introduction

Over the past twenty years, the West has achieved the greatest cycle of economic prosperity and wealth creation human history has ever experienced with America the undisputed heavyweight economic player on the world stage. Many of America's companies now have the financial significance once reserved for prosperous nations and they are using that muscle to influence, and in some cases dictated public policy both at home and abroad.

In issue after issue, the desires and needs of the few narrow interest groups are more forcefully and skillfully represented over the needs of the many. As a result, our political leaders have failed to adequately address the critical issues of our day at the very time we have the resources to initiate real change.

In State of the Union, our dynamic cast of speakers take a critical look at the interplay of money and politics. The film is not an attempt to advocate the views of one party over another. The ideological lines between our two parties have become so blurred, as each tries to claim the center, that ideologue is no longer significant; It is clear that money drives politics and public policy. State of the Union's goal is simply to expose the problem in a medium that has the potential to affect the viewer and move the viewer to ask more questions.

unique style

State of the Union has an edge to it, as well as a sense of urgency. The film attempts to move the viewer out of the intellect and create an experience through the use of powerful imagery and soundtrack as a backdrop for our speakers.

Similar to A Crisis of Faith, State of the Union relies heavily on imagery to help our speakers tell the story. Much of the footage wash shot in Washington DC and New York City and the visual impact is stark. The film also draws from the power of some of the country's "resistance" artists.

The continuous stream of imagery is punctuated by the powerful soundtrack that paces the film. Mirroring the subject and rhythm of State of the Union, the soundtrack is powerful and edgy fusing the energy of jazz greats Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter & Gil Scott-Heron.

relevant topics

The film lays out in seven sections interspersed with the devastating rhymes & rhythms of Gil Scott-Heron. Among other topics, State of the Union will attempt to highlight some of the following issues:

• Do you have to have or know money to achieve political success and/or access?

• Is government at the Federal level representative of our population?

• Is there an inherent bias against certain minorities that is condoned/perpetuated through our politics?

• Is there some sort of unspoken collusion between government and the media, which often seems to look the other way?

• Why are no strong leaders emerging?

• Why is the average American so disengaged from the political process?