Smoke,

    Isn't the point of fiction to make the unbelievable believable? That is
what I was always told. The point of fiction is to take events that could
never really happen in the real world and make them some how seem plausable.
While I am not as good of a debater as Ron is, the ball is being dropped a
bit too often in this case. Make me a believer, not more of a skeptic.

   Josh Brinker


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Pfeiffer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: popular images of archaeologists


> Josh, et al:  Regarding the accuracy of firearms use in movies (as an
> example of the accuracy of ANYTHING in movies or print fiction).  one of
> the most famous was Ranbdolh Scott playing Sergant York.  They had him use
> a '03 Springfield rife instead of the actual Model 1917 (U.S. Enfield)
that
> he and most others actually used.  The Model 1917 rifle had been declared
> "obsolete" by the time the movie was made but the '03 Springfield was
still
> in production.  They had the actor use a German Luger because their prop
> .45 Govt. pistol would not recycle with blanks but the Luger would.  The
> rec Guns Faq used to have a huge section on firearms historical
> inaccuracies and other firearms screw ups in films.
>
> I have a brother who is about to retire from the Screen Actors guild.  As
> he explained it to me, "the Story is everything".    To any Hollywood
> producer or director, historical periods are just "themes" which can be
> approximated.  The same has always been true of print fiction.  No matter
> the subject matter or time period - fiction will always be fiction.
>
> The field of archaeology is not the only one that spills a huge amount of
> time and ink over this.  Results are always the same.  Everyone is dealing
> with the Hollywood mentality that gives us "surfer caveboy" while they
> laugh all the way to the bank.
>
> Smoke
>
>
> Smoke (Michael A.) Pfeiffer, RPA
> Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
> 605 West Main Street
> Russellville, Arkansas 72801
> (479) 968-2354  Ext. 233
> e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
>
> It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
>