http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/cable-channel-to-televise-bin-laden-film-before-election/
A feature film about Osama Bin Laden's killing is to be aired November 4th by the National Geographic Channel. It is titled "Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden." Coincidentally, the film is going to be aired two days before election day. It will also start streaming on Netflix the day afterwards, November 5th. Questions arose about whether or not the film might affect the election. After all, the killing of Osama Bin Laden might as well be President Obama's greatest achievement as president. According to the National Geographic channel's president, Howard T. Owens, "Other than being commercially opportunistic, [they] weren't considering the election."
Osama Bin Laden's name immediately caught my eye, causing me to click on the article. I could not believe that the killing occurred more than a year ago. It feels as though it had only just happened a few months ago. I remember being in 9th grade and my history teacher told the class that one day, that important event in history will be in our history books. I did not doubt him one bit. Curiosity could not escape my peers and me. Because the raid was kept so top secret, no one but those involved know what really happened. If opportunity allows, I would definitely make time to watch the film.
The article greatly impacts me as a student. Like I mentioned earlier, Osama Bin Laden's killing will someday make it into the history books of many students. It has been one of our nation's most important goals: to get rid of an oppressive and dangerous dictator. As a future filmmaker, this gives me the idea that even the most confidential information can be attained. The filmmakers of the feature film were allowed the chance to work with a "recently retired Navy Seal, a top CIA operative and once of the most renowned Bin Laden historians." I definitely see myself doing documentaries of all sorts in the future. After all, without the media, most people would not be informed about what really goes on in the government. If I was ever given the chance to televise such an important event in history, I would absolutely jump at the chance. As a consumer, I am already interested in watching the feature film. Curiosity about what really occurred that day cannot escape anybody. Even now, no one really knows. It is about time we are clued in to the hard decisions and actions that had to be made.
Because of this article, I began to wonder whether the film would be as accurate as it is being advertised. We all know that the media tends to over-exaggerate a lot of things. I have very high expectations for the film. I do not want to be fed with lies about what really happened. The event is so important that even the simplest detail should not be left out. I also began to wonder about other important events in our history. Will films be made about them too? According to the article, a feature film about the killing of Abraham Lincoln is set to be televised as well. I would not mind more of these types of films. It's the best way to learn our country's history.
