PN 67: “Control Room” Revisited with Josh Rushing

Fifteen years ago as America prepared to make war on Iraq, filmmaker Jehane Noujaim embedded herself at the U.S. military’s CENTCOM media headquarters in Doha, Qatar. She and cinematographer Hani Salama focused on how the rising network Al Jazeera covered the war differently from American news. Two key characters are Al Jazeera journalist Hassan Ibrahim and the U.S. Marine press officer Josh Rushing who hold dialogues in the film with contrasting viewpoints.

After the film’s release, Rushing left the Marines and went to work for Al Jazeera English where he started the investigative series “Fault Lines.” On this episode, Pure Nonfiction host Thom Powers interviews Rushing and “Control Room” producer Rosadel Varela after a screening of the film at the Stranger Than Fiction screening series at New York’s IFC Center. “I hardly recognize that kid,” Rushing said about his younger self.

“Control Room” is available on DVD and on Hulu.

On Twitter: @joshrushing @thompowers @PureNonfiction

Pure Nonfiction is distributed by the TIFF podcast network.