Lights, camera, Kerry: Senator seeks movie funds

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lights-camera-kerry-senator-seeks-movie-funds-2009-04-24.html

Lights, camera, Kerry: Senator seeks movie funds
By Mike Soraghan
Posted: 04/24/09 04:53 PM
Move over Al Gore. John Kerry is getting into the movie business.

Kerry, the Democratic senator from Massachusetts and former presidential nominee, is working on becoming an executive producer for a movie about soldiers in Iraq, to be called "Keeping the Faith."

He has asked the Federal Election Commission for permission to tap $300,000 from his campaign to invest in the movie. The agreement enclosed with his request indicates that he and any other investors would get a 120 percent return.

The only other description of the film in the FEC documents released Friday is that it is about the effects of a certain type of wound.

The documents also seek to assure the FEC that it won't include political advocacy for issues or candidates.

[Mike 03]

1. Well, the budget is very low, and it is clearly a documentary.

I wonder who the market is. I'm guessing he plans to air this on TV, not intended for theatrical release. Maybe it will call attention to the need to improve our treatment of brain injury or something like that.

Seriously, that budget is a pittance. It's so low, I doubt he can make it for that amount.

[babylonsister]

2. I'm sure it's being planned with the intent of helping vets and

raising awareness. This is the only info I could find on it. Very hush-hush!

[Mike 03]

5. I agree, it sounds very positive. I would hope people would support this endeavor. NT

[blm]

7. I'm pretty sure it's about the many vets returning with brain injuries. Most Americans have no idea

what an enormous number of vets are living with these severe head traumas.

I think Kerry intends to increase the awareness and the concern so these vets and their families can be treated effectively, much as he did for victims of Agent Orange after Vietnam. Hopefully he'll have less trouble now than he had then with a government loathe to admit the truth.

[frazzled]

3. I don't think the $300K is the budget: it says it's an "investment"

And if I understand it correctly, the investors would get 120% back on their investment after the film is released.

I'm not sure that's kosher to use campaign funds in this way, even if the cause is a very good one. Think of the right-wing "movies" that could be funded in this way.

[Rage for Order]

4. The first rule of being rich: when you can, risk other people's money

Why not just ask his wife for $300k? She's http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Teresa-F-Heinz-Kerry_UZ1H.html">worth $1,000,000,000.00, after all, so I think she could afford it. You want to play Hollywood, use your own money. I'm fairly certain that the people who contributed to your campaign expected you to use the money they contributed to actually campaign.

on edit: you would think people would be JUMPING at the chance to pony up $300k for a "guaranteed" 120% return on their money. Hell, that even rivals Bernie Madoff's returns!

[Mike 03]

6. K and R. Interesting, intriguing... NT