By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, March 17 at 9:30 AM
PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE
University City's Commission for Access and Local Original Programming (CALOP), which last year commissioned a documentary on the City's first 100 years, recently screened the film for locals at a gala event. But the process that got the film to that point may raise some eyebrows.
The commission, which includes Mayoral candidate (and current 2nd Ward Alderman) Shelley Welsch, required the producers of the documentary to cover or remove a clip of current Mayor Joseph Adams at the end of the film, effectively denying the Mayor the last word on this era in the city's history.
One of the film's producers, Margie Newman, declined to comment on the edit, other than to say that the filmmakers were required to make the edit at CALOP's request due to the terms of their contract. Her co-producer, Lynn Josse, was out of the country and unavailable for comment.
But PUB DEF did obtain a copy of an email correspondence between officials of CALOP and the filmmakers in which CALOP chairman Cameron Sanders writes: "We'll be within a month of an election and it just seems so inappropriate to have him so overtly featured under such circumstances. You indicated you want this film to have a shelf life. How can it, if it so clealry (sic) features a mayor that is quite likely to be out of office in 32 days of the premier...and 5 months before it is offered to the public?"
The filmmakers later received a letter from the commission confirming that CALOP was requesting the change.
Welsch, who is seeking to replace Adams as mayor, denied requesting that Adams' screen time be edited. "That would be unethical," she told PUB DEF. "I don't do unethical things."
Welsch said that the commission did not discuss such a request at any meeting she attended. But records show that Welsch was copied on the email message which ordered the filmmakers to make the changes. She was also copied on another email from Sanders to Dennis Riggs, director of HEC-TV, in which Sanders refered to the current political climate in U-City.
"I would love to see Joe's final comment covered," Sanders wrote. "This is an election year and it will be shown to 400 folks less than a month prior to the vote."
In the same email, Sanders said his position was not influenced by Welsch. "It is just from my sense of fair play. I'd say the same thing (but with a little less personal enthusiasm) if the roles were reversed," he said.
UPDATE:
Sanders said the decision was his alone to request that Adams' comments be edited. "It wasn't a celebration of the Mayor. It was a celebration of the City," he told PUB DEF. He said politics was not a factor in the decision and that other commissioners were informed "after the fact."
"Shelly had no idea," said Sanders. "She found out the same way, the same time as other members." But his statements run counter to what he wrote back in February. Politics clearly seemed to be on Sanders' mind in emails he wrote to Riggs and Welsch.
In the email obtained by PUB DEF, which contained a longer thread of earlier emails between the three, Sanders replied to a request by Welsch to make another unrelated edit to video. It is in that reply on February 11 (which seems to have been sent only to Riggs and Welch), that Sanders reminds the two that "this is an election year" and that many people will see the video close to Election Day.
26 Comments:
Interesting. Knowing Shelley's commitment to social justice, I doubt that she had a hand in making the decision.
1:45 PM, March 17, 2006
The evidence suggests she at least knew about it -- despite her claims today to be ignorant of the whole thing.
4:47 PM, March 17, 2006
This is clear evidence of what many in University City have known over the past year about Shelley's campaign. She is not even attending campaign meetings yet sending her cronies as dogs nipping at his heels along with other various underhanded campaign tactics like paying Lizz Brown to do her thing and throw racial slurs at a committed African American elected official. Shame on Ms. Woods, Lumpe, et. al!!!
9:40 AM, March 18, 2006
"CALOP chairman Cameron Sanders writes: '. . . [i]t just seems so inappropriate to [feature] a mayor that is quite likely to be out of office in [sic] 32 days of the premier'"
Sounds like campaign hype to me.
I've written before how this campaign threatens to reopen the festering rivalry between African Americans and white feminists. If Welsch prevails and unseats Adams, African Americans ought to seek out some "pay back" opportunities to demonstrate the importance of their voting bloc. The state auditor contest involving the wealthy woman who muscled Maida Coleman out of the contest would be one choice.
10:45 AM, March 18, 2006
I must disagree with Michael, whose comments are usually very well reasoned.
The Democratic faction of liberal white women to which I have alluded puts its own agenda first. They didn't let their ostensible commitment of social justice interfere with their 2001 redistricting efforts, in which they succeeded in getting enough staunchly Democratic African American precincts added to the 24th senate district to elect one of their own, instead of being utilized to create two (instead of just one) African American districts in St Louis County. Result: The senate now includes Joan Bray and just one African American from St Louis County.
That ostensible commitment to social justice also plays second fiddle to personal amibition in the U City mayoral contest.
10:56 AM, March 18, 2006
Oracle, as usual, you are a sage voice of reason and correct in your analysis here. Please help use your political influence to ensure good leaders stay in their positions to help better our communities and region.
8:05 PM, March 19, 2006
Cameron,
Sounds like CYA BS to me. Instead of campaigning for herself, Shelley just sends out her little helpers like you, Francine, Stefany, Sheila, Eric (who paid Lizz Brown), et. al. to stir up the muck, because that is all Shelley has to run on. The email is clearly self explanatory. Good night now.
--Just a concerned U City resident
11:13 AM, March 21, 2006
"stupid is as stupid does"- Sanders looks pretty stupid here.
12:36 PM, March 21, 2006
Mr. Sanders,
Your ego and superiority complex are showing. Clearly state your arguments and give supportive data for your reasoning. Leave the insults aside. It tarnishes your comments.
12:59 PM, March 21, 2006
Mr. Sanders, I will choose to ignore your personal insults for now and instead focus on the facts.
You told me that politics was not at all a factor in your decision to edit Mayor Adams' comments. But in an email dated Feb. 11, you wrote, "This is an election year and it will be shown to 400 folks less than a month prior to the vote."
Later the same day, you wrote, "it so clealry features a mayor that is quite likely to be out of office in 32 days of the premier...and 5 months before it is offered to the public? I just think covering his image would make it a much better film..."
I think most would read that as political.
You say that the email was inadvertently sent, only as an FYI, to a non-existent city hall email address.
But you did not deny sending the emails to Welsch when we spoke last week. Besides, it is clear she was included in the discussion since the earliest email in the thread actually comes from Ms. Welsch.
In that email, she wrote:
Cameron,
I just wanted to remind you that I hope you and Dennis, or whomever is talking with Margie, will share our concerns about the comment Sue Rehkopf made about Lewis being an impractical businessman (or whatever the exact words are). I think it was a jarring comment, coming as it did after 15 minutes of talking about how he built up U City. His later problems with the Postal Service, or some of his questionable practices, did not make him incompetent in his time here.
My thoughts. I think it was a throw-away line to Sue and just stuck out.
I'm glad you are talking with her about changing the titling.
Ciao.
Shelley
To me, that sounds like the film was not completed yet, that edits were still to be made.
Yes, one email you did send to ward2@ucitymo.org. You mistakenly sent the same email to the wrong address for Mr. Riggs. You soon noticed the mistake and wrote:
Well, once having typed in your email wrong my computer helpfully (?) suggests the wrong email address...
Here you go:
And then you attached the email that they missed.
When we talked, you said that Ms. Welsch was not informed about this edit ahead of time. That is obviously incorrect.
When we talked, you said the emails came "after the fact." That is also wrong. These emails were sent before you requested the filmmakers edit the documentary.
You say you "requested" the film be edited. The filmmakers told me they were "required" to make the edits. In one of the emails, you and Mr. Riggs talk about the fact that "this film is a 'work made fir (sic) Hire' over your signature and final payment cannot be made until you approve and accept the project." It sounds to me that the filmmakers would have risked their payment if they declined your "request."
And now you say you requested the edit for the mayor's benefit, that you were "keeping our Mayor from looking stupid."
That is also the stand you took in our phone interview, after I told you about the emails I obtained. You said the filmmakers displayed "bad journalism" by ending the film with the Mayor's quote.
And now you are claiming that I displayed "bad journalism" for... what? Investigating a tip, asking the participants about their roles, and reporting when their claims don't match the evidence?
I think you would best serve yourself by refraining from further digging the already large hole you are now standing in.
8:05 PM, March 21, 2006
"It is just from my sense of fair play. I'd say the same thing (but with a little less personal enthusiasm) if the roles were reversed," he said.
Yeah, sounds like you had the Mayor's best interest at heart. If you really thought he would "look stupid," wouldn't a Welsch supporter like yourself be more enthusiastic about keeping it in? The kind of accusation-throwing and backpeddaling you're engaging in now is a sign of over-defensiveness reserved for a guilty conscience. Your comment about the film being a "celebration of the city" rather than a "celebration of the mayor" also gives one the impression that you wanted to omit the quote for the good of your favorite candidate.
This type of forced revision (followed by your questionable comments) by someone so clearly unbiased in the matter makes me feel distrustful of you and your associates. I will relish the chance to vote for Mayor Joe on April 4!
6:21 AM, March 22, 2006
Cammie,
As Shakespeare says, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."--Hamlet (III, ii, 239). Anyhoo, seems your in a bit of a pickle. You probably should never consider a career as a blogger. Good show. After sharing this little scenario with many of my U City neighbors and friends who were going to vote for Shelley, they all are resoundingly backing Mayor Adams now. We need good strong steady conintuing leadership in U City not petty high schoolishness. Shame. Shame. Shame.
--Concerned U City Resident
8:24 AM, March 22, 2006
Joe Adams is still a pretty lousy mayor, no matter what Mr. Sanders does or says.
8:35 AM, March 22, 2006
Sounds like sour grapes to me.....
8:44 AM, March 22, 2006
Cameron Sanders said:
"Antonio kept from you his knowledge that the sound bite in question was both out of context and unflattering. "
---
I really wanted to stay out of this, but Mr. Sanders' repeated assertions that the soundbite that was deleted was out of context requires a response from someone who knows the facts.
I am one of the filmmakers. I was one recipient of the emails in question and can verify they have have been quoted correctly.
The soundbite was in fact a direct continuation of the soundbite that precedes it in the film; that quote remains in the film, but Mr. Adams' image is covered by other b-roll (images of City Hall, etc.). I don't know why Mr. Sanders is saying that it was taped in response to another question. The request to cover or delete it was never presented to us as an issue of the bite being out of context. The issue, as it was explained to me, was that he appeared on camera as the final image in the film.
It could not have been more in context; it was simply punctuation to the thought that led up to it. And the opinion that it is unflattering is just that: an opinion. We would not have included it in the film if we thought it was unflattering. I thought it was charming. The actual words were: "And that's University City."
The filmmakers never should have been put in the position of having to wade into this pond. I felt uncomfortable making the edit, given the politics involved, but because the "work for hire" card had been thrown down, didn't believe we had any choice.
Margie Newman
Co-Producer
12:44 PM, March 22, 2006
Hey Marge, who you supportin' for U City mayor?
--Concerned U City residents who have changed their vote from Shelley to Joe
1:05 PM, March 22, 2006
Cameron, didn't Antonio tell you to stop talking yesterday??
You should've listened.
3:21 PM, March 22, 2006
Cameron, your current defensive posturing and accusatory ramblings seem to directly contradict your earlier statements and emails. Now, which should the public believe – what you wrote in the emails you thought were private, or these blog entries in which you awkwardly struggle to weasel your way out of any responsibility for your previous actions? I think most of us have made up our minds about that one. And, yes, it was clearly political.
Which leads to another question – if CALOP forced the filmmakers to make the edit and CALOP is a government entity, does that add up to prior restraint? I smell censorship…
On another note:
"That would be unethical," [Shelley Welsch] told PUB DEF. "I don't do unethical things."
I threw up in my mouth a little bit when I first read that one. It’s quite possibly the most obnoxious statement I’ve heard come from a public official outside of Washington.
4:41 PM, March 22, 2006
I don't live in U-City and don't really know either of the candidates. But this Sanders guy sounds like a complete tool.
7:00 PM, March 23, 2006
Cameron Sanders said he made the decision to edit the film "on his own" and that other Commissioners were informed "after the fact." Commissions are an arm of government and are required to comply with the state's sunshine laws. It would appear Cameron Sanders violated these laws by making a decision on his own that was not his to make and failed to include the other Commissioners in the decisionmaking.
9:11 PM, March 23, 2006
I know Cameron Sanders, and he is an advocate for artisits in this town. This is a blog that is making a lot of something out of nothing. I did't know Joe's Re-election was teetering on whether or not his soundbyte was in a local documentry. ~W. Clifton
2:02 PM, March 24, 2006
Wow, is this the same W. Clifton, aka Billy, who is trying to be the next Dennis Thatcher and whose firm is taking forever to renovate City Hall? Or is this an imposter who is trying to prop up an award winning director? Things that make you go hmmm.
3:25 PM, March 24, 2006
Cammie,
Our lack of credibility? Have you been reading your novellas and self glossing and CYAing. Brother, we responsible U City residents are seeing from your blathering that its your credibility and Shelley's credibility that is in the tank. We can't wait to see your next film project and how many awards you are going to win.
9:31 AM, March 25, 2006
This discussion is a diversion from the real issues! What bullshit from both sides. Is the election really so devoid of real issues that people have time for this trivia?
10:37 AM, March 26, 2006
Mayor Adams' campaign has been nothing but about real issues: continuing the amazing revitalization of the loop; continue responsible residential development; continue increasing property value; ensuring that U City's progressive reputation as the most diverse municipality in the region continues and ensures all voices are heard.
Shelley's campaign: no message, taking credit for things she claims she did by herself (we notice she isn't saying I anymore); violating cardinal rules in political campaigning by not showing up at meetings, yet having others not only speak for her, but attack her opponent; and the worst of all having her campaign pay a talk show host to cast racial slurs against an honest elected official.
This is not BS, BS is when you have nothing to run on except eliciting a negative campaign. Real leadership and being the Captain of your ship means taking responsibility for the actions of those working for you.
There Cammie, that is a real novella.
--Concerned U City residents in force for Joe
9:33 PM, March 26, 2006
Cameron -
Idiot, am I? That would imply that I engage in idiocy. And I don't do idiotic things. Clearly this must be a character trait the two of us do not share.
To Mr. Clifton -
Someone who is truly concerned with the arts instead of his own petty agenda would not engage in the politically-motivated censorship of someone else's material. This isn't about Mayor Adams' campaign. It is, however, about underhanded public officials trying to influence the outcome of April 4th's election using, in Ms. Welsch's own terminology, "unethical" tactics.
I guess when you've got friends to commit these acts on your behalf, you don't need to do them yourself...
6:29 AM, March 28, 2006
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