Broadcast News Screening 4/17/2013

The 1987 movie Broadcast News was featured by IFC on Wednesday night. Steely Dan's Donald Fagen had been asked by IFC's Robert Milazzo to select a film for a screening and discussion. Donald said he selected about Broadcast News because of its writing and detail in representing the television news industry. IFC reached out to Holly Hunter, who starred in the movie as producer Jane Craig. Holly agreed to appear at the screening. But then she contacted me to see if Susan Zirinsky, my wife and Jane Craig role model, and I would attend. We happily agreed. 

A near full house attended the screening in a theater in New York's West Village. The crowd was largely older and all clearly fans of the movie. I had not seen the movie in its entirely for twenty years, and Susan had not seen it in a decade. It was truly wonderful. The premise is still relevant today, James L. Brook's writing and directing was brilliant. The movie received eight Oscar nominations, but failed to win any as Moonstruck swept the awards that year. Following the screening, our group answered a broad range of questions from the audience.

Joe Peyronnin, Susan Zirinsky, Donald Fagen, Holly Hunter, Robert Milazzo of IFC

Susan and I first met Jim in 1984, the day we eloped in San Francisco. He exposed us to the magical world of Hollywood, and introduced us to many new friends who we remain close to. Here's a piece I wrote about the movie's twentieth anniversary: BROADCAST NEWS.

Polly Platt

Assisting on the movie Broadcast News nearly thirty years ago was an amazing experience for me because it introduced me to the creative world of Hollywood. More importantly, it introduced me to some incredibly smart and caring professionals

Polly Platt was one of those people. She was an energetic, intelligent and skilled writer, producer and production designer. Now Polly has died of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. She was 72 years old.

Polly was married and worked beside her ex-husband Peter Bogdanovich on many of his early films. They included The Last Picture Show, What's Up Doc and Paper Moon. In fact, Bogdanovich credited Polly with converting Larry McMurtry's novel into the script for The Last Picture Show. But that movie also brought an end to their marriage as Bogdanovich left her during the filming for his leading lady, Cybill Shepard. Nonetheless, Polly maintained a close working relationship with her ex-husband.

Later, Polly received an Oscar nomination for her art direction on the 1983 film Term's of Endearment. This was the first in a series of films she would work on with writer, producer and director James L. Brooks. They also included Broadcast News, Say Anything, The War of The Roses, I'll Do Anything and Bottle Rocket. During her incredible career she also had production design credits for A Star Is Born, The Bad News Bears, Young Doctors In Love, The Witches Of Eastwick and The Man With Two Brains. Her screenwriting credits included Pretty Baby starring Brooke Shields, Good Luck, and A Map Of The World.

Polly was strong willed, driven and devoted. Back in 1985 she was fascinated with the business of broadcast news and captured the reality of the already rapidly changing business in her work for that movie. This was always true in her work because she had a great eye and worked hard to impart a deep understanding of her subject and characters. She lived her life on the cutting edge of the film industry and did her part to push its boundaries.

I will remember her as a wonderful person who made a difference and left an indelible mark on her craft.