Janet Charlton's

HOLLYWOOD

As we left the theater, after laughing ourselves senseless watching the movie Borat, my companion raised the question of how much of the movie was staged and how much was spontaneous. It never occurred to me that ANY of the situations were staged – the victims seem so real. After investigating, we have decided that almost all the embarrassing encounters with innocent Americans were real. In fact, people victimized and humiliated in the film have started coming forward, calling themselves “Victims of Borat. ” The Veteran Feminists of America are particularly talkative about their “interview.” Borat’s “secret” is to have an apparently normal young woman make arrangements to pay victims and have them sign releases in advance. The feminists endured many hilarious jabs – Borat referred to one as “he” and at the end of the interview asked the women to lift their skirts. Pat Haggerty, the Washington DC public speaking coach who reeled when Borat mentioned having sex with his mother-in-law, simply said “They paid me money and deserved an hour of my time.” And he admits he’s enjoying his newfound fame. But, according to Fox’s Roger Friedman, TV news anchor Dharma Arthur claims Borat ruined her life. She was producer of the Jackson, Miss noon news show where Borat wreaked havoc and she ended up fired for booking him. It looks like Borats victims are very real and destined for notoriety themselves.