Taking the Candidates to the Movies: ED in '08 Presents 'Two Million Minutes'

Just as the candidates are starting to realize that Americans are ready for less talk on Iraq and more on issues like economic security, we at ED in '08 are proud partner with Broken Pencil Productions to highlight the documentary film Two Million Minutes: A Global Examination. The title of the film comes from the fact that regardless of nationality, as soon as a student completes the eighth grade, that student has approximately two million minutes until high school graduation -- just two million minutes to prepare themselves to compete in the global economy.

"Two Million Minutes" compares educational standards in the United States with those in India and China by following two students from each of these countries and interviewing them throughout their senior year in high school. The film is intended to spark discussions and dialogue about American education.

If you're in Iowa, tonight we'll be hosting a screening of "Two Million Minutes" at the Varsity Theatre in Des Moines at 7:30 p.m. Iowa is the first primary state to see the film, and I'll be sure to keep you posted about future screenings we plan to host around the country in the coming months. In the meantime, folks can view the trailer at www.2mminutes.com.

"As one of the presidential primary states, Iowa is a critical location in which to screen Two Million Minutes," said Executive Producer Bob Compton. "The film is of great importance for the 2008 presidential campaigns, the traditional media and the voting public."

Compton teamed up with two former teachers-turned-filmmakers to produce the documentary. Chad Heeter and Adam Raney -- both graduates of UC-Berkeley's journalism school with expertise in foreign reporting -- traveled to Shanghai, Bangalore and across the U.S., taking cameras into classrooms for over twenty months to capture the stories told in the film.

I'm hopeful that this film will serve as a wake-up call for America. Our educational priorities and standards pale in comparison with what's being done in nations such as India and China, our present and future economic competition. I think this documentary gives us a really compelling look at just how far we have to go in order to catch up. Now, I don't know if any of the candidates will be attending our screening tonight, but if more economic security is what the voters want answers on, maybe they should think about coming by!