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Conservative film-makers aim for more than just a convention cameo Conservative film-makers aim for more than just a convention cameo
(7 days later)
Hollywood has Cannes. The independent movie industry has Sundance. Now, when it comes to promoting the little known world of conservative film-making, there is Tampa.Hollywood has Cannes. The independent movie industry has Sundance. Now, when it comes to promoting the little known world of conservative film-making, there is Tampa.
In a tented enclosure just outside the convention centre where Republicans have nominated Mitt Romney as their presidential candidate, rightwing movies are being shown off and sold to an eager audience.In a tented enclosure just outside the convention centre where Republicans have nominated Mitt Romney as their presidential candidate, rightwing movies are being shown off and sold to an eager audience.
At the so-called "Liberty Plaza" site, conservative production firm Citizens United has been showcasing a half dozen of its movies. On Wednesday Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann introduced a film there called Occupy Unmasked. "I am thrilled to be here," Bachmann told the crowd to a standing ovation.At the so-called "Liberty Plaza" site, conservative production firm Citizens United has been showcasing a half dozen of its movies. On Wednesday Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann introduced a film there called Occupy Unmasked. "I am thrilled to be here," Bachmann told the crowd to a standing ovation.
The film, which profiles the "leftist" Occupy protest movement as a dangerous violent threat to America, has already struck a distribution deal with Magnolia Films and will hit theatres on September 21.The film, which profiles the "leftist" Occupy protest movement as a dangerous violent threat to America, has already struck a distribution deal with Magnolia Films and will hit theatres on September 21.
But Occupy Unmasked is just one Citizens United title being shown in Tampa. Others include The Hope and the Change, which profiles disillusioned people who voted for Barack Obama in 2008. It will be shown on US television in September.But Occupy Unmasked is just one Citizens United title being shown in Tampa. Others include The Hope and the Change, which profiles disillusioned people who voted for Barack Obama in 2008. It will be shown on US television in September.
There is another on the constitution, one on abortion, another on the financial crisis and a lengthy feature on leading conservative women.There is another on the constitution, one on abortion, another on the financial crisis and a lengthy feature on leading conservative women.
The films come on the heels of conservatives' big breakthrough movie, Obama 2016, a critique of what four more years of Obama would look like. It has become the sixth most successful political documentary, bringing in more than $6m on its opening weekend to make it No 8 in the box office charts.The films come on the heels of conservatives' big breakthrough movie, Obama 2016, a critique of what four more years of Obama would look like. It has become the sixth most successful political documentary, bringing in more than $6m on its opening weekend to make it No 8 in the box office charts.
"The future is extremely bright for conservative film-making. Success breeds success," Citizens United president David Bossie told the Guardian."The future is extremely bright for conservative film-making. Success breeds success," Citizens United president David Bossie told the Guardian.
Indeed, Bachmann paid effusive tribute to Bossie, highlighting Citizens United's close links to many top conservative figures. "He is the boss. We love him," she said.Indeed, Bachmann paid effusive tribute to Bossie, highlighting Citizens United's close links to many top conservative figures. "He is the boss. We love him," she said.
Nor is the impact of the group's films to be underestimated. A legal spat over a Bossie film about Hillary Clinton led to a landmark supreme court decision that ushered in limitless outside money in US elections. "I went all the way to the supreme court to defend my right to make conservative films," Bossie said.Nor is the impact of the group's films to be underestimated. A legal spat over a Bossie film about Hillary Clinton led to a landmark supreme court decision that ushered in limitless outside money in US elections. "I went all the way to the supreme court to defend my right to make conservative films," Bossie said.
But Bossie is not the only game in Tampa when it comes to this genre. The Rev CL Bryant, a black pastor and former official in a Texas branch of the civil rights group the NAACP, has been here touting his controversial documentary Runaway Slave.But Bossie is not the only game in Tampa when it comes to this genre. The Rev CL Bryant, a black pastor and former official in a Texas branch of the civil rights group the NAACP, has been here touting his controversial documentary Runaway Slave.
The movie is an exploration of the Republican party's historical links to fighting slavery – as the party of Abraham Lincoln – but then fashions it into a vitriolic attack on the modern welfare state.The movie is an exploration of the Republican party's historical links to fighting slavery – as the party of Abraham Lincoln – but then fashions it into a vitriolic attack on the modern welfare state.
Its central point is that black Americans are beset by unemployment, crime, poverty and high incarceration rates, and thus have benefited little from a recent loyalty to the Democratic party and its defence of the welfare state.Its central point is that black Americans are beset by unemployment, crime, poverty and high incarceration rates, and thus have benefited little from a recent loyalty to the Democratic party and its defence of the welfare state.
"Here in 2012 are people once again needing to escape a system, needing to escape being given his master's food and his master's housing," Bryant said."Here in 2012 are people once again needing to escape a system, needing to escape being given his master's food and his master's housing," Bryant said.
Amid the promotion efforts are real signs that conservative films can hit the mainstream and provide a rightwing equivalent of liberal film-maker Michael Moore.Amid the promotion efforts are real signs that conservative films can hit the mainstream and provide a rightwing equivalent of liberal film-maker Michael Moore.
The biggest conservative movie of the moment is Dinesh D'Souza's documentary 2016: Obama's America. The movie has been a huge hit. Despite starting out showing in a single cinema in Houston, it is now playing on more than a thousand screens nationwide and has taken more than 10 million dollars at the box office.The biggest conservative movie of the moment is Dinesh D'Souza's documentary 2016: Obama's America. The movie has been a huge hit. Despite starting out showing in a single cinema in Houston, it is now playing on more than a thousand screens nationwide and has taken more than 10 million dollars at the box office.
That makes it the highest grossing conservative film of all time. In Tampa there have been free showings for delegate-goers, and the movie has been playing to packed houses. The film posits the theory that the president is motivated by an anti-colonial fervour inherited from his Kenyan father.That makes it the highest grossing conservative film of all time. In Tampa there have been free showings for delegate-goers, and the movie has been playing to packed houses. The film posits the theory that the president is motivated by an anti-colonial fervour inherited from his Kenyan father.
Critics have pointed out many flaws in the movie's thesis, not least of which is that Obama spent little time with his father after his parents split up and his father moved back to Kenya.Critics have pointed out many flaws in the movie's thesis, not least of which is that Obama spent little time with his father after his parents split up and his father moved back to Kenya.
There are also obvious flaws in some of the other movies. The Hope and the Change slams Obama for taking expensive holidays and enjoying playing golf, contrasting that with the hardscrabble lives of ordinary Americans.There are also obvious flaws in some of the other movies. The Hope and the Change slams Obama for taking expensive holidays and enjoying playing golf, contrasting that with the hardscrabble lives of ordinary Americans.
Yet the Republican alternative to Obama owns Cayman Island bank accounts, has multiple homes and a garage with its own car elevator. In Citizens United's constitutional film there are warnings that Obama is a socialist: something few political scientists seriously believe.Yet the Republican alternative to Obama owns Cayman Island bank accounts, has multiple homes and a garage with its own car elevator. In Citizens United's constitutional film there are warnings that Obama is a socialist: something few political scientists seriously believe.
But of course, being fair and balanced is not the point of these movies. Like Moore's films they have a firm point of view and they stick to it. Yet not all the conservative movies are documentaries.But of course, being fair and balanced is not the point of these movies. Like Moore's films they have a firm point of view and they stick to it. Yet not all the conservative movies are documentaries.
Harmon Kaslow, who has worked on films like hit horror comedy Dog Soldiers, was also in Tampa. Kaslow's latest film is Atlas Shrugged: Part II, the second half of a full-length dramatisation of Ayn Rand's famous objectivist novel. Kaslow showed clips to hundreds of Ron Paul supporters at a festival in honour of the libertarian-leaning Texan congressman.Harmon Kaslow, who has worked on films like hit horror comedy Dog Soldiers, was also in Tampa. Kaslow's latest film is Atlas Shrugged: Part II, the second half of a full-length dramatisation of Ayn Rand's famous objectivist novel. Kaslow showed clips to hundreds of Ron Paul supporters at a festival in honour of the libertarian-leaning Texan congressman.
He told the Guardian that audiences were lapping up the film's message of heroic self-interested businessmen and the evils of state control.He told the Guardian that audiences were lapping up the film's message of heroic self-interested businessmen and the evils of state control.
"The audience here is educated on these things. They believe in free markets and in limited government.""The audience here is educated on these things. They believe in free markets and in limited government."
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