Bannon: Grit, Tenacity and Fortitude

"She is the most anti-establishment figure in modern political history..."
*
Here's an excerpt from a profile "The Undefeated" filmmaker Stephen Bannon wrote about Gov. Palin, as the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute honors influential and prominent conservative women who have made a significant positive impact on our republic:

I repeatedly get asked: “Why would you make a movie about Sarah Palin–what could we possibly not already know about her?”

The answer is quite simply, “everything that’s important.”

Sarah Palin is what I describe as a “McLuhanesque” figure—one of the most media-saturated people in the world, relentlessly covered by the 24/7 news cycle, yet her real story is there hiding in plain sight, never having been told.

And what story exactly is that? The rise of a woman from complete obscurity to national prominence through her own force of will and sense of justice.

[...]

She is the most anti-establishment figure in modern political history, from her time on the Wasilla city council through her “crony capitalism” speech against the “permanent political class” at the Iowa Classic Balloon Field on Labor Day weekend 2011, this is someone who has stood by the side of the working men and women of this country, at every level, for the last 20 years.

Read More

- JP

'The Undefeated' heads north to Alaska

The Sarah Palin documentary “The Undefeated” has been shown in Alaska, but never on the big screen. That's due to change Monday, as the theater version of the two-hour film will be screened in Palin country, according to a report in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman:

Sponsored by the Valley Republican Women’s Club, the Alaska screening also includes a meet-and-greet event with the movie’s creator and producer, Stephen Bannon, from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday at Colony Inn in Palmer. Tickets are $50 each or $75 per couple and include a light meal and a chance to speak one-on-one with Bannon.

“I’m looking forward to coming to Alaska,” he said Thursday by phone from Washington, D.C. He said this trip to Alaska will be a relatively quick since he is planning to spend Thanksgiving at Fort Campbell, Ky., with his daughter, a recent West Point graduate.

Bannon said when the movie was originally released, the theatrically company that distributed the film didn’t have any screens in Alaska.

“We’ve been actually trying to do this since August,” Bannon said.

Past Valley Republican Women’s Club president Julie Gillette said she met Bannon on Facebook before seeing the film. After watching “Undefeated” on pay-per-view at a friends’ house, Gillette said she contacted Bannon again and told him how much she’d enjoyed the movie and that she hoped he’d have a chance to come to Wasilla and show the movie someday.

“It’s fantastic to have the filmmaker here with the film,” Gillette said Friday.

While Bannon’s in Alaska, he said he also plans to record his weekly radio show here, which airs on KABC AM in Los Angeles.

[More]

The movie plays at 6PM Alaska Time Nov. 21 at the Wasilla Alaska Club Theater. Suggested donation is $5 and seating is limited to 150 people.

- JP

‘The Undefeated’ Goes North to Alaska

“We're going to make that announcement here in the next week.”
*
In an interview for The Victory Sessions, filmmaker Stephen K. Bannon told Sarah Palin's brother Chuck Heath, Jr. that he's bringing his documentary film to Alaska for a Wasilla screening:


We're reminded of the Steve Allen song, “This could be the start of something big,” which was such a big deal that it replaced the theme music for the “Tonight Show” back in the day when Allen was the host.

The entire Chuck Heath, Jr. interview is well worth a listen, and you'll find it on The Victory Sessions website.

- JP

'The Victory Sessions' with Stephen Bannon launches tonight on KABC

7PM Texas Time
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"The Undefeated" director Stephen K. Bannon makes his debut as radio talk show host this evening with the premiere of "The Victory Sessions" on TalkRadio 790 KABC in Los Angeles. Here's the press release:

The inaugural premier first show of “The Victory Sessions” with host Stephen K. Bannon will air on TalkRadio 790 KABC today from 5-7PM PDT immediately following Dodger baseball Victory Media Group announced today. The weekly Sunday show will be broadcast live nationally and focuses on Culture, Economics, Politics, and War and its resulting impact from the perspective of all Americans.

This week’s co-hosts are Tobin Smith of FOX Business News; Adam Tragone and Anthony Lee of Human Events; and Sonnie Johnson, a leading Tea party activist.

The lineup of guests includes FOX News’ Lou Dobbs, Jim Quinn of the Burning Platform and a political roundtable to discuss the latest news from Washington featuring: Peter Boyer, Newsweek; Joshua Green, The Atlantic; Jedediah Bila from The Daily Caller and Ted Johnson, Deputy Editor of Variety. The show will also feature a Tea Party Report from political experts William J. Kelly and Laura Kelly.

With an emphasis on culture as well as politics, the show will also feature segments on cinema and guest Jonathan English, the Director of the film “Ironclad” starring Paul Giammati, Michael Murphy will also discuss the new film adaptation of his classic novel, “Golf in the Kingdom,” which opens this weekend in New York.

“Radio is such a dynamic medium, and it’s the perfect venue to bring together compelling groups of people each week for thought-provoking conversations on politics, economics and culture,” said host Stephen K. Bannon. “I want ‘The Victory Sessions’ to be a more like a gathering, not a ‘show.’”

“Our motto is, ‘Understanding Unites Us, Ignorance Divides Us. Each week we will be bringing people together to talk, debate, educate and entertain,” added Bannon.

Click here to access the live broadcast.

- JP

Tea Party Report: 'The Undefeated' scores success in unexpected places

The film made its Chicago debut Saturday to a packed house
*
As hard as the corrupt, agenda-driven media is trying to kill off Stephen Bannon's Palin documentary, you'd think it would be gone by now. But 'The Undefeated' refuses to be defeated by the DNC stenographers who pose as journalists. Laura Kelly and William J. Kelly report:

To the chagrin of Hollywood industry skeptics and Palin-haters alike, it was another big weekend for “The Undefeated.” In its opening weekend July 15-17 in limited theatrical release in 10 cities, the Stephen Bannon-directed film has defied expectations selling out showings to score an average $6500 per screen and more than $11,000 per screen in top markets.

Predictably, the mainstream media have been on the attack. Gunning for the film at every turn. Using every headline to pepper the news cycle with innuendo.

[...]

But we aren’t talking Captain America or Harry Potter here. A conservative political documentary requires a different measure of success. And this indie underdog film has been scoring unexpected successes - and fans - in decidedly liberal places.

After a five-city expansion, the film made its Chicago debut Saturday to a packed house at the GeneSiskelFilmCenter. Yes, I said, “Chicago.”

This is the Sarah Palin documentary, right? Remember, Sarah Palin? The hockey mom of five whom comedian Bill Maher referred to “inbred weirdos straight out of ‘Hills Have Eyes.’” The former Alaskan governor woman liberal progressives love to hate?

Sunday’s left-leaning Chicago Sun-Times led its story coverage with a post-film recap called, “Film Drives a Stake into ‘Caribou Barbie’ for one Dem.” The “one Dem” was Eddie Bryant, a retired 67-year old Union Pacific employee of African American-descent. “People say this lady is brainless,” said Bryant. “She’s not only smart, but she’s a clean-government person. I gained respect for her.” And Bryant’s not the only one.

Legendary film critic Roger Ebert, a passionate political liberal, called the film “A Documentary for Palin Lovers.” A powerful industry voice, Ebert could have maligned the film; he didn’t.

[More]

h/t: Henry D'Andrea

- JP

ICYMI: Rusty Humphries interviews Stephen Bannon

"These guys on the left... We're going to have them on the run."
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In case you missed it, "The Undefeated" director Stephen Bannon was Rusty Humphries' guest on Friday, July 15:


- JP

Special Saturday Screening of ‘The Undefeated’ in Chicago

Presented by Kelly Truth Squad and Rebuild Illinois
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Talk show host and conservative commentator William J. Kelly, who contributes op-eds and political satire to The Washington Times Communities blogs, Andrew Breitbart's "Bigs" websites and his Blog Talk Radio program Kelly Truth Squad, is co-hosting a special screening of "The Undefeated" in Chicago this week: Saturday, with director Stephen Bannon in attendance.


It's a one-time, one-day only event set for noon on Saturday, with director Stephen Bannon in attendance to field questions from viewers. The venue will be the Gene Siskel Film Center at 164 N. State in The Windy City, and seating is described as, "very limited." You can order advance tickets, at $10 per, here via PayPal. No word yet on whether Mayor Rahm has purchased his ticket.

h/t: Illinois4Palin

ARC: 'The Undefeated' to Expand to Additional Cities & Theaters This Weekend

Documentary film coming to Tucson, West Palm, Milwaukee, Charlotte, and Ontario
*
In a move which discredits claims by the liberal media about the box office strength of the Palin documentary "The Undefeated," ARC Entertainment has announced that director Stephen Bannon's film will debut in five new markets this weekend, while it expands to additional theaters in two cities and continues in seven. Here is the press release:

Santa Monica, Calif. (July 18, 2011) ⎯ ARC Entertainment today announced “The Undefeated,” which chronicles Sarah Palin’s rise from obscurity to national prominence, will roll out to additional AMC Theatres (AMC) beginning on Friday, July 22nd.

With sold-out runs and enthusiastic audience support on opening weekend, the film will roll out to new markets including Tucson, AZ; West Palm, FL; Milwaukee, WI; Charlotte, NC; and Ontario, CA. The film will also expand into additional theatres in Atlanta, GA, and Phoenix, AZ, and will continue in theatres in Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Orlando, FL; and Orange, CA.

ARC Entertainment, the distributor of the film, announced today that the film had a stronger opening weekend than expected with the top markets, Phoenix and Orange County, achieving weekend per screen averages above $11,000 driven by multiple sold-out runs. The film was rushed to select digital theatres in only three weeks, and was marketed entirely through social media and grass roots efforts with virtually no traditional media spend.

“Given the audience response on our opening weekend we now know we have a film that works. Our objective is very simple⎯ to bring this film to every market and every corner of the country; starting with a limited theatrical release and then through an aggressive broader distribution strategy including streaming video, on-demand access and DVD,” stated filmmaker Stephen K. Bannon.

Trevor Drinkwater, CEO of ARC Entertainment, said, “We have been inundated with requests from around the country to have the film play in their market. Our expansion plan is being methodically analyzed and managed to allow the film to be viewed by the widest audience in the most effective manner.”

This coming Friday the film will play in the following AMC theatres:
Ahwatukee 24 4915 East Ray Road Phoenix, AZ 85044
Arizona Center 24 565 N. 3rd Street Phoenix, AZ 85004
Barrett Commons 24 Theatres 2600 Cobb Place Lane NW Kennesaw, GA 30144
Block 30 @ Orange 20 City Boulevard West Orange, CA 92868
Colonial 18 Theatres 825 Lawrenceville – Suwanee Road Lawrenceville, GA 30245
Concord Mills 8421 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 28027
Foothills 15 7401 La Cholla Blvd. Suite 144 Tucson, AZ 85741
Grapevine Mills 30 Theatres 3150 Grapevine Mills Parkway Grapevine, TX 76051
Highlands Ranch 24 103 Centennial Road Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Indian River 24 6200 20th Street #600 Vero Beach, FL 32966
Mayfair Mall 18 2500 North Mayfair Road Box M-146 Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Ontario Mills 30 4549 Mills Circle Ontario, CA 91764
West Oaks 14 9415 West Colonial Drive Ocoee, FL 34761
Willowbrook 24 Theatres 17145 Tomball Parkway Houston, TX 77064

“We are thrilled that The Undefeated can benefit from the digital cinema platform to quickly expand to additional markets this weekend,” said Jonathan Dern, president of Cinedigm Entertainment Group.

Written and directed by Stephen K. Bannon and produced by Victory Film Group co-founder Glenn Bracken Evans and Dan Fleuette, “The Undefeated” was independently financed by Victory Film Group and its partners.

The film includes leading prominent political commentators Mark Levin, Tammy Bruce and Andrew Breitbart as well as conservative activists Kate Obenshain, Sonnie Johnson and Jamie Radtke. Additionally, the film features interviews with Alaskan civil servants, elected officials and advisors who were involved in Alaskan politics during Governor Palin’s tenure.

“After the incredible feedback we got from enthusiastic audiences, we are very excited to bring this story of a true American hero to additional audiences across America,” said Glenn Bracken Evans.

[More]

Theater owners are in the entertainment business to make money, not to make political statements. If you believe the critics of the film on the left, then why will the "The Undefeated" be showing next week in more markets and more theaters than it is this week? We can't wait to hear how the naysayers will spin their answer to this question.

- JP

CNN: 'Palinistas' pleased with 'The Undefeated'

Report mentions the sold-out 7 p.m. showing at the AMC Barrett Commons in Kennesaw.
*
Here's how CNN reported the premiere of "The Undefeatd" in Atlanta suburb Kennesaw, GA:

The distributor of the Sarah Palin biopic "The Undefeated" is expected to announce details of a wider run after a 10-city opening over the weekend.

The film's distributor, ARC Entertainment, said the film averaged $5,000 per screen Friday and Saturday night, with sold-out screenings at several locations. ARC Entertainment said in a statement "... with the strong initial showing, the film is going to a wider release footprint later this month."

"Incredible. ... Inspiring" was how viewer Casey Cunningham described the film after the sold-out 7 p.m. showing at the AMC Barrett Commons in Kennesaw. Groups were organized via social media to support the opening, with some attendees driving from neighboring states.

The auditorium was packed with Palin enthusiasts who frequently applauded lines the former Alaska governor delivered on screen, giving the screening the feel of a political rally.

[...]

The director, Stephen K. Bannon, a conservative auteur in the mold of Michael Moore right down to the New Balance sneakers, attended the screening and told CNN that he hopes to expand to more screens, but that decision would have to be made by theaters and the distributor after returns from the current release are counted.

[...]

Regardless of the its performance in theaters, Bannon vows that all Americans will have the chance to see the movie and that it will be available by pay-per-view and streaming video, as well as a DVD deal with Walmart.

[More]

- JP

ARC Entertainment: Strong Opening for 'The Undefeated'

"Multiple sold-out runs and vocal audience support"
*
It's official: "The Undefeated," now in the third day of its opening run, is already a indisputable success. ARC Entertainment has crunched the numbers from the box offices of its ten theaters showing Stephen Bannon's Palin documentary, and the company is very pleased with the results. Here's the full press release:

Santa Monica, Calif. (July 17, 2011) - ARC Entertainment, the distributor of “The Undefeated,” the film about Gov. Sarah Palin’s rise from obscurity to national prominence, announced today that through Saturday night the film had a stronger opening than expected with the large markets trending towards weekend per screen averages above $10,000 driven by multiple sold-out runs. The film had accumulated approximately $5,000 per screen through Saturday night. Unique in the theatrical feature world, The Undefeated was rushed to select digital theatres in only 3 weeks, and was marketed almost entirely through social media and grass roots efforts, with virtually no traditional media spend. With the strong initial showing, the film is going to a wider release footprint later this month, with details being announced soon.

The film opened in 10 markets on Friday including Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, Denver, CO, Phoenix, AZ, Orlando, FL, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, MO, Oklahoma City, OK and Orange, CA.

“We are extremely pleased with the audience reaction, which has been over-the-top enthusiastic and very passionate, including standing ovations at most screenings,” said Trevor Drinkwater, CEO of ARC Entertainment, the film’s distributor. “We expect word-of-mouth to keep ticket sales strong and we will definitely expand the film to a wider national audience. With merely three weeks of preparation and a virtually non-existent traditional advertising spend, the film did exceptionally well. ”

“We have been told the theaters in Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver and Indianapolis moved the film to bigger screens to accommodate oversized crowds. Because of high-ticket sales, the Phoenix theater put ‘The Undefeated’ on two screens during one showing to accommodate demand,” stated Andy Badolato, VP Marketing and Business Development of Victory Film Group and Associate Producer of “The Undefeated.”

Over the weekend reports also documented the strong ticket sales and enthusiastic audience reaction. Reuters reported, “It may not be ‘Harry Potter,’ but another film featuring a bespectacled protagonist is racking up strong pre-sales before its national roll-out this weekend.” AOL’s Patch reported, “Reactions from filmgoers attending the screening were overwhelmingly positive.” The Brisbane Times of Australia reported, “‘The Undefeated,’ a documentary tracing Sarah Palin’s rise to political power, has opened in US theatres to overwhelmingly positive opinion.”

“ARC Entertainment and its digital distribution partner Cinedigm did an incredible job opening weekend,” said Stephen K. Bannon, the film’s writer and director. “This was a high risk bet- a national release in ten disparate markets with only three weeks preparation supported solely by social media. What would have taken months and cost millions in P & A, ARC Entertainment and Cinedigm accomplished within a month with negligible costs. This film will find its audience because of its appeal and our savvy distribution partners.”

“The Undefeated is the perfect example of how digital cinema can benefit both producers and audiences,” said Jill Newhouse Calcaterra, chief marketing officer at Cinedigm. “Starting with theatre location selection, we worked quickly – with precision accuracy- to generate a terrific box office result with virtually no marketing dollars. This is a new model that is going to benefit the entire entertainment industry and audiences who want to see unique products.”

“The combination of passionate audience response, sustained standing ovations and in-theater Twittering convinces us that this is a special film that will have incredible word-of-mouth,” said Glenn Bracken Evans, Victory Film Group co-founder. “The film’s website www.theundefeatedmovie.com has received hundreds of thousands of hits. I am truly amazed that in certain markets we will hit or exceed the $10,000 per screen mark given that we had absolutely no electronic media spend and only booked the theaters weeks ago. I’m particularly amazed we accomplished this in Phoenix and Orange County, two of the country’s most competitive markets during one of the toughest summer weekends and up against Harry Potter.”

Written and directed by Bannon and produced by Victory Film Group co-founder Glenn Bracken Evans and Dan Fleuette, “The Undefeated” was independently financed by Victory Film Group and its partners.

The film includes leading prominent political commentators Mark Levin, Tammy Bruce and Andrew Breitbart as well as conservative activists Kate Obenshein, Sonnie Johnson and Jamie Radtke. Additionally, the film features interviews with Alaskan civil servants, elected officials and advisors who were involved in Alaskan politics during Governor Palin’s tenure.

About ARC Entertainment

ARC Entertainment provides brand marketing, retail strategy, physical distribution and sales services for consumer products, with an emphasis on entertainment-based products. ARC Entertainment is a “solutions-based” distribution company. ARC Entertainment’s unparalleled relationships with national retailers, coupled with strong sales and marketing expertise, enables the Company to explore unique programs and business models for its content partners. The company develops creative and profitable retail marketing programs by connecting Intellectual Property and Content owners directly with retailers. This enables ARC Entertainment to truly align content development, investment and distribution with the requirements of retailers and their customers. ARC Entertainment monetizes Content in multiple revenue streams including: Theatrical Distribution, DVD, Blu-Ray, Digital, Electronic Sell-Through, Streaming, VOD, PPV, Pay and Free TV. ARC Entertainment.

About Cinedigm

Cinedigm is a leader in providing the services, experience, technology and content critical to transforming movie theaters into digital and networked entertainment centers. The company partners with Hollywood movie studios, independent movie distributors, and exhibitors to bring movies in digital cinema format to audiences across the country. Cinedigm’s digital cinema deployment organization, software, satellite and hard drive digital movie delivery network; pre-show in-theater advertising services; and marketing and distribution platform for alternative content such as CineLive ® 3-D and 2-D sports and concerts, thematic programming and independent movies is a cornerstone of the digital cinema transformation. Cinedigm ™ and Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. ™ are trademarks of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. Cinedigm.com (CIDM-G)

About Victory Film Group

Victory Film Group develops, produces and distributes films that address today’s leading political, socio-economical and cultural issues from a conservative perspective.www.victoryfilmgroup.com

For More Information

www.TheUndefeatedMovie.com

www.victoryfilmgroup.com

www.cinedigm.com/theUndefeatedMovie

Good news for all concerned with the notable exception of the left wing, lamestream meadia, which is doing everything within its power to suppress turnout for the film.

- JP

Video: Stephen Bannon on 'Good Morning Arizona'

"The mainstream media just cannot handle the truth."
*
Stephen Bannon was interviewed Thursday on Phoenix independent station KTVK-TV's "Good Morning Arizona":



The film opens Friday in 10 U.S.cities: Grapevine, Tex.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Independence, Mo.; Kennesaw, Ga.; Houston, Texas; Orlando, Fla.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Orange, Calif.

- JP

Mark Levin: 'I'm a big fan of Sarah Palin'

Mark will have "The Undefeated" producer Stephen Bannon on his show next week.
*

- JP

Stephen Bannon to release an uncut version of 'The Undefeated'

On Hollywood's hatred for Gov. Palin: "It's hypocrisy. Let's call it what it is."
*
Stephen Bannon, director of "The Undefeated," plan to release an uncut version of his film about the emergence of Sarah Palin on the national political scene. That version of the documentary will present an uncensored look at what the filmmaker calls a "pop-culture beat-down" of the former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential candidate:

Although the film has been tagged with only a PG-13 rating for "brief strong language" by the Motion Picture Assn. of America, Bannon said he has created an explicit cut of the film that demonstrates that beat-down in more graphic terms. "I took out all sorts of violence and masked the vulgarity for the theatrical release because I wanted families to be able to see the film," Bannon told 24 Frames on Wednesday.

In the cut that will be shown in AMC movie theaters beginning July 15, Madonna, Louis C.K. and Pamela Anderson are among those shown in public appearances to be using epithets about the former vice presidential candidate.

Bannon said the new cut would feature things like "crucifixions, lynching and suicides," but declined to say who was behind these comments or where they appeared, saying only vaguely that they came from "Facebook and Twitter."

"People think Tina Fey is the worst of what's out there, and they have no idea," he said, referring to the actress' impersonations of Palin on "Saturday Night Live."

[...]

The filmmaker said his alternative version would be released to television via on-demand platforms and a deal with DirecTV. A spokesman for the satellite operator did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment.

[More]

Although many political figures have been attacked with hateful language and even threats on their lives, Bannon said he believes Palin has been a singular target of hatemongers.

- JP

Pella Prepares for a Palinfest

“It will be unlike anything Pella, the area of Pella, has ever experienced.”
*
Sarah Palin returns to Iowa for the first time in seven months today as she and husband Todd will be at the Pella Opera House for the world premiere of the documentary film “The Undefeated”. KCCI-TV's Emily Price reports:

Management at the Pella Opera House found out just four days ago that they were chosen as the venue to host the premiere. The theater only seats 324 people, but it's about to have millions of eyes watching.

“It will be unlike anything Pella, the area of Pella, has ever experienced,” said Pella Opera House board president Larry Peterson.

[...]

“I think it's gotten a lot of attention. Not just national media will be here but a lot of international media as well,” said filmmaker Steve Bannon.

Bannon told News Channel 8 that before the sun comes up on Tuesday the major network morning news shows will be in front of the Opera House doing live reports. By sundown, he said, more than 50 media outlets will have written, broadcast or posted online about what happened in Pella.

“Well, we're very proud to show it off,” said Pella Opera House Interim Director Beth Hill.

After the movie premiere, 1,000 people will attend a barbecue with Palin. Filmmakers said it's exactly what Palin wanted.

“I told the team I think that it was in Pella and at the Pella Opera House that really, I think, grabbed her imagination,” Bannon said.

The former candidate for vice president will sit several rows back with her husband, Todd.

There are, of course, no tickets available for the movie or for the barbecue. Bannon and his team selected the historic Pella Opera House over some 200 other venues across the state to be the site of the world premiere of their film. Opera House management didn't even know that their theater was being considered for such an event because the filmmakers kept it a secret.

h/t: M. Joseph Sheppard

- JP

'The Undefeated' has the left reeling

They are scrambling to get an anti-Palin film out
*
Stephen Bannon's "The Undefeated" hasn't even had it's world premiere yet (that comes Tuesday in Pella, Iowa with Todd and Sarah Palin attending), but already it has the anti-Palin left in a mad scramble to try to counter it. The left is so fearful that the truth about Gov. Palin's good governorship of Alaska, as revealed in the reels of "The Undefeated, will beat down three years of media lies about her that leftist filmmaker Nick Broomfield is rushing to complete an anti-Palin counterpart to Bannon's film.

Broomfield's hit flick will include clips of such notorious anti-Palinites as the governor's former legislative director John Bitney, whom she fired for betraying her trust, and former Alaska Senate president Lyda Green, a longtime Palin political enemy. A previous Broomfield film, "Battle for Haditha," leaves little doubt of the political perspective from which he's mounting his cinematic assault on Sarah Palin. Author Robin Mullins Boyd debunked some of the many lies told in Broomfield's "Hadditha" in a 2007 blog post:

One of the favs at the Toronto Film Festival is the disgusting movie, Battle for Haditha, by Nick Broomfield. Reviewers are marveling at the "dramatization" and lauding the performances. BUT NOT ONE has questioned the events as depicted in this tripe of a movie. To rub salt in the backstabbing wounds, former Marines portray the real Haditha Marines to add realism to this piece of fiction.

You know you're a hit with the anti-war, anti-American, anti-military crowd when you get a review on the World Socialist website.

[More]

Getting rave reviews from fellow leftists doesn't necessarily put people in the theater seats, and that is ultimately the measure by which the hit flick currently being shopped by Broomfield in Los Angeles will have to compete against "The Undefeated," which has a big head start, thanks to distribution deals with Cinedigm Entertainment Group and AMC Theaters.

Broomfield's panicky response to Bannon's film was as predictable as night following day. Whenever the rare news article which treats Gov. Palin fairly pops up, the media left counters with ten Palin hit pieces. For every blog post which shows her in a positive light, the leftist blogs respond with a hundred dark attacks on her and her family. For every book which is favorable to the former GOP vice presidential candidate, the left cranks out an anti-Palin volume. If the anemic sales performance of the books which attack the governor are any predictor, Broomfield's film will be a colossal flop and another EPIC FAIL of the anti-Palin left.

- JP

ICMI: Warner Todd Huston's Stephen Bannon interview

"One of the things I decided to do was drive a stake in the heart of 'Caribou Barbie'"
*
Stephen Bannon, director of "The Undefeated," has granted many interviews over the past month or so, but we believe one of the best and most comprehensive of those was this discussion with Warner Todd Huston at the Right Online conference. In case you missed it (ICMI), here's the full interview:

Part 1:

_

Part 2:


h/t: Hot Air

- JP

'The Undefeated' to Screen at Conservative Conferences

"The center-Right is taking a closer look at Sarah Palin"
*
It's a major coup for 'The Undefeated' writer/director Stephen Bannon, and it's sure to help continue the upward trend of Gov. Palin's political stock . Three key conferences -- RightOnline, Smart Girl Summit, And The Redstate Gathering -- will feature his Sarah Palin documentary at their major events. At the RightOnline Conference, Andrew Breitbart will introduce the two-hour film in his speech, ”The Battle For The Soul Of The Conservative Movement And The Republican Party." From the press release:

Victory Film Group today announced The Undefeated, which chronicles Sarah Palin’s rise from obscurity to national prominence, will screen for select audiences at several upcoming events including; for bloggers at The RightOnline Conference in Minneapolis on June 17th; for conservative women activists at the Smart Girl Summit in St. Louis on July 30th , and the RedState Gathering in Charleston, SC on August 12th.

[...]

At the RightOnline Conference, Andrew Breitbart will introduce the film with a speech.

"The center-Right is taking a closer look at Sarah Palin as she is getting high profile attention for her nationwide bus tour, release of emails, and overall political positioning. This film takes an unvarnished look at a woman that leaves the mainstream media in her dust and makes no apologies," said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity and president of Americans for Prosperity Foundation.

"I’m pleased to screen The Undefeated at AFP Foundation’s RightOnline conference this Friday, and allow hundreds of free-market activists to learn the real story behind Palin’s political career," he added.

“Showing The Undefeated at this year’s Smart Girl Summit is both exciting and important,” says Stacy Mott, president of Smart Girl Politics. “Sarah Palin has been a huge inspiration to a new generation of conservative women activists and we pay tribute to that by showing the film at our annual conference,” she adds. “Being a conservative woman in politics is not easy, and we are certain The Undefeated will serve to rally our attendees as we push toward electoral victory in 2012.”

"Sarah Palin connects with grassroots conservatives in a way few others do. The RedState Gathering is an annual gathering of authentic grassroots conservatives. Showing The Undefeated to this audience is a natural fit, particularly as RedState's readers continue to support and love Governor Palin,” said Erick-Woods Erickson, editor, RedState.com

“We are very excited about screening The Undefeated for these select audiences,” says Stephen K. Bannon. "There is a battle for the soul of the Conservative movement and the Republican Party and it is most important to bring this film to these influential activist audiences."

“We believe that Governor Palin’s story of rising from obscurity to national prominence and taking on both the right and the left will inspire the audiences at The RightOnline Conference, the Smart Girl Summit, the RedState Gathering, as well as audiences nationwide when the film opens July 15th,” said Glenn Bracken Evans.

[More]

Eat your heart out, John Ziegler.

- JP

Stephen Bannon: 'This is a very smart woman'

"She's an existential threat to the establishment"
*
Documentary film maker Stephen Bannon, Writer/Director of "The Undefeated," was interviewed by Sean Hannity Friday night:


h/t: Fox News

- JP

Matt Lewis: AMC Theatres signs deal for Sarah Palin film distribution

“The documentary is made to be seen on a big screen.”
*
When "The Undefeated," the new major documentary film about Gov. Palin debuts on July 15, it will be shown exclusively in select AMC Theatres, according to a press release from writer/director Stephen K. Bannon's production company, Victory Film Group. Matt Lewis has the story at The Daily Caller:

“We are thrilled that AMC will give The Undefeated a national theatrical release this summer,” says Glenn Bracken Evans of Victory Film Group. “The documentary is made to be seen on a big screen.”

The film, which tells the story of Palin’s rise from relative obscurity to becoming a political star, is slated to open in presumably Palin-friendly target markets such as Dallas, Denver, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Atlanta, Orange County, Phoenix, Houston, Indianapolis, and Kansas City.

“AMC is committed to providing distinct content to diverse audiences across the United States,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, VP, Specialty & Alternative Content at AMC Theatres. “We are proud to consistently offer a wide variety of product to our guests.”

Jonathan Dern, President of Cinedigm Entertainment Group (the group managing the theater release) noted that “… digital cinema allows us to be extremely precise and efficient in our distribution strategy, bringing this much-anticipated film directly to interested theatre-goers.”

“After screening The Undefeated, we took the unusual step of immediately exploring an expedited theatrical release, something we normally wouldn’t do during the busy summer months,” said Trevor Drinkwater, CEO, ARC Entertainment, the company managing worldwide distribution for the project.

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Bannon couldn't have found a better launching platform for his movie. AMC's 360 theaters offer more than 5,000 screens available to show "The Undefeated" across the U.S. and Canada. That includes, as Lewis points out, 24 of the 50 highest-grossing theaters in the nation, including the top three.


The full press release is here. The movie poster was found here. Vote for locations where you would like to see "The Undefeated screened here. The movie's website is up and running here.

- JP

'The Undefeated' slated for national release July 15 (Updated)

“I think this primary needs a full representation from the tea party”
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Andy Barr reports that "The Undefeated," the major documentary about Sarah Palin, will be released across the country after it premieres later this month in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina:

But first it will need to be scaled back: the current version contains so much profanity — mostly from comedians and pundits cursing about Palin – as well as violent file footage of war used to portray the attacks against Palin as particularly savage, that it does not yet have a rating. At a press screening in Washington on Thursday, director Steve Bannon said he’ll aim for a PG-13 final cut, though he hopes to release the film as it currently stands via pay-per-view and video to give Palin diehards fans the original.

The film highlights parts of Palin’s resume that made her a compelling choice for John McCain’s presidential campaign. The movie’s theme is her improbable rise from Wasilla mom to governor of the state – and the out of nowhere nature is what has always made Palin such an intriguing political figure. And though Bannon acknowledged that Palin in fact had a several losses on her political career, he said the film’s title reflects that “the values are what is undefeated.”

[...]

Though the context is sometimes lacking, Bannon’s portrait is accurate, with glowing comments attached.

“Like a marine, she runs toward danger,” the friendly conservative radio host Tammy Bruce says of Palin. Breitbart meanwhile portrays men in the Republican establishment as “eunuchs” for failing to defend Palin from criticism.

In addition to the theatrical release, Bannon is also hoping to take “The Undefeated” to retail – he’s eying Wal-Mart as a major distributor. “If you look at the Wal-Mart customer, she’s relatable,” Bannon said.

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The nationwide release seems certain, according to a tweet by The Atlantic's Joshua Green, which reveals that a "Major theater chain will announce Palin film distribution deal tomorrow a.m., sez Palin filmmaker."

Gov. Palin will not make money off of the film, but she may realize rewards for it in the political realm. Bannon, on the other hand, is counting on "The Undefeated" to turn a profit for his investors, saying “Absolutely, we’re capitalists.”

If you haven't done so already, please follow "The Undefeated" via Facebook and on Twitter. A website will be launched soon.

Update: Dave Weigel reports that Steve Bannon has disclosed the release date as July 15:

The movie now has a distributor, Cinedyne, and its ad campaign will start up next week.

"Every day next week, there'll be another announcement," said Bannon. "Look, this is not Batman: This is going to have to be smart. There are going to be radio ads, newspaper ads, Internet ads."

- JP