Irish-American documentary producer David McCourt sat down with “Ocean’s Twelve” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” director George Nolfi at SXSW on Friday to discuss McCourt’s upcoming PBS documentary, “Amerigo: The Quest for the American Dream.”
As shown in the trailer Variety can exclusively reveal, the film features interviews with people across the country who discuss the concept of the American Dream, with a particular focus on their thoughts on work, opportunity, technology, and community.
During the panel discussion, McCourt asked the audience to raise their hands if they believe the American Dream is still alive. Half the crowd responded. When asked who felt anxious or anxious about the American Dream, another half raised their hands. When he asked if anyone thought the American Dream was completely over, no one raised their hand.
That cautious optimism is what “Amerigo” explores. “I want to hear from the American people. It’s often an optimistic story in movies, but it’s an optimistic story hanging by a thread,” McCourt said while speaking with Nolfi, discussing the challenges people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds face when seeking job security and buying a home.
On a personal note, McCourt said, “My grandfather came here at 16, got a job as a janitor, bought a house, and died debt-free. Is that no longer possible? Is that still possible for school teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses? And if not, is this still a country we want to live in?”
In the trailer for “Amerigo,” several people say they yearn for a “white picket fence” but don’t believe they can buy a house. According to one woman, “If you’re growing into an industrial giant and more and more people are suffering, you’re not growing. You’re hoarding.”
However, some interviewees sang a different song. “You want a beer at 6 a.m.? The Beastie Boys fought for the right to do that,” one man said. “If ever we needed a battle anthem for the Republic, it’s now,” McCourt says at the end of the trailer.
McCourt isn’t done looking for American stories. Alongside “Amerigo,” and in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the United States, McCourt’s production company is launching America-Dreams.com, where people can post video messages about their hopes for the country’s future. Some videos will be selected for wider campaigns related to the film. This web initiative is a partnership with South Florida PBS, Austin PBS, WVIA, and American Public Television.
“To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of independence, we wanted to do something truly remarkable and share American Dreams with all Americans at America-Dreams.com,” South Florida PBS President and CEO Dolores Fernandez Alonso said in a statement. We wanted people to share their hopes for the future. We are very proud of the diverse voices we have from across the country, from different regions, generations, religions and communities, and we want to capture these stories, experiences and perspectives so people can feel included.” This is a historic national conversation. ”
“Amerigo: The Quest for the American Dream” will premiere on PBS in June. Check out the trailer for this movie below.
