Dave Lightbody Wrote:
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> Hi Robert,
>
> I broadly agree with your comments and it seems
> most serious Egyptologists can clearly see how
> dumbed down this entertainment/documentary was.
>
> There is one issue though in that this was a BBC
> production, and the BBC is a public funded
> company. As I wrote to Rick
>
> "Perhaps you don't understand as the US has no
> comparably organisation, but the BBC is a public
> body run with UK taxpayers money. It's nothing to
> do with nationalism, its about using UK money to
> support UK research because UK people are paying
> for it. At the moment the AHRC research budgets
> have been decimated at universities so it seems
> unfair that huge budgets and CGI should be used to
> promote a foreign project."
>
> Last week I submitted a Freedom of Information act
> (FOI) 2000 request to the BBC to know how much it
> cost to commission and produce this
> 'documentary'.
>
> Today they have replied to me with a long winded
> jargon loaded PDF letter explaining why they are
> refusing to release this information, including
> that the producers need a 'creative space' that is
> not infringed upon by people trying to influence
> editorial policy....
>
> Well, that is exactly what I will try to do, and
> that's exactly why I made the request.
>
> Its time the people involved got more proactive
> with the public information bodies, and make sure
> that they are sticking to facts and verified
> information as far as is possible.
>
> The BBC has a long hard earned reputation for
> quality documentaries, and I don't see why
> Egyptology should not be held to the same
> standards.
>

Dave-You're dealing with an impenetrable beuracracy. they hold all the cards and they'll tell you what they want you to know when they want you to know it. Now returning to my never ending song. That's why Egyptologists need to form their own film production company. There's enough information out there in private collections, museums, and just the personal knowledge to make first class ratings blockbusters. If you want to be proactive that's the way to do it.