How ‘Frontline’ filmmakers scrambled to make ‘The Choice’ about Harris vs. Trump

As a seasoned journalist with years of experience under my belt, I have witnessed many political campaigns unfold before my very eyes. However, none have been as captivating and intriguing as the journey of Kamala Harris. Her life story is not just a collection of milestones and achievements; it’s a tapestry woven with resilience, determination, and an unwavering spirit that has carried her through thick and thin.

Every fourth presidential election year since 1988, the team responsible for the PBS series “Frontline” produces a movie titled “The Choice.” This film delves into the political backgrounds of the contenders vying for the presidency.

In July of the current year, filmmakers Michael Kirk and Mike Wiser put together an initial version of a four-hour long documentary featuring Presidents Biden and Trump, both belonging to the same generation. After the heated 2020 election, they were preparing for another confrontation that was anticipated.

Kirk described the project as vast and impressive, yet it had an extraordinary tale associated with it,” said Kirk, making a comparison to the epic film “Heaven’s Gate” by Michael Cimino.

Subsequently, Biden declared his withdrawal from the campaign on July 21. This sudden event led to Vice President Kamala Harris being seen as the likely nominee, an unprecedented shift that drastically altered the election landscape. Consequently, filmmakers had to swiftly adapt and produced “The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump“, a two-hour documentary set to air on PBS starting Tuesday.

Fortunately, when Biden stepped down from the race, production on a documentary focusing on potential vice presidential candidates had already begun. This concept was suggested by “Frontline” executive producer Raney Aronson-Rath due to the likelihood that the presidential nominees would be of advanced age.

Despite the limited resources available, specifically fewer documentaries and biographies about Vice President Harris compared to her competitor, who has been widely publicized for years, completing the Harris segment of “The Choice 2024” proved quite a rush. As Kirk, the film’s director and co-writer along with Wiser, put it, “We dove headfirst into it.” Given the usual timeframe of four to five months, they managed to finish the project in just about nine weeks instead.

The documentary traces her childhood in the East Bay, where Harris’ single mother leaned on the Black community there to raise her daughters; her formative years at Howard University, where she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority; and her political career, which began in San Francisco as a district attorney fighting to reshape the system from within. It also zeroes in on some of the controversial episodes that have shaped Harris — including her relationship with politician Willie Brown and the backlash she faced when, as San Francisco district attorney, she chose not to pursue the death penalty against the man who killed police officer Isaac Espinoza in 2004.

Harris joining the race necessitated reediting the documentary segment about Trump, as it suggests a connection between the rough strategies he picked up from his father, Fred Trump, and his mentor, Roy Cohn, and the Capitol riot that occurred on January 6, 2021.

Kirk noted that the identical Trump moments take on a whole new perspective when contrasted with those featuring Kamala Harris,” or more informally, “When put side by side, Trump scenes look completely different compared to those of Kamala Harris according to Kirk.

Kirk and Wiser had a discussion with The Times over Zoom regarding their approach to covering the extraordinary election. For the sake of brevity and understanding, this chat was shortened and simplified.

How did you reorganize this film once you knew Biden was dropping out?

Kirk: So far, we’ve produced six documentaries titled “The Choice.” From the start, we picked up a term called “life method.” This concept helped us connect events from their lives that shape how they make decisions. Essentially, we asked, “What is their unique approach to life?” In Trump’s case, it was about never backing down and doing whatever it takes to win. This mindset was instilled in him by Roy Cohn. We always keep this thought in mind when creating “The Choice”: A president can only bring the insights from their own experiences into office. This idea guides our approach in making these documentaries. If we have quality interviews with people who truly understand the subjects – friends, family, biographers – it’s amazing how quickly a comprehensive story can be pieced together, even though Harris didn’t seem to reveal her true self easily at first.

How much of the Trump material changed because of Harris?

A significant amount of adjustments were necessary. We needed to reduce Trump-related content by approximately 50%. The narrative “The Choice” revolves around the two characters; what are the contrasting tales in their lives that can be effectively compared? Given their age gap, it presents a unique and distinct dynamic.

Kirk: In our 2000 production featuring George W. Bush and Al Gore, they were contemporaries, making it easy to compare them across a timeline. However, in this instance, there’s a significant age gap of 20 years between the two candidates. He is wealthy while she is not. He is Caucasian, whereas she is not. The unique challenge of filming six minutes each for Trump and Harris has altered the way we perceive Trump, who previously seemed quite familiar, when compared to the addition of Harris’ scenes.

You have so much ground to cover with Trump that everything has to be very condensed. I wonder how you approach covering the candidates in a way that gives them a similar amount of screen time but doesn’t distort their records or create a false equivalency?

Since the initial project in 2016 involving Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the complexity of our task has only grown. One candidate under scrutiny has been indicted for multiple offenses, impeached twice, refused to acknowledge election results, and has remained a media mainstay since entering politics. Instead of shying away from these issues, we aim to stay faithful to the essence of “The Choice,” which is portraying his character. What sets this “Choice” apart is the post-January 6 context. As you reflect on his life, questions arise like, “Where does that behavior stem from?” We chose to delve deeper into his relationship with his brother Fred Trump Jr. and their father, exploring what could have led to Trump’s inability to handle defeat.

Does the common belief that Harris tends to be reserved and not very open, resonate with your experience of her?

As a devoted admirer, I must say that one intriguing aspect of Kamala Harris’s “The Truths We Hold” is the sparse revelation of personal biographical details. She’s been quite guarded in sharing the experiences that molded her, perhaps due to her political origins where such disclosure wasn’t necessary. When vying for District Attorney or Attorney General, one doesn’t rely on a life story as much as a presidential or Senate candidate might.

Do you think that’s just her personality or is it more strategic?

We’ve asked many people close to her, and they all agree that while she may seem less guarded and more relaxed in private compared to when she’s on camera as a politician, this is largely due to the heightened scrutiny she faces as a Black woman in politics. Her early experiences, such as the Espinoza controversy during her time as San Francisco’s D.A., have contributed to her being more cautious about sharing her personal story.

What do you see as the most definitive turning points in her political biography?

Kirk: I believe the main challenge she encountered was “How did she choose to fight from within?” Her parents were known for protesting against the Vietnam War, advocating for [Black Panther] Huey [Newton], and standing up against authority figures. Instead of continuing this defiant stance, she opted to step into the role of authority herself by becoming a prosecutor and joining law enforcement in the ’80s, during a time when Alameda County and San Francisco were plagued with crack addicts.

During my investigation and writing about Harris, was there any fresh insight that significantly clarified her personality or character?

More Engaging: The intriguing periods in her life seem to have been her early [years]. She seldom discusses her experiences growing up as a biracial child, enduring the hurtful names she was called. It’s captivating to converse with her peers and childhood companions about how these experiences molded her into someone with a resilient personality. This resilience is evident in her ability to maintain focus during the election, avoiding getting sidetracked by Trump’s antics.

In the political arena, I’ve found myself reflecting on the unique perspectives that Kamala Harris brings as the second woman to challenge President Trump for the presidency. I can’t help but ponder if there are any noticeable differences between her and Hillary Clinton in their approaches towards gender issues.

Kamala Harris is acutely conscious of her unique position. She’s keenly aware when she glances at the portraits lining the walls, they all depict white men, but she doesn’t emphasize this aspect in her political stance or public image. In contrast, Hillary Clinton’s campaign openly highlighted this issue as part of their strategy. I believe that Kamala Harris’s stance on race and gender was to demonstrate her right to be where she is, shrug off any prejudice, and press forward from the outset.

You have been making “The Choice” together for a long time now. What makes 2024 unique to cover?

Kirk: Throughout most of my lifetime in America, both presidential candidates appeared credible, and the nation wouldn’t face imminent collapse if John McCain had been elected. However, with Trump versus Clinton, the situation has become significantly more complex. The outcome of this election matters deeply to many Americans today, a feeling I have never experienced before. This film was exceptionally challenging to produce, and the importance of getting it right feels unprecedentedly high. I felt a strong sense of responsibility to portray the truth accurately.

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2024-09-24 13:32