MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO'S 12TH ANNUAL TELEVISION FESTIVAL IN LOS ANGELES, THE: A SALUTE TO WILLIAM SACKHEIM {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Museum of Television & Radio's 12th Annual Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held at the Directors Guild of America Theatre Complex, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television, and is dedicated to television's creative community. This evening celebrates the achievements of producer William Sackheim. Moderated by Robert M. Batscha, president of The Museum of Television & Radio, this seminar boasts a panel consisting of the honoree and several of his associates and collaborators. The panel includes John Badham, Steven Bochco, James Frawley, Charles Haid, Arthur Hiller, Joel Oliansky, and Dan Pyne.
Prior to any discussion, a series of clips sampling Sackeim's television productions are shown. The clips include: "Eddie" (1958), "Empire: The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1962), "Gidget: Dear Diary -- Et Al" (1965), "Night Gallery" (Pilot, 1969), "A Clear and Present Danger" (1970), "The Neon Ceiling" (1971), "The Law" (1974), "The Bold Ones: The Senator: To Taste Death But Once" (1970), "Delvecchio: The High Price of Justice" (1976), "Somebody Has To Shoot the Picture" (1990), "The Antagonists" (Premiere, 1991), and "Harrison, Cry of the City" (1995). Highlights of the discussion include the following: Hiller recalls the role Sackheim played in Hiller's own transition from directing live television to directing film; Bochco shares the advice the producer gave him when Bochco found himself mired in unsatisfying work at Universal; Haid remembers his first audition for Sackheim; Badham reveals the fact that the producer allowed him to direct although he was untested in that field; Sackheim refutes the popular notion that he "discovered" popular filmmaker Steven Spielberg when he hired Spielberg to direct one of the three segments of the "Night Gallery" pilot; Oliansky recalls a particular occasion when the producer displayed an uncanny knack for casting; Pyne reminisces about the defining moment in his relationship with Sackheim; Hiller describes the abysmal weather conditions encountered while filming "Empire" in New Mexico; and Frawley describes the close association a director has with Sackheim while filming one of his projects. The salute concludes with the audience asking about the Sackheim/Hiller big-screen comedy collaboration, "The In-Laws," and the producer lauding the talents of his fellow panelists.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: March 16, 1995 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:37:45
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:39424
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert M. Batscha … Moderator
- William Sackheim … Guest
- John Badham … Panelist
- Steven Bochco … Panelist
- James Frawley … Panelist
- Charles Haid … Panelist
- Arthur Hiller … Panelist
- Joel Oliansky … Panelist
- Dan Pyne … Panelist
- Steven Spielberg