Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election: Difference between revisions
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{{for|the 2022 documentary with the same name|Unprecedented (miniseries)}} |
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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox film |
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| name = Unprecedented:<br>The 2000 Presidential Election |
| name = Unprecedented:<br>The 2000 Presidential Election |
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| image = Unprecedented- The 2000 Presidential Election poster.jpg |
| image = Unprecedented- The 2000 Presidential Election poster.jpg |
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| caption = |
| caption = |
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| director = [[Richard Ray Pérez]]<br> |
| director = [[Richard Ray Pérez]]<br>Joan Sekler |
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| producer = Richard Ray Pérez<br>Joan Sekler |
| producer = Richard Ray Pérez<br>Joan Sekler |
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| writer = |
| writer = William Haugse<br>Richard Ray Pérez<br>Joan Sekler |
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| starring = [[Danny Glover]] <small>(2004)</small> |
| starring = [[Danny Glover]] <small>(2004)</small> |
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| narrator =[[Peter Coyote]] |
| narrator =[[Peter Coyote]] |
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| editing = William Haugse<br>Matthew Martin |
| editing = William Haugse<br>Matthew Martin |
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| distributor = [[Shout! Factory]] |
| distributor = [[Shout! Factory]] |
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| released = |
| released = {{Film date|2002|09|17|U.S. premiere}} |
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| runtime = 47 min. <small>(2002)</small><br>57 min. <small>(2004)</small> |
| runtime = 47 min. <small>(2002)</small><br>57 min. <small>(2004)</small> |
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| language = English |
| language = English |
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| budget = |
| budget = |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election''''' is a 2002 47-minute documentary |
'''''Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election''''' is a 2002 47-minute documentary directed and co-written by [[Richard Ray Pérez]] and Joan Sekler,<ref name=variety>{{cite web | last= Klein| first= Andy| title=Review:'Unprecedented the 2000 Presidential Election' | publisher= Unprecedented | date= November 24, 2002 | url= https://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/unprecedented-the-2000-presidential-election-1200544683/ }}</ref> and narrated by [[Peter Coyote]],<ref name=chicago>{{cite web | last= Rosenbaum | first= Jonothan | title=Unpredented: The 2000 Presidential Election | date= 21 November 2003 | publisher= The Chicago Reader | url= http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/unprecedented-the-2000-presidential-election/Film?oid=1062179}}</ref> about the contested [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]] in Florida.<ref name=laramie>{{cite web | last= Roten | first= Robert | title= Laramie Movie Review: Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election | publisher= Laramie Movie Review | date= October 27, 2004 | url=http://www.lariat.org/atthemovies/new/flavote.html }}</ref> |
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It was re-released in an extended 56-minute |
It was re-released in an extended 56-minute<ref name=billsmedia>{{cite web | title= Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election: Another Civics Lesson from Greenwald; Did the US Experience a Coup? | publisher= Bills Media Reviews | date= February 11, 2014| url= http://billsmediareviews.com/?p=134}}</ref> ''2004 Campaign Edition'' presented by [[Danny Glover]] to tie in with the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 US presidential election]].<ref name=rhetoric>{{cite book | last1 = Benson | first1= Thomas | last2= Snee | first2= Brian | title= The Rhetoric of the New Political Documentary | publisher= Southern Illinois University | date= 2008 }}</ref> |
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A Public Interest Pictures Film, it was co-executive produced by [[Robert Greenwald]] and Earl Katz |
A Public Interest Pictures Film, it was co-executive produced by [[Robert Greenwald]] and Earl Katz.<ref name=variety/> Greenwald later made this the first of his "Un-Trilogy", which also includes ''[[Uncovered: The War on Iraq]]'' and ''[[Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties]]''.<ref name=commondreams>{{cite web | last= Nichols | first=John | title= Filmmaker Takes Fox News to Task| publisher= Capital Times| date= September 16, 2004 | url= http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0916-02.html }}</ref> |
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==Synopsis== |
==Synopsis== |
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''Unprecedented'' chronicles irregularities in the [[ |
''Unprecedented'' chronicles irregularities in the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 US presidential election]] in the swing state of Florida.<ref name=laramie/> |
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The film begins with claims that African Americans and other likely Democratic voters were disenfranchised by a resurrected 1868 law that prevented felons from voting. <ref name=bostonglobe>{{cite web | last= Burr | first=Ty | title= Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election| publisher=Boston Globe |
The film begins with claims that African Americans and other likely Democratic voters were disenfranchised by a resurrected 1868 law that prevented felons from voting. <ref name=bostonglobe>{{cite web | last= Burr | first=Ty | title= Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election| publisher=Boston Globe | date= October 31, 2003 | url= http://www.unprecedented.org/Unprecedented_Boston_Globe.html }}</ref> This law was originally intended to keep blacks from the polls, in the wake of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].<ref name=progressive>{{cite book | last=Rampell | first= Ed| title=Progressive Hollywood | publisher= The Disinformation Company Ltd. | date=2005 }}</ref> In 2000, Florida Secretary of State [[Katherine Harris]] used the original law to create a computerized list of supposed ex-cons. The list had the vaguest parameters, and included as many as 57,000 to 91,000 non-felons, who were overwhelmingly people of color.<ref name=rhetoric/> On election day, these people were turned away at the polls.<ref name=billsmedia/> Since 90% of African Americans vote Democratic, this effectively reduced the number of votes for Democratic candidate [[Al Gore]].<ref name=rhetoric/> |
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''Unprecedented'' also examines the Florida recount and the [[hanging chad]] controversy.<ref name=billsmedia/> It faults Gore for demanding a recount of only certain counties, instead of the whole state;<ref name=chicago/> and also presents evidence that the Republican Party paid staffers to create a disturbance and end the recount prematurely.<ref name=bostonglobe/> |
''Unprecedented'' also examines the Florida recount and the [[hanging chad]] controversy.<ref name=billsmedia/> It faults Gore for demanding a recount of only certain counties, instead of the whole state;<ref name=chicago/> and also presents evidence that the Republican Party paid staffers to create a disturbance and end the recount prematurely.<ref name=bostonglobe/> |
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The film then takes aim at the December 2000 [[Supreme Court]] decision that gave [[George W. Bush]] the presidency.<ref name=billsmedia/> The film documents conflicts of interest that should have resulted in the recusal of two of the SCOTUS justices.<ref name=bostonglobe/> |
The film then takes aim at the December 2000 [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] decision that gave [[George W. Bush]] the presidency.<ref name=billsmedia/> The film documents conflicts of interest that should have resulted in the recusal of two of the SCOTUS justices.<ref name=bostonglobe/> |
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Finally, it explores the problems with electronic voting machines.<ref name=rhetoric/> It argues that the companies that make these machines do not allow audits of the machines (allegedly because of copyright and trademark issues), which leaves them wide open for fraud.<ref name=billsmedia/> The machines also do not give paper receipts, so there is |
Finally, it explores the problems with electronic voting machines.<ref name=rhetoric/> It argues that the companies that make these machines do not allow audits of the machines (allegedly because of copyright and trademark issues), which leaves them wide open for fraud.<ref name=billsmedia/> The machines also do not give paper receipts, so there is no physical evidence in case of the need for a recount.<ref name=bostonglobe/> |
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== Distribution == |
== Distribution == |
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In the festival circuit, the film won eleven awards, including the Grand Festival award at the Berkley Film and Video Festival; the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary, and the |
In the festival circuit, the film won eleven awards, including the Grand Festival award at the Berkley Film and Video Festival; the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary, and the Director's Award at the New York International Film Festival.<ref name=rhetoric/> It enjoyed a limited theatrical release<ref name=progressive/> and was broadcast internationally on cable.<ref name=unprecent>{{cite web |lang=en |publisher=Unprecedented.org | url= http://www.unprecedented.org/UnprecedentedBroadcast.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031015031617/https://www.unprecedented.org/UnprecedentedBroadcast.htm |archive-date=2003-10-15 |title=Broadcast |access-date=2023-04-10}}</ref> The DVD sold extremely well on [[Amazon.com]], coming in at 68 on their 2004 sales rank.<ref name=progressive/> Liberal advocacy group [[MoveOn]] sold 25,000 copies in three days.<ref name=moviemaker>{{cite web | last=Thompson | first= Rustin| title=Robert Greenwald | publisher=MovieMaker | date= September 23, 2004 | url= http://www.moviemaker.com/articles-directing/robert-greenwald-2919/ }}</ref> ''Unprecedented'' was also viewed at screenings in homes and communities across the country, and was available streaming on the Internet.<ref name=moviemaker/> |
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This multi-tiered distribution model was revolutionary at the time. Executive Producer [[Robert Greenwald]] called it a |
This multi-tiered distribution model was revolutionary at the time. Executive Producer [[Robert Greenwald]] called it a "breakthrough", and has honed it in his subsequent films.<ref name=moviemaker/> |
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Unprecedented is said to have |
''Unprecedented'' is said to have "jumpstarted" Greenwald's documentary filmmaking career.<ref name=progressive/> |
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After this film, Sekler went on to produce ''[[Unconvention: A Mix-Tape from St. Paul, RNC '08]]'', a documentary about the [[2008 Republican National Convention]] in [[ |
After this film, Sekler went on to produce ''[[Unconvention: A Mix-Tape from St. Paul, RNC '08]]'', a documentary about the [[2008 Republican National Convention]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{Brave New Films}} |
{{Brave New Films}} |
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[[Category:English-language films]] |
[[Category:2000s English-language films]] |
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[[Category:Documentary films about elections]] |
[[Category:Documentary films about elections in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Films about the United States presidential election |
[[Category:Films about the 2000 United States presidential election]] |
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[[Category:Documentary films about Florida]] |
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[[Category:Films scored by Bobby Johnston]] |
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Latest revision as of 21:08, 5 November 2024
| Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Richard Ray Pérez Joan Sekler |
| Written by | William Haugse Richard Ray Pérez Joan Sekler |
| Produced by | Richard Ray Pérez Joan Sekler |
| Starring | Danny Glover (2004) |
| Narrated by | Peter Coyote |
| Cinematography | Richard Ray Pérez |
| Edited by | William Haugse Matthew Martin |
| Music by | Bobby Johnston |
| Distributed by | Shout! Factory |
Release date |
|
Running time | 47 min. (2002) 57 min. (2004) |
| Language | English |
Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election is a 2002 47-minute documentary directed and co-written by Richard Ray Pérez and Joan Sekler,[1] and narrated by Peter Coyote,[2] about the contested 2000 presidential election in Florida.[3]
It was re-released in an extended 56-minute[4] 2004 Campaign Edition presented by Danny Glover to tie in with the 2004 US presidential election.[5]
A Public Interest Pictures Film, it was co-executive produced by Robert Greenwald and Earl Katz.[1] Greenwald later made this the first of his "Un-Trilogy", which also includes Uncovered: The War on Iraq and Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties.[6]
Synopsis
[edit]Unprecedented chronicles irregularities in the 2000 US presidential election in the swing state of Florida.[3]
The film begins with claims that African Americans and other likely Democratic voters were disenfranchised by a resurrected 1868 law that prevented felons from voting. [7] This law was originally intended to keep blacks from the polls, in the wake of the Civil War.[8] In 2000, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris used the original law to create a computerized list of supposed ex-cons. The list had the vaguest parameters, and included as many as 57,000 to 91,000 non-felons, who were overwhelmingly people of color.[5] On election day, these people were turned away at the polls.[4] Since 90% of African Americans vote Democratic, this effectively reduced the number of votes for Democratic candidate Al Gore.[5]
Unprecedented also examines the Florida recount and the hanging chad controversy.[4] It faults Gore for demanding a recount of only certain counties, instead of the whole state;[2] and also presents evidence that the Republican Party paid staffers to create a disturbance and end the recount prematurely.[7]
The film then takes aim at the December 2000 Supreme Court decision that gave George W. Bush the presidency.[4] The film documents conflicts of interest that should have resulted in the recusal of two of the SCOTUS justices.[7]
Finally, it explores the problems with electronic voting machines.[5] It argues that the companies that make these machines do not allow audits of the machines (allegedly because of copyright and trademark issues), which leaves them wide open for fraud.[4] The machines also do not give paper receipts, so there is no physical evidence in case of the need for a recount.[7]
Distribution
[edit]In the festival circuit, the film won eleven awards, including the Grand Festival award at the Berkley Film and Video Festival; the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary, and the Director's Award at the New York International Film Festival.[5] It enjoyed a limited theatrical release[8] and was broadcast internationally on cable.[9] The DVD sold extremely well on Amazon.com, coming in at 68 on their 2004 sales rank.[8] Liberal advocacy group MoveOn sold 25,000 copies in three days.[10] Unprecedented was also viewed at screenings in homes and communities across the country, and was available streaming on the Internet.[10]
This multi-tiered distribution model was revolutionary at the time. Executive Producer Robert Greenwald called it a "breakthrough", and has honed it in his subsequent films.[10]
Unprecedented is said to have "jumpstarted" Greenwald's documentary filmmaking career.[8]
After this film, Sekler went on to produce Unconvention: A Mix-Tape from St. Paul, RNC '08, a documentary about the 2008 Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
See also
[edit]- Bush Family Fortunes (2004)
- Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Klein, Andy (November 24, 2002). "Review:'Unprecedented the 2000 Presidential Election'". Unprecedented.
- ^ a b Rosenbaum, Jonothan (21 November 2003). "Unpredented: The 2000 Presidential Election". The Chicago Reader.
- ^ a b Roten, Robert (October 27, 2004). "Laramie Movie Review: Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election". Laramie Movie Review.
- ^ a b c d e "Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election: Another Civics Lesson from Greenwald; Did the US Experience a Coup?". Bills Media Reviews. February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Benson, Thomas; Snee, Brian (2008). The Rhetoric of the New Political Documentary. Southern Illinois University.
- ^ Nichols, John (September 16, 2004). "Filmmaker Takes Fox News to Task". Capital Times.
- ^ a b c d Burr, Ty (October 31, 2003). "Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election". Boston Globe.
- ^ a b c d Rampell, Ed (2005). Progressive Hollywood. The Disinformation Company Ltd.
- ^ "Broadcast". Unprecedented.org. Archived from the original on 2003-10-15. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ a b c Thompson, Rustin (September 23, 2004). "Robert Greenwald". MovieMaker.