Conservative Documentaries and Our Government Media: Interview with Michael and Thomas Pack
Sep 30, 2023
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Victor Davis Hanson interviews Michael and Thomas Pack about their efforts to reform government media and promote conservative documentaries. They discuss the dominance of left-wing filmmakers, intolerance in academia and media, the career downfall of Scott Atlas, fighting back against attacks, protests in Seattle and their plans to create a balanced narrative film about protesters while teaching real journalism.
The lack of right-of-center content in the documentary film industry calls for the need to create impactful conservative documentaries and train young filmmakers to counter the dominance of left-leaning content.
Michael Pack highlights the progressive ecosystem in the documentary film industry, from film school to funding sources to distribution channels, which nurtures and encourages progressive talent, making it important for conservatives to enter the space and tell compelling stories to reach a broader audience.
Deep dives
The Business of Documentary Films and the Need for Right-of-Center Content
Michael Pack, former director of the US agency for global media, discusses the importance of documentary films as a means of reaching people and the lack of right-of-center content in the industry. He shares how he has dedicated himself to creating impactful documentaries and introduces Pleiadian Pictures, a new company focused on producing more documentaries. Additionally, his son Thomas Pack runs an incubator program to train and support young documentary filmmakers, aiming to address the dearth of conservative, libertarian content in film and television.
Dominance of Left in the Documentary Film Industry
Michael Pack explains why he believes the documentary film industry is dominated by people on the left and how it is used as a medium for indoctrination. He highlights the progressive ecosystem that has been established over the years, starting from film school, to funding sources, to distribution channels, all of which encourage and nurture progressive talent. Pack emphasizes the need for conservatives to enter the space, make films, and tell compelling stories to reach a broader audience.
Challenges Faced as the Former Director of the US Agency for Global Media
Michael Pack reflects on his experience as the former director of the US Agency for Global Media during the Trump administration. He discusses the opposition he faced and the attempts to harass and silence him, including legal threats and personal attacks. Pack emphasizes the importance of standing up and fighting back, despite the challenges and pushback faced when attempting to bring balance and fulfill the legal requirements of the agency.
Establishing Palladian Pictures and Incubator for Young Filmmakers
Michael and Thomas Pack discuss their new venture, Palladian Pictures, focused on producing more documentaries and supporting conservative, right-of-center filmmakers. They highlight the need for more talented conservative filmmakers and the goal of training the next generation through their incubator program. They aim to teach storytelling techniques and foster a network of filmmakers who can create content that appeals to a broader audience, countering the dominance of left-leaning content.