How would you react? Upon finishing my last shots for SWING STATE, a Democratic leader called me up in Beloit. I’d been suffering with what I thought was a case of food poisoning, so I didn’t get back to him for a few days.
After finally calling him, he said “a famous film director” was trying to contact me. He added that he and his crew were planning to travel to the same Wisconsin communities that I did. Now the gears started spinning in my mind.
You’d probably respond the same way I did. “Famous film director”? Same Wisconsin places? Who could this person possibly be???
Fahrenheit 9/11 to Fahrenheit 11/9
As it turns out, it was Michael Moore (yes, THAT Michael Moore), who was trying to reach me, and was doing so via his producer, Conall Jones. Mr. Jones wanted to interview me about my SWING STATE travels, for their upcoming movie, Fahrenheit 11/9.
Seeing how Conall was flying in from their operations in NY, I asked where he wanted me to meet him. Milwaukee? Madison? Maybe Mauston? To my amazement, he replied, “No, why not meet me in the basement of Beloit College Library?” I say “to my amazement,” because this was exactly where I was doing my film work at the time! My jaw literally dropped open!
A Beloit College Connection
Conall told me his father-in-law taught at Beloit College, and that he would be staying at his house. Two blocks away. On Emerson Street! My first reaction was, “What are the chances?” My second was, “The Good Lord can sure put all puzzle pieces together, in whatever intricate way he wants to!”
So, a week later, this hip, young producer met me in the library, where he watched my footage with positive feedback. He later took me downtown to Domenico’s for dinner, where he told me he’d been on the phone with their film “archivist.”
If Moore’s team liked any of my clips, he assured me, they would pay top-dollar to include them in 11/9. I mean top dollar! Depending on how much they needed any particular footage, the “per second” rate could add up to a ton of money in a hurry!
Every Swing State But Wisconsin
But, alas– for whatever reason– Moore’s team decided to go with every Swing State BUT Wisconsin. This I found out week’s later, after sending them roughly a dozen SWING STATE clips.
Subsequently, I briefly kept in touch with Mr. Jones, until shortly after he left Moore’s production company. This once Vice producer went on to the Wall Street Journal and other documentary work.
But the story doesn’t quite end there.
While waiting to hear back whether my clips were accepted or not, I decided to email the address on the back of a book I bought regarding entertainment law. Michael Donaldson (top entertainment lawyer and author of Clearance & Copyright) responded within 2 weeks to a query I made about Michael Moore.
He told me I was wise to look into the past proclivities of the famous filmmaker, and that he’d devoted a couple pages to him in his book. Beyond that, he could offer no further detailed counsel, because he represented Mr. Moore as his entertainment lawyer for Fahrenheit 11/9. One wonders if that’s why they never got back to me regarding my film footage!
A Few Conclusions
In the end, I’ve made a few conclusions about my odd, behind-the-scenes experiences regarding the SWING STATE film series.
Seeing how a prestigious documentary director took interest in the same topic of Swing States (and bipartisanship), I knew I was at least on the right track with my movies. I also knew my footage was quite unique and valuable, if Moore’s nice, young producer said so. I also knew I was doing something right, when I won a “People’s Choice Award” at the BIFF film festival, a few seasons back.
In closing, I’m trying to decide on whether to make a Part 3 in Northern Wisconsin or not. Many have encouraged me to do another documentary, at least for the sake of Wisconsin’s history. In my mind, an Act 3 (with all the expected drama and conflict to come) might actually tie things up quite nicely!
What do you think?
Bryan Oldenburg is a Filmmaker and Digital Marketer in Beloit, Wisconsin
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