Turkish cinema world backs reform drive

Erdoğan hosted leading producers, directors, actors and actresses for breakfast at his working office in Dolmabahçe Palace, where he asked attendees to carry the core message of the democratic initiative, launched to expand citizens' freedoms and improve respect for human rights and differences as well as upgrade the country's democratic standards. His call was welcomed by all who attended the Saturday meeting, a channel of dialogue rarely employed by heads of government in the past. Having shaken hands with each of the 62 invitees before his address, Erdoğan explained the government's project to them using the professional language of the cinema industry. “We are now, as the state, taking care of Turkey's problems using a wide shot-close layout.

We want the grass to not be crushed while the elephants scuffle,” he said, adding that the government has the most sincere intention of solving the country’s deep-seated problems, which have been ignored for far too long. “The problems that appeared in your frames for many years have now entered ours as well,” he noted. Interior Minister Beşir Atalay, Education Minister Nimet Çubukçu, Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Çelik were also present at the meeting.

Erdoğan stressed that the democratic initiative would be incomplete without the artists’ support. “Deep down in my heart I believe that you will shoulder the process and lend your support, contribute and make an effort to solving Turkey’s painful problems,” he said. Famous producers, actors and actresses, including Yılmaz Erdoğan, Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, Necati Şaşmaz, Cem Yılmaz, Ata Demirer, Demet Akbağ, Cem Özer, Meltem Cumbul, Hülya Avşar, Osman Sınav and Semih Kaplanoğlu, were all in attendance.

Comedian Cem Yılmaz (top L), screenwriter Gülse Birsel (C) actress Demet Akbağ and actor Şener Şen (R) were among the participants in the meeting with PM Erdoğan.

Erdoğan also argued that the AK Party government had embarked on this journey with the inspiration it received from messages given by artists. “We set off on the road after having seen the issues raised by artists, starting from their products, and taking inspiration and strength from them. Thus, your words, suggestions and criticism bear a vital significance for us. What we are doing today is simply bringing all those problems you talked about in your movies, soap operas, plays and shows onto our agenda. It is an effort to produce concrete solutions to them. Many unmentioned, non-discussed, invisible, unknown and ignored groups and their problems have been made known thanks to you. You first noticed all those pains, sorrows, needs and then you made them public,” he said in appreciation of the role played by them thus far.

Highlighting the influence movies have on raising awareness, Erdoğan asked producers to use that power for the good of the country and its people. “Sometimes a scene, a shot or even a line can do more than a thousand pages when it comes to communicating with the people,” he said, drawing attention to influential American movies such as “Malcolm X” and “Mississippi Burning,” both of which immensely affected public perceptions about sensitive issues. “Believe me, if the authorities of this country had lent an ear to Yılmaz Güney’s films, Turkey would have been in a much different place now,” he said. Güney produced several sensational movies in the ‘70s and ‘80s in which he addressed issues considered taboo in Turkey at the time.

The invitees expressed their satisfaction to Today’s Zaman. Actor Ediz Hun said they had a very positive discussion with Erdoğan. “Everyone had the opportunity to talk. No opposing view was raised. I personally support the democratic initiative. Real humanity is embracing each other in the sense of brotherhood,” he stated. His colleague Bulut Aras joined him in lauding Erdoğan’s openness to listen to what they had to say over the initiative. “To be honest, I was not expecting that much from the prime minister. He made us really happy. I believe Turkey will succeed in this democratic initiative because I saw that Mr. Erdoğan was very committed to it,” he said.

Actress Lale Mansur said she believes the democratic initiative is a project that will ensure further democratization -- a move she supports. Her colleague, İclal Aydın, the author of several books, said she came to the meeting to channel all her efforts for a better Turkey. A few of the invitees also stressed that they had learned Turkish later on at school because they only spoke Kurdish with their parents in their early childhood.

Erdoğan met with radio programmers at the AK Party’s İstanbul office following the breakfast. Ninety-seven well-known hosts, including Cem Ceminay, Ceyhun Yılmaz, Yavuz Seçkin, Funda Özkalyoncu, Ali Karacan, Mehmet Akbay and Cem Akgün, accepted the prime minister’s invitation and attended the meeting.

Seçkin said he has been working in the industry for 15 years and that Erdoğan was the first prime minister to ask about their views on a matter troubling the country. He called for all stakeholders to do their best to ensure the democratic initiative succeeds. Yılmaz and Ceminay commended Erdoğan’s move to meet with them, too. “It made us very happy that radio programmers’ views were also taken. We pledged to do all we can,” Yılmaz said. Ceminay reiterated that the meeting took place in a very positive atmosphere.