Posts
Lewiston Maine – Michael Reynolds, filmmaker and webmaster, is proud to announce two new events surronding his documentary “Million Dollar Bigot.” The film will be screened on Saturday, July 29th, 2006 at the Lewiston Public Library in conjunction with the Maine Social Forum Film Festival. Reynolds is also embarking on a campaign to have the film appear in the top 100 videos Wednesday July 26, 2006, on Google Video’s daily ranking, to coincide with the “Sweet Sixteen” anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act. The video can be viewed and downloaded at http://video.google.com and searching for million dollar bigot
(updated as it seems google was acting up on the original link.)
(please watch or download for sony psp or your ipod. There are ways to burn it for a DVD directly from this site, but the internet archive video may be easier.)
The video stands as one of the first grassroots based disability documentaries to been completed largely through online networking and collaboration. The inclusion on the Google top 100 daily video rankings would provide a needed focus on the struggle people with disabilities are still facinbg for full inclusion in our society.
The film chronicles the disability rights opposition to film “Million Dollar Baby” with insights from CSI Star Robert David Hall, Reporter John Hockenberry, disability publishing pioneer Mary Johnson, and many others. The film was completed with the support of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Not Dead Yet, and Maine Independent Media Center.
Reynolds, 32, considers this a “documentary film by accident.” While attending a conference in Washington DC, it was literally a “eureka” moment, when he realized most of the major players in the grassroots disability struggle over the movie were easily filmed. Networking with a friend who was taping with a DV camera and using his own stock footage, Reynolds set out to chronicle the disability resistance to the Clint Eastwood film.
Reynolds is also breaking new ground by working to establish a new distribution systems. Besides Google Video, the film is available through the Internet Archive. The film has been screened at the Reel Life Film Festival in Detroit, as well as an upcoming screening in collaboration with the “Dis This” film series in New York City in mid September. Reynolds will also be hosting a session on do it yourself media at the Maine Social Forum after his film screening. The media workshop will be at the Bates Mill in Lewiston.
Million Dollar Bigot, a website started by Reynolds, received international attention in 2005 before the Oscar Ceremonies. John Hockenberry graciously contributed an incredible essay, “And the Loser Is”, and the website was featured in a number of different media outlets, including Fair.org’s “Counterspin”, and Common Dreams.
About Uppity Disability dot Net.
Uppity Disability dot Net is a nonprofit web site/publishing entity promoting progressive views of disability rights and culture. Uppity Disability dot net has Resources for Organizing Social Change as its fiscal sponsor. Reynolds is 32, has Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities, and is a part time wheelchair user. Reynolds has a part time job in the teleservices field, is a graduate of the University of Maine and lives with his partner, Jim.
