Can a political documentary that isn’t directed by Michael Moore make a difference in the upcoming election?
David Bossie of the conservative group Citizens United sure hopes so. His group’s newest offering, “Hype: The Obama Effect,” will be coming to a theater near you soon.
I talked to Bossie about the film and its chances for changing hearts and minds in my newest story for The Washington Times.
Let’s face it. Any documentary today faces an uphill battle to make a few dollars, let alone inject itself into the public discourse. Even Morgan Spurlock, fresh off his “Super Size Me” fame, couldn’t rally people to see his latest docu-comedy, “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?”
Indie films are getting trampled at the box office, and documentaries often fare even worse.
But there’s nothing wrong with conservatives trying to elbow their way into the documentary picture. It’s too long been dominated by the left. How ’bout both sides crank out some good polemics and we’ll let audiences decide which ones provide the greater food for thought?
(Photo: Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock takes a break in his pursuit of the world’s worst terrorist in “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?”)
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
What ever happened with that Spurlock documentary? I thought he was getting some interest a few months ago when he shopped it around at one of the big festivals. What was the plot of the movie anyway?
Spurlock got good media coverage for his latest, but the reviews were weak and few people caught it in theaters. It goes to show how rough it is for documentary films, even docs with a sense of humor.
It’s good to see another site devoted to the question of what moves conservatives – especially conservative filmmakers – to answer the common current of modern culture: liberal and elitist ideology.
I’ve revived my own interest in filmmaking, specifically non-fiction/ documentary films. From contacts at DirtyHarrysPlace and other websites, I’ve started to network with others with similar interests.
I’m troubled by one problem that seems to dog us, and it’s the question of how to conquer or replace Hollywood. It seems that many think the only way to do this is to simply produce films that use the same delivery system which the industry uses. I’m not completely sure of it, but it seems like we may be missing the importance of multi-media or interactive platforms as well. My own preference has started to turn towards producing digital content which can be experienced via web delivery. It isn’t as if the Left hasn’t discovered this channel, but it does seem as if the web is much more responsive to market forces and its a more competitive landscape than the cineplex or cable channel environments.
It will be interesting to hear from some conservatives and producers regarding their willingness to take product like mine and promote it as interactive entertainment/commentary, and not simply one-way fare competing head-to-head with industry blockbusters or shallow, loss leader documentaries.