RDF holds hands up in Queen row
RDF Media, the production company that made the TV series A Year With The Queen for the BBC has accepted blame for the doctored footage in which the Queen was falsely accused of storming out of a sitting with photographer Annie Leibovitz. (See story here and here.)
RDF’s chief executive David Frank said the company was “guilty of a serious error of judgment”. In an email to BBC director-general Mark Thompson, he offered an unreserved apology to the Queen and to the BBC, which then released a copy of the email exchange.
Frank condemned the act of “manipulating the chronology of any footage” and the behaviour of RDF employees in this case. The Royal row had been “an extremely painful lesson for those involved”, he added.
“Painful” is not enough, though.
It’s a centuries-old tradition that heads must roll when the Monarch is traduced.
Let’s wait fot the Queen’s revenge
She will want to cut everything when she will be given the first copy of the documentary
By Lilyfromfrance on July 17th, 2007 at 8:49 am
How noble of the RDF brass to fall on their swords to save Fincham’s job. Let’s hope it doesn’t work. Fincham needs to resign at once or be fired.
By Gigi on July 17th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
We’ll know tomorrow what the BBC Trust’s response is. There have been so many shortfalls lately, surely they must set an example in this case?
By John on July 17th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
From your mouth to God’s ears, John. I think it is very bad form that the BBC has waited this long to take action. Twenty-four hours is an eternity in medialand and look how long they have let this gaffe languish. I am sure they were hoping that if they let the crisis age a bit, the outcry would diminish.
By Gigi on July 17th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Gigi, you’re too indulgent!
This is not a gaffe to me. Nor an “error of judgment”. They lied, explicitly, just for causing trouble to the Queen. I thought it was just to publicize the documentary but far form it. There too much gutter press in Britain, and now the old, respectful (well, sometimes) BBC?
By Lilyfromfrance on July 17th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
You are right about the word choice, Lily. I lingered over that word and very nearly chose ‘crisis’ or ‘disaster’ and I almost selected ‘lie’! I decided on ‘gaffe’ because it is less accusatory and also less inflamatory. Poor John may have to call the authorities as it is and we don’t want to push him into the mire.
Fortunately, if the BBC has read any of my posts on Royal Anecdotes they can be in no doubt about my feelings regarding their outrageous behavior.
By Gigi on July 17th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Oh yeh, I’ve forgotten that even them read Royal Anecdotes. You’re right Gigi. Poor John, who is maybe trembling every morning checking his emails, because of the fear to be accused of something because of us. I must reformulate my comment then? Okay:
BBC? Not good!
Is it better now?
By Lilyfromfrance on July 18th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Lily, I’ve already called for Fincham’s sacking and also Mark Thomson’s, the Director General. I think they are the ones on the back foot in all this.
By John on July 18th, 2007 at 10:23 am
In my part of the world it is 10AM on Wednesday and in Britain it is 5PM. Did the BBC take action and if so, what? John, is there any news?
By Gigi on July 18th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Gigi, I’ve not heard anything yet. It’s probably being conducted over a long lunch.
The head honchos will then have to get the spin doctors to formulate a statement. Probably this evening, I would imagine.
By John on July 18th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
My goodness, my last post made me sound quite bloodthirsty, like Madame Defarge sitting with her knitting by the guillotine! I think I need a cup of tea.
By Gigi on July 18th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Gigi, I’ve just posted about the early stuff coming out of the BBC meeting.
By John on July 18th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Oh come on, the queen doesn’t deserve special treatment!
The real relevance of this story is how it affects all filmmakers everywhere. There has always been an element of fiction in docs, but people are pushing the boundaries further and further, sometimes to great creative effect.
The question isn’t so much where you draw the line, it’s how much you tell the viewer what has gone on behind the scenes in the cutting room.
See my post for more.
By KSB on July 21st, 2007 at 9:21 pm
KSB, good article. The solution to that conundrum is certainly what all the serious broadcasters are looking for.
But the Beeb shouldn’t be competing at this level. It has a new 10-year Charter and £3bn a year in public benefits. In my view it can afford to maintain its old standards (imperfect though they may have been). To claim they are, while being outed in this way, is the worst of all worlds.
By John on July 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 am