The French Connection
Several weeks ago I wrote about a group of French journalists who contacted me regarding a documentary about crime in Los Angeles.
Initially they suggested following me around for a couple of days and asked that I give them the names of people familiar with LA area crime. I coughed up the names. And, it sounds like the project is coming along fine.
The next time I heard from these folks it was to see if I could arrange an interview with James Ellroy. He's loved like Jerry Lewis over there apparently.
I declined and told them to arrange the interview themselves. Don't know if that happened or not. Somehow I doubt it did.
Anyway, here's the latest email exchange between me and the Frenchies:
Dear Franck,
My name is Guillaume Serina. I'm a French journalist based in L.A. covering U.S. news for several French media. I found you through your blog.
I'm currently working with a TV crew from Paris who's making a report on Crime journalists for M6 national network (www.m6.fr). They are looking for a club, or fans of true crimes TV shows (such as Cops, or Court TV, etc).
Do you know any "fans" of this kind of TV show on the L.A. area by any chance ? Would you accept to help us ?
Thank you very much. Sincerely,
Guillaume Serina
PS: Is Girardot from a French origin ?
Guillaume Serina
Los Angeles, CA 90036
USA
"Frank C. Girardot" <frank.girardot@sgvn.com> wrote:
Yes I'm French and mostly proud of my heritage.
Your TV people have contacted me before and we were going to get together, but I never heard back from them after I didn't help them get an interview with James Ellroy.
C'est la Vie.
I really doubt that I would be all that helpful to your current pursuit anyway. I write about crime full time and have very little interaction with fans...other than those who try to use my friendship with James Ellroy to talk about him or interview him.
If I can be of any other assistance please feel free to contact me. I am in Los Angeles during the week.
Adieu,
FrankGuillaume Serina to Frank
Hello Frank.
Thank you for your kind anwer. I'm sorry, I didn't know the team contacted you and I'm sorry they didn't get back to you.
Maybe another time...Best,
Guillaume
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FRANK GIRARDOT
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C'est magnifique.
You should have added:
P.S. Why do the French hate America so much?
Je parle francais (un peu) parce que j'etudie francais a l'ecole pour six ans.
I'm surprised you shared this with us...unless you were trying to show how Patriotic you were by giving the French a cold shoulder. As a person whose sent out inquiries of this sort, its sad to see print guys get territorial over their stories/contacts.
Us,
Beg to differ. I'm happy to share sources with broadcast et al, just ask some of your colleagues who know me.
My irritation had nothing to do with territory. It had to do with the subterfuge of the initial contact.
Is there something you won't gripe about "us"? For such a smart guy wasn't it pretty obvious that the French journalists were trying to use Frank? All he did was say "No thanks".
I realize you love to dazzle all of us with your brilliant use of the language but your limited in your understanding of it I guess. I suppose it's also bad to patriotic. What flag means the most to you "us"? I'm guessing it's not the one first on my list.
Talk about sad.
Je parle un peu francais.
AP...I hate to burst your bubble, but I got the distinct impression that the regular french people were just the most charming and helpful people you would want to meet. We spent 3 days in Paris last spring break with the kids and I can tell you it was pretty amazing no matter where we went with how good they were to us. From people in the street helping us decipher the Metro, our doorman pointing out where the locals shop and eat...I could on on forever. I only wish I could have spent more time there.
I think Frank gave them a nice shove off as they weren't interested in journalism but TMZ style TV.
On the one hand, I'm trying to get a gauge for what warrants a response from Frank. He never, after three successive attempts, answered my question re: the Tribune's editorial policy (if in fact they have one) on identifying the race of crime suspects and victims. While he (perhaps understandably) doesnt respond to every claim of reporting bias, he could've surely provided company policy on this question.
Re: this post, though, I wonder if provides reason to think the newspaper vet is getting too set in his ways and is taking his readership for granted. French documentarians read this blog and want to work with you on a television project. Wouldn't this have given you goose bumps 30 years ago when you broke into the biz?
Would Frank had been so quick to post this had he rebuffed a request been from the Vatican? Of course not. He's teaching those Frenchies a lesson, eh?
btw, l boy, i don't 'pledge allegiance' to any flag. and you'd be delighted to learn I expressed my rationale to the elementary, jr high, high school and college students I taught. nationalism is an inflated tribalism i'd rather have nothing to do with.
Yeah you're not tribal, what a laugh that is.