I think it’s got nothing to do with counter-programming. I think it’s a great one-two punch because Michael Moore’s passionate and a committed filmmaker. He’s made a political film that spreads his ideas and convictions. I hope that audiences will debate that movie whether they agree or disagree, it’s all about the freedom of speech. And my film is more about the ordinary Joes who go to work every day, and the values and ideals that make this country great. And hopefully they’ll shape the direction our country is going in as far as the choices we have to make in the future.
I’m not telling anyone who to vote for. I’m not trying to preach to anybody. But if you really want to figure out where we are headed, I think you ought to look backwards and say, “Where did we come from?” And the values and roots that are explored in my movie, hopefully will give you some insight into that. And besides, what do George Bush, Dick Cheney and all those guys have to do with the people in my movie?
Nothing.
There you go. They don’t fly in private 747s at government expense. They don’t wage wars; they don’t do multi-billion dollar deals. I don’t think they have much in common. And I’m not trying to be negative but they are different. As a matter of fact, what could be more opposite?
It just seems to me that people might believe this is Disney’s movie that they are releasing right now, all patriotic, as a response to Moore’s film.
It’s not. Disney didn’t make the movie. Disney is marketing it and that decision was made a year and a half ago, before Michael Moore’s film was ever made – or before he even decided to make it. He started right after 9/11, and my film was shot before 9/11. The two are completely different. And it’s kind of funny because I’m an environmentalist and I guess I’m someone who is an optimist. It’s just kind of funny to me being pigeonholed as someone who is conservative or right-wing. I find that to be pretty hilarious.
You can definitely tell you’re an optimist through your movie. That shines through.
Right. And there are several stories in my movie that look at the things in America that are not perfect. I mean, look at the Clyde Church where they are feeding the homeless. Or Michael Bennett, the ex-con boxer, getting kids off the streets. The steelworkers… There are a lot of examples of things in this country that aren’t working perfectly yet it’s like the steelworker guy said in the barbershop. He goes, “I don’t know what the answer is, but the answer is not quitting.” We need to reevaluate things, we need to change, we need to guarantee our freedoms, and we need to move forward.
What’s the most interesting response you’ve gotten from an audience?
The most interesting response I get from audiences is that the fact that I think they all look at it as a giant mirror. Because they’ll come back to me and everybody has a different subject or profile that they love the best, that’s their favorite story, and I’ll ask them why. And it always has to do with the fact that in their past experience either they’ve lived in that part of the country, or that person reminded them of their uncle. You know, it’s like they start talking about themselves. I think that’s wonderful for me to hear people [say they] see a part of themselves. Maybe that’s why they feel proud when they walk out of the movie. Because whether you teach Sunday School, or coach Little League, or help clean up the beach, whatever it is that you do, if you’re helping to make the world a better place, you can identify with the people in this movie and feel good about yourself. And that makes me feel good.
It’s a real eye-opener about contemporary America and how we can’t forget our roots.
And the whole Michael Moore thing, what can I say? It’s unbelievable that… Actually both films are more on the same side of the coin than on the opposite side of the coin.
But people aren’t going to see it that way because your film is so optimistic.
Yeah, but in a way Michael Moore wouldn’t be putting his butt on the line, risking his life in a way, to expose what he thinks is wrong with America, if he wasn’t a passionate individual who really loves his country.
True. That’s totally true but you know how some people don’t really view it that way.
I know, because we are so polarized right now.
PAGE 4: Schwartzberg on Making "America's Heart and Soul" His Feature Film Directorial Debut
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