Realism vs.

Hollywood i

Assignment 1: Realism vs. Hollywood

James R Thomas

FSCN 402

Dr. Hearn

10 October 2008
 Realism vs. Hollywood ii

Abstract

Hollywood has looked for action and drama to sell tickets for some time now. The actions of

some, which might seem as simply “doing their job,” has given many others a job portraying

them on the big screen, television, and radio. TV shows such as Emergency! and Rescue Me re-

enact, in similar and rather accurate detail, what paramedics and firefighters face during a shift.

The movie Hellfighters, on the other hand, shows more a more exaggerated form of storytelling

which seems to fit with the time it was produced. Documentaries such as the 9/11 video by the

Naudet brothers, filmed a poignant piece from within the walls of one of most doomed buildings

in modern times. Their piece showed what really happens during a mass conflagaration to

audiences who may have never had such an opportunity. Radio captured the thoughts and

feelings of participants in the MGM Grand’s fire that so many thought simply could never

happen. From this and other such events recorded live or performed on stage, the public has

gained a somewhat obscure but nonetheless plausible understanding of what happens during

emergency situations and the actions of those there to help.

 Realism vs. Hollywood 1

Realism vs. Hollywood

Hollywood had portrayed critical situations with exactly what the public should expect:

enough drama to make money. However, some shows and news making organizations have

made an effort to promote the goal of realism over profit and have still turned out for the better.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze excerpts from movies, television, and radio in order to

determine if the portrayal is accurate by examining real-life scenarios and recounts recorded by

similar media.

The television series Emergency! followed the careers of two young

paramedic/firefighters in the Los Angeles area. This show, filmed in the mid-1970’s, gave a

rather accurate portrayal of the actions of paramedics at that time while adding, of course, an

interesting storyline to follow. The actors responded to a fire very infrequently, and the

portrayal of the background actors was rather bland in most of those encounters. The focus is on

the immediate action in the foreground and not so much as those actors who simply added an

element of realism by simply existing on screen. The actors that required medical attention did a

fairly good job in portraying ailing citizens, though, and the professionalism of the two young

stars of the series stood out.

The Society of Fire Prevention Engineers found that humans behave similarly in fires;

that is, they found patterns in behavior based on several categories. Emergency! seems to do

quite well in showing accurate behavior when people are alone or with others as well as fire

clues, and this follows the RRI process of receiving, recognizing, and interpreting clues. The

occupants seem to take clues from one another in most situations the paramedics encounter.

Background characters and minor characters show a reaction to fire clues even though a few

episodes contain California’s infamous grass fires. However, in this series, one may be
 Realism vs. Hollywood 2

disappointed in finding little emphasis on more realistic acting by those surrounding the main

characters.

The scenes in Emergency! differ quite a bit from those found while watching Rescue Me.

In this modern interpretation of post-9/11 firefighters in a New York City department, the

development of minor characters in the background and interactions with the main characters is

more apparent. The detailed portrayal also carries more underlying themes to the overall

storyline which does detract from the realism. One must remember that both shows are

fictional, so in this respect neither show is without that fault.

The citizens in Rescue Me display more human responses to RRI clues than the

preceding show. In addition to reactions based on the actions of peers, the actors also show

clues from building services disruption, alarm signaling systems, and alarm signaling systems.

Since the show is based in a city that has several blocks of decrepit buildings, many of the

scenes involve egress situations while the firefighters enter to rescue those who remain behind.

This gave the producers an opportunity to display the interaction between those leaving and

those entering. Also, during certain asides and subplots, viewers have the opportunity to

examine certain characteristics of occupants and how their individual characteristics play into

their response. In several episodes, the producers and writers examine what race, familiarity

with the area, alertness, physical and cognitive ability, social affiliation, location, gender,

culture, age, other factors such as sexuality, and, of course, population numbers and density have

to do with the response of those involved in an emergency.

In Hellfighters, a well-known American actor delivers a portion of the true story of a

man who was relatively unknown to many citizens while considered a hero in the oil rig

firefighting community. The movie furthered the swashbuckler status of a legend whose

innovations propelled him to international fame as a man who could seemingly put any fire out,
 Realism vs. Hollywood 3

anywhere, anytime. In fact, the very incident in which the movie is based was just the fire that

shot the real-life hero to stardom. Upon examination, this film captures both a historical

accuracy (the best that Hollywood can provide in a fictional film “based” on true events) while

adding drama to the events similar to Emergency! and Rescue Me.

The basics of human behavior in a fire found in Hellfighters is mainly comprised of the

instinct to act based on the actions of others. The fear that grips the more timid members of both

firefighting crew and civilian workers is rather contagious and spreads until, of course, only one

man can save the day. The innovations pioneered by the actual man, however, are shown in the

film and should strike the casual viewer as somewhat advanced for the time. Indeed, the

methods and control measures were exactly that. The behavior of civilians, though, seems much

more excited about the events and therefore overemphasizes the reactions displayed in

Emergency! and Rescue Me. One must remember that a movie must convey a story in a smaller

amount of time than a running television show, and that might contribute to the necessity to

exaggerate events.

The documentary and radio recordings of actual events differ somewhat, although not

greatly, from fictional storytelling on television and in movies. One could actually infer that

Hollywood producers do draw their tales from events in the real world. In any case, the events

of 9/11 in the World Trade Center buildings and the fire at the MGM Grand Hotel and the

descriptions granted to the world by the filmmakers and other eyewitnesses allow the audience a

unique chance to gain some insight into the events as they transpired.

The tapes of the 9/11 tragedy are at times haunting and a relief. On one hand, the people

are quite scared, as are the firefighters as told by their motions and eyes. A feeling of

wonderment is in their eyes as they pace the lobby while silently waiting to be called to upper

floors. Those attempting to egress the building are found walking at first, then running as the
 Realism vs. Hollywood 4

excitement of the situation amplifies. As they process the information around them, people run

across the catwalks after those in front of them. They take cues from others, cues from building

services disruption, and alarm signaling systems all into account as they obviously begin to

panic. The flow capacity of the building seems to allow for a safe exit while the firefighters

begin to determine the extent of damages in each building.

The radio commentary of the woman who worked in the MGM Grand tells a similar

story from the first-person perspective. The primary method of behavior conveyed by her story

was similar to all previously examined media: moving based on the actions of others. The lady

was very aware of her surroundings and received clues about the fire from the smell of smoke.

However, security in the building tried to prevent hysteria by telling both guests and employees

there was no emergency. This disrupted the interpretation process of those present and caused

the woman to second-guess her actions.

The interview of an MGM Grand fire volunteer provided the perspective of those

receiving the exiting patrons of the hotel. The fortunate day of skipping school provided this

young lady and her friend with an education in reality that will probably last a lifetime. She

reported seeing some leap from the building while others ran outside trying to find lost loved

ones. The most basic human behaviors described in this situation were of seeing the reactions of

others and acting up on them, as was the case when an elderly couple jumped one after another.

One reaction not found in the majority of these cases was that of panic. Although the

9/11 video shows people running, the overall feeling of the situation is that of simply haste. The

visual arts, namely the fictional movie and television shows, tended to have actors portray a

more panicked state but seldom an actual panic situation. Overall, the decision making process

seems to be rather similar between fictional media than the documentary or interviews. The
 Realism vs. Hollywood 5

study of human behavior during a fire has been followed, at least to some extent by Hollywood

in their quest to entertain.

 Realism vs. Hollywood 6

References

Cinader, R. (Producer). (1972). Emergency!. [Television series]. United States: National

Broadcasting Company.

Leary, D., Tolan, P., & Serpico, J. (Executive Producers). (2004). Rescue Me [Television

series]. Culver City, CA: Sony Pictures.

McLagen, A. (Director). (1968). Hellfighters [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount

Pictures.

National Public Radio. (n.d.a). “Eyewitness accounts of the MGM Grand Fire.” KNPR: Las

Vegas. Retrieved 6 October 2008 from

http://coursedev.umuc.edu/Syllabi/In_Production/0806/FSCN402/media/Track01_small.

m3u.

National Public Radio. (n.d.b). “Eyewitness accounts of the MGM Grand Fire.” KNPR: Las

Vegas. Retrieved 6 October 2008 from

http://coursedev.umuc.edu/Syllabi/In_Production/0806/FSCN402/media/Track02_small.

m3u.

Preti, S. (September 2004). A rare video footage from inside the World Trade Center in NY on

9/11. Bloomington, IN: Indiana Daily. Retrieved 6 October 2008 from

http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/09-22-04.asp.