This Divided State

This Divided State (2005)

This Divided State follows the controversy surrounding Utah Valley State College's invitation to liberal filmmaker Michael Moore to speak on campus. Though UVSC is located in one of the most conservative counties in the United States, vehement opposition to Moore's visit was much greater than anticipated. Equally surprising, however, was the overwhelming support for Moore, vocalized by students and community members previously considered "apathetic." Debate between Moore supporters and Moore protestors raged openly in the media and public forums. Death threats, hate mail, bribes, and lawsuits were all candidly captured on film.

Erscheinungsdatum
2005-08-19
TMDB
7.5 / 10 (17)
Laufzeit
1 Std. 28 Min.
Genres
Dokumentarfilm
Regie
Steven Greenstreet

Besetzung

Wissenswertes

This Divided State is a documentary film by first-time filmmaker Steven Greenstreet. It details the conflict that erupted at Utah Valley State College, now called Utah Valley University, when controversial liberal figure and documentarian Michael Moore was scheduled to come speak on campus shortly before the 2004 presidential election. The documentary explores rising political partisanship in the United States as Greenstreet examines the uproar from the students and community members and the subsequent debate surrounding the First Amendment.

Production

Steven Greenstreet, a Utah Valley State Valley student at the time, embarked on the concept along with his friends, Bryan Young and Elias and Michelle Pate, describing the ensuing commotion as “a huge crush of political debate and an overwhelming sense of activity and electricity.”

The filmmakers captured at least 70 hours of material in the course of three months. Greenstreet eventually maxed out three credit cards, emptied his bank account, and dropped out of Brigham Young University, devoting himself exclusively to this project.

Often spending twenty hours a day editing, Greenstreet trimmed the footage down to eighty-eight minutes. Juxtaposing candidly emotional interviews against unruly public spectacles, he strove for neutrality, advancing the story without narration and allowing equal time to all opposing opinions. The filmmakers could not forget the importance of finishing the film soon, while the events involved were still relevant and fresh in the public’s minds.

Upon learning UVSC professor and self-proclaimed liberal, Phil Gordon, had become involved in the project, Kay Anderson filed a claim against Greenstreet, attempting to revoke his previously signed consent to be included in the film citing issues with misrepresentation and bias.

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