A Republican president takes office at the height of his Hollywood-powered, camera-ready fame. He governs with lenses constantly flashing, and claims that he’s just the public face in front of real policy-makers and dangerous global threats. That’s the story of America’s 40th president, Ronald Reagan. The movie star, known for playing cowboys and gun-toting heroes, took over the White House in 1981 and led the United States against Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s threats of war. Amidst the actual governing, though, Reagan’s presidency set a new standard for video documentation. Cameras followed Reagan’s every move, leading opposing pundits to accuse him of “majoring in public relations” more so than hardline presidential affairs.
Comprised entirely of archival footage taken during those pre-reality-television years, The Reagan Show is a highly entertaining and informative look at how Ronald Reagan redefined the look and feel of what it means to be the POTUS. Co-directors Pacho Velez and Sierra Pettengill’s film uncannily provides a fascinating precedent for the made-for-TV President.
—Cara Cusumano
CAST & CREDITS
Directed by Sierra Pettengill and Pacho Velez
Sierra Pettengill produced the award-winning, Cutie and the Boxer, and has worked on Jim Jarmusch's Gimme Danger, Mike Mills' 20th Century Women, and Matt Wolf’s Teenage, amongst other films. Pacho Velez's last film, Manakamana, won a Golden Leopard from the Locarno Film Festival. His earlier work has shown at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Boston Museum of Fine Art.
Director
Pacho Velez, Sierra Pettengill
Screenwriter
Josh Alexander, Pacho Velez, Francisco Bello
Editor
Francisco Bello, Daniel Garber, David Barker
Composer
Laura Karpman
Executive Producer
Dan Cogan, Amy Entelis, Houston King
Producer
Sierra Pettengill
Associate Producer
Daniel Garber
CONTACTS
US Sales Contact
Josh Braun Submarine Entertainment New York, NY 10013 Phone: 212 625 1410 josh@submarine.com
Print Source
Sierra Pettengill The Reagan Years LLC Brooklyn, NY 11218
