00:00Mark Beckman, a longtime advisor to Melania Trump and the marketing agent behind the documentary
00:04Melania, has acknowledged that much of the film's early audience consisted of supporters
00:08of President Donald Trump. In an interview with Variety, Beckman said the documentary
00:12was not designed as a political or policy-driven project. Instead, he described it as a nice
00:17story about this woman and her family and philanthropy and business historically for
00:21our country. He added that the filmmakers hoped the movie would appeal broadly but
00:25recognized that early ticket buyers were largely Trump supporters, saying,
00:28the fans go first. Beckman stated that it was expected that many of the initial viewers would
00:32already identify with the MAGA movement. Drawing a comparison to major franchise films, he said that
00:37just as Spider-Man fans turn out first for a Spider-Man movie, supporters were likely to be
00:41the first to see Melania. He said it made sense that they approved of the film. The documentary
00:45chronicles the 20 days leading up to Trump's second presidential inauguration. It was financed through
00:51a reported $40 million deal with Amazon, approved by founder Jeff Bezos. The project was directed by
00:56Brett Ratner, known for directing the Rush Hour franchise. Ratner's Hollywood career declined
01:01after multiple accusations of sexual assault surfaced in previous years, allegations he has
01:05denied. His name has also appeared in publicly released Jeffrey Epstein Case Files, though no
01:10charges have been reported in connection to those documents. The film has received sharply divided
01:15reactions. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds an 11% critics' score. Several published reviews have
01:20criticized the documentary's pacing and approach. In contrast, the audience score on the same platform
01:25stands at 98%, indicating strong support among viewers who submitted ratings. In his interview,
01:31Beckman questioned the role of modern film critics, suggesting that some reviews focused more heavily
01:35on President Trump than on the documentary itself. He characterized the difference between critic and
01:40audience reactions as reflective of broader political divisions in the country. The wide gap between
01:45critical and audience scores has drawn attention, underscoring the polarized response surrounding the
01:49release of Melania and the continued intersection of politics and entertainment. Follow for more
01:54political updates. Don't forget to like and share your thoughts in the comments below.
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