Actor Alec Baldwin believes Americans face an information “gap.” He says the film industry can help bridge it.
“There is a gap, if you will, in information for Americans,” Baldwin told reporters at the Torino Film Festival in Turin, Italy, according to Mediaite.
He pointed to a lack of understanding on major global issues. “Americans are very uninformed about reality, what’s really going on—with climate change, Ukraine, Israel, you name it, all the biggest topics in the world,” he said. “Americans have an appetite for a little bit of information.”
Baldwin was speaking at the event, where he received an award. His film, “The Hunt for Red October,” was also shown.
He argued that the film industry has a role in filling this gap. Baldwin highlighted its ability to inform and entertain.
“That vacuum is filled by the film industry,” Baldwin explained. “Not just the independent film industry, not just the documentary film industry, which are very important around the world, but by narrative films as well.”
Baldwin praised filmmakers, studios, and streamers for taking on this responsibility. “They’re willing to try to make films that are not only entertaining but informative as well,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of this moment in history. “Now is probably one of the most important times in our history for us to make films that will teach people about what reality is around the world,” Baldwin added.