War is hell but for Hollywood it has been a Godsend providing the perfect dramatic setting against which courageous heroes win the hearts and minds of the movie going public.The Pentagon recognises the power of these celluloid dreams and encourages Hollywood to create heroic myths to rewrite history to suit its own strategy and as a recruiting tool to provide a steady flow of willing young patriots for its wars.What does Hollywood get out of this deal with the devil? Access to billions of dollars worth of military kit from helicopters to aircraft carriers enabling filmmakers to make bigger and more spectacular battle scenes which in turn generate more box office revenue. Providing they accept the Pentagons advice even toe the party line and show the US military in a positive light.So is it a case of art imitating life or a sinister force using art to influence life and death - and the public perception of both?Empire will examine Hollywood the Pentagon and war.Joining us as guests: Oliver Stone the eight times Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore the Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Christopher Hedges an author and the former Middle East bureau chief of the New York Times.Our interviewees this week are: Phil Strub US Department of Defense Film Liaison Unit Julian Barnes Pentagon correspondent LA Times David Robb the author of Operation Hollywood Prof Klaus Dodds the author of Screening Terror Matthew Alford the author of Reel Power Prof Melani McAlister the author of Culture Media and US Interests in the Middle East ... >>