst at the Center for North American Studies , writes about how Hollywood became one of the most successful examples of patriotic public-private partnerships in the world. Fragments of this work are quoted by the popular Telegram channel Interpreter:

“The most famous examples of the involvement of Hollywood by government agencies in public diplomacy are films made with the support of the military or special services. The US Department of Defense works closely with the "dream factory". The film industry is actively using the advice and props provided by the military to reduce the cost of making a film and make it more authentic. In exchange for this, the Pentagon receives scripts that form a positive perception of the image of the army in society and affect its attractiveness as an employer. Sometimes it comes down to significant scripts rewriting and high-profile previews.

Examples of films made with the help of the Pentagon are True Lies, Independence Day, Iron Man, in which the United States is represented as a good force, and the manifestation of its military power abroad brings positive results for all of humanity. In many of these films, the most that Hollywood allows itself as part of its criticism of American interference in the internal affairs of other states is a plot in which a plan based solely on good intentions can go wrong as expected, while the victims themselves Americans (as in the films "Black Hawk Down", "Munich" and "Siege").

Also, the Pentagon does not recognize scenes that discredit the American military: looting, violence against civilians, corruption in the army are either cut out episodes or a reason for refusing to cooperate. When one of the most famous American producers Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean, Gone in 60 Seconds, Treasures of the Nation, etc.), who after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks took up a documentary series about the US troops in Afghanistan, was asked , if he showed a major military failure or violation of human rights, if it happened, he replied: "Provided that the Pentagon would not mind".

If the US Department of Defense, in exchange for its assistance, requests changes to the scenario, the obligations of the parties are spelled out in a special agreement. It is the responsibility of the technical advisor to ensure that surveys are conducted according to the agreed scenario. After the end of the filming process, the Ministry of Defense is awaiting a preliminary screening of the film to make sure there are no violations of the agreement. At this stage, it can also make additional recommendations. According to one of the technical advisors, David Georgie, "if they don't do what I say, I will take my toys and leave." In addition to refusing to provide equipment, the Pentagon may also prohibit the use of information provided by the military in the film and filming in the territories under its jurisdiction. Such measures can lead to significant financial losses and even a disruption to the release of the film.

There is also a financial interest in Hollywood's relationship with Washington. For example, John Bryson, the former US Secretary of Commerce in the administration of President Barack Obama, served simultaneously on the boards of directors of the Walt Disney Company and the Boeing Company. Each of the councils has about a dozen participants, which makes a fairly direct connection between the world's leading brand of family cinema and the world's largest manufacturer of military equipment. The same goes for Lewis Coleman, who simultaneously held positions at Dream Works Animation SKG and Northrop Grumman Corporation, a US military-industrial company. General Electrics, which invests in high-tech military aviation, surveillance technology, etc., is closely associated with the US Department of Defense, until 2011 was also the majority shareholder of Universal Studios".