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" My philosophy as a filmmaker is to inform and entertain at the same time. And when I went away from documentaries into miniseries like 'Roots,' I did the reverse. Instead of just entertaining, I want to inform at the same time. "

David L. Wolper

Want

Philosophy

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" Somebody said something funny to me the other day. They said, 'Wolper, until two weeks ago, your tombstone was going to say, 'David Wolper, the man who produced 'Roots.' I think the tombstone now has a new inscription. It's going to be 'David Wolper, the man who produced the opening ceremony of the 1984 Olympics.' "

David L. Wolper

Think

Roots

" I don't want to make an 'Animal House.' I'm not interested in making 'Ghost Busters.' "

" I liked the clear morality of 1941, when you had no doubt about good and evil. There was a lot of idealism, people fighting for a cause. People are searching for morality today. "

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" My definition of a producer is 'the man with the dream.' "

" My roots are documentaries. "

David L. Wolper

Roots

Documentaries

" We couldn't predict what would happen with 'Roots.' You knew there were powerful moments that were going to affect people. We were making the film while the book was being completed. We were fortunate because the hardcover book was out and on the best-seller list. The heat was still on. "

" My initial goal for the 1984 opening ceremonies was a show that would be majestic, inspirational, and emotional - a 20 goosebump experience. "

" I was the first independent to walk in with a documentary. "

" Sometimes if you tell me what a story is about in just a few sentences, I can tell you if it's going to be a success. "

" I believe that religion and politics should not mix. Both should be a part of somebody's life - but not together. "

" What prevailed was that it was a family story, so it didn't matter what the color. It was also the perfect subject matter for a miniseries: A best-selling book, a generational story, a social problem - they all made 'Roots' what a miniseries should be. "

" I don't call four hours a miniseries. "

" I believe a mini-series has two audiences. The first is the media. Then I go for the television audience. "

" I can possibly say I have entertained and educated more people than anyone else in the world. "

" You have to say, 'We think it's going to work. Let's go with it.' Either you're going to kill the world, or you're going to fall on your rear end. "

" You need an actor who can maintain a character over a long period of time. If you have a weak actor, it won't be obvious in two hours, but you'll begin to see his weaknesses over four or five days. "

" My main contribution has been that I have educated and entertained people at the same time. "

" I don't fall in love with inanimate objects. I don't bond with them. I only fall in love with people. "

" Motion pictures are a director's medium. Broadway is a writer's medium. Television is a producer's medium. I picked a medium I could control. "