Chairman's Message
By Jerry Isenberg
Chairman of the Caucus
On January 16th the Caucus presented a special honorary award to Bruce
Leak, founder and CEO of Web-TV. The award recognized his groundbreaking
work in extending television into the interactive age that is exploding
around us. Last November 17th, the Caucus sponsored its initial
"Caucus Connection" breakfast for members and guests to meet and
listen to the major buyers of reality programs. A sold out house of 55
attended. For the first time, the Caucus honorees include substantial
representation from the field of reality television in Lorne Michaels, Don
Mischer, and Lou Horvitz.
Together these three signposts identify us as an organization dedicated
to being responsive to the television business of this new millennium, as
well as the new generation of creators and creative product that will flow
from the technological revolution consuming the business of the '70s and
'80s.
While there is much to be concerned about with the increased
concentration of ownership and encroachments into our creative rights,
there is much to celebrate. There has never been a greater array of
program outlets, each searching for its own image and particular program
niche. Nor has the future ever been so exhilaratingly and exasperatingly
uncertain.
Yet, as we look at this turmoil and the vast amounts of mediocrity that
flood the airwaves, there are many islands of creative genius that inspire
and thrill us. They exist from time to time at the mightiest network and
the most humble of cable services. They appear in the extraordinary number
of excellent filmed dramatic hours airing each week. They appear in the
new reality forms popping up all over the cable spectrum. They appear in
web sites and, eventually, as extensions to the traditional television
program.
It is a great time to be here, in this industry, to see the future be
created, to participate in its creation - a new industry that respects and
values the creative process as well as the creators.
