BAD PRESS
When the Muscogee Nation suddenly begins censoring their free press, a rogue reporter fights to expose her government’s corruption in a historic battle that will have ramifications for all of Indian Country.Â
Producer Tyler Graim will join the audience for a Q&A following the 7:30 p.m. screening of BAD PRESS on Friday, April 12. Presented by Friends of The Ross and the Norman A. Geske Cinema Showcase.
SHOWTIMES
APR 12 | FRI
7:30 p.m.
APR 13 | SAT
12:40, 5:00 p.m.
APR 14 | SUN
2:50, 7:10 p.m.
APR 15 | MON
5:00 p.m.
APR 16 | TUE
7:10 p.m.
APR 17 | WED
5:00 p.m.
APR 18 | THU
7:10 p.m.
SYNOPSIS
Imagine you lived in a world where your only reliable news source became government propaganda overnight. That’s exactly what happened to the citizens of the Muscogee Nation, the fourth largest Native American tribe, in 2018. Out of 574 federally recognized tribes, the Muscogee Nation was one of only five to establish a free and independent press – until the tribe’s legislative branch abruptly repealed the landmark Free Press Act in advance of an election. The tribe’s hard-hitting news outlet, Mvskoke Media, would now be subject to direct editorial oversight by the tribal government.
One defiant journalist refuses to accept this flagrant act of oppression. As brave as she is blunt, veracious muckraker Angel Ellis charges headfirst into battle against the corrupt faction of the Muscogee National Council. Angel and her allies rally for press freedoms by inciting a voter-supported constitutional amendment, just in time for the start of a new election cycle.
An enthralling, edge-of-your-seat nail biter that unfurls with the energy and suspense of a political thriller, BAD PRESS is a timely and unprecedented story about the battle for freedom of the press and against state-censored media.
Director
Rebecca Landsberry-Baker (Muscogee Creek) & Joe Peeler
WITH
Run Time
1 hour, 38 minutes
Released
Distributed by
HEARING AND VISUAL ASSISTANCE
Assisted Listening
Additional options TBA
Country
United States
SUBTITLES
None
NOT RATED
Many of the films shown at The Ross are not rated due to the prohibitive cost of acquiring a rating from the Motion Picture Association of America. Consequently, as many of these films contain graphic content, viewer discretion is advised.
REVIEWS
“Capture(s)—several times—that pit in your stomach feeling that occurs when you’re watching the votes roll in for an election that has steep ramifications depending on its outcome.”
“The perfect illustration of what happens when you dismantle the Fourth and Fifth Estates and wind up putting democracy in peril, and it’s something everyone in America should be worried about right now.”
“Landsberry-Baker and Peeler could linger more on details about the people involved instead of the horse-race suspense of vote counts. But who can blame them when freedom is in the balance…”