DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

RED WHITEVILLE AND BLUE

A group of self-professed “Patriotic Millionaires” descend on a tiny, Southern town called Whiteville with an unusual goal: to convince its conservative and liberal working-class residents to set aside their partisan differences and help jump start a national movement to tax the rich, raise the minimum wage, and save American democracy. Under the leadership of longtime political fundraiser Erica Payne, the pilot “Great Economy Project” offers skeptical residents free dinners and a first-hand education on how economic hardships, brought on by both political parties, have led to the rise of political extremism and obscene levels of wealth.

Against the backdrop of racial and economic strife, an improbable mix of residents start to organize for political accountability in North Carolina, where the minimum wage remains $7.25/hr; far less than a living wage and a fate shared with more than 40% of their fellow Americans. An anxious push to expand the program to other key swing states ahead of the 2024 elections reveals the limits of rapid grassroots organizing and the glaring disparities in political influence between the wealthy and the working class. In this documentary, a modern take on “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” single mothers, military veterans and Trump voters start to realize their political power in solidarity with one another; but can this unorthodox approach to igniting political change make headway amid overheated culture wars, small town gossip and a democratic system skewed in favor of the wealthy elite?

84:00 | English w Subtitles

World Premiere: Full Frame Film Festival, April 2024

WHERE to Watch

Directed by D.L. Anderson: @dlapictures (STAY PRAYED UP, FARMER/VETERAN)

ProduceR: Sarah Sloan (AMERICA TO ME, BEING WITH YOURSELF), D.L. Anderson

EditOR: RobERT Gourley (A HARVEST, Don’t think twice), D.L. Anderson

Executive Producers: Michael Hirschorn (KILL CHAIN, GRINGO) • Lawrence Benenson (THE HUNT FOR PLANET B, CAPTURING THE FLAG) • lee Beckett (THE LAST DEFENSE, A CRIME TO REMEMBER)

A vittles Production • In association with Ish entertainment

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For Sales: michael@ish.tv