As the theatrical version of American politics continues to chew into our daily lives, three filmmakers from the University of Texas Moody College of Communication have created a series of nine films about partisan politics in America. The series “examines the deeply partisan split among the American electorate, traveling to key locations across the nation to provide a greater understanding of how changing demographics and political gamesmanship has affected American politics,” according to a press release from UT.
The films will debut online on July 11 on the Political Postcards website as part of a series of political documentary shorts titled “Postcards from the Great Divide.” The series is a partnership between The Washington Post and the PBS Election 2016 initiative. Four more films will launch online later in the summer. The series is produced by the Center for New American Media and Midnight Films with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Latino Public Broadcasting.
Paul Stekler is the University of Texas at Austin Radio-Television-Film Department Chair and a professor. His film, Million Dollar School Board, takes a look at “what happens when $1 million of outside money is dropped into a local school board race in Colorado.” UT alumna Heather Courtney’s film, The Big Sort, “documents urban and rural Minnesota residents distancing themselves based on political views.” UT alumnus and lecturer Miguel Alvarez “explores the challenges of getting Latinos to vote in Texas” in his film, The Giant Still Sleeps.
Check out trailers for each film below.
Featured image screen shot from The Giant Still Sleeps
