More4 has an exclusive report tonight, on the assissination of the US President. Not the actual event, of course, (that would be a scoop) - but a film imagining how the event would happen. Channel 4 News's Felicity Spector worked on the film - here's her account of filming a top-secret drama.
The film Death of a President was an epic project - a fictional drama researched as thoroughly as any documentary. My job was to help track down and interview real-life counterparts of the characters in the film: the FBI agent, the forensics expert, the White House presidential aide, the White House correspondent, the Iraq war veteran and so-on.
Due to the highly sensitive subject matter - the assassination of George W Bush, everyone involved with the entire project signed a confidentiality agreement. I spoke to some pretty senior people from present and past administrations - some who'd experienced the assassination attempt on President Reagan - others who'd been involved with investigating terrorist suspects or policing major demonstrations against Bush.
The aim was to make the film as accurate as possible - filmed in the style of a real documentary, it charts the moments leading up to the assassination - and the political aftermath. Clearly it's attracted lots of publicity - not least through More4's release of a still photograph showing the moment the sniper's bullet hits the President.
There's been plenty of criticism in the States by those who've accused it of being gratuitous, scandalous and in the worst possible taste. That's before they've even seen it, of course. But it's intended as a sober and thought provoking piece about the post 9-11 world, the impact on contemporary America, its justice system and its civil liberties.
The film itself is no polemic against President Bush - rather it is an incredibly sweeping drama, skillfully mixing archive footage with fictional scenes. The actors were thoroughly briefed about their real-life counterparts - some of whom were recruited as consultants to the film - so that they could portray the events, and their reactions, as realistically as possible. Obviously no-one knows what would really happen were the President to be shot - but this is hopefully as accurate as it could get.
It gets its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival today - where it's been the hot ticket - the agent for one huge Hollywood celebrity (who shall be nameless!) was seen begging for a spare seat. It gets its cinema release across the US later next month - but you can see it here on More 4 on October the 9th. Or watch the preview on More4 News tonight.
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