October 04, 2005

Why Wal-Mart Works

In this post, Jim Gilliam came really, really close to figuring out what's going on:

What do I think Wal-Mart corporate's got cooking? Their own movie, of course!
As far as I know, Wal-Mart won't be making a pro-Wal-Mart movie.

But Ron Galloway is making such a film, entitled Why Wal-Mart Works. He is planning a serious documentary about the economic impact of Wal-Mart -- though from a free-market perspective. Mr. Galloway is an independent filmmaker with a mixed background making TV programs and independent documentaries. What's most important, though, is that he has absolutely no ties to Wal-Mart. (He's financing the film himself).

Why is he making this film? Basically, as he tells it, he spotted a market opportunity.

Mr. Galloway has already begun filming Why Wal-Mart Works. He'll have promotional materials at the Liberty Film Festival, held from October 21st through October 23rd, and he hopes to pick up a distributor -- or at least a whole lot of attention -- there, for a planned November 12 release. (It will be available on Amazon, on 11/12).

On a personal note, Mr. Galloway asked me if I wanted to be interviewed for the film, and I agreed. However, these rules require me to discuss only what I can document in solid research, so outside of bringing up questions I cannot answer, and presenting how the debate is currently framed, I'll probably end up on the cutting-room floor.

Other interviewees are to be announced later.

Note that underground talk about the film has already started booming, and Mr. Galloway's current website has seen a 10-fold increase in hits over the past week, so this is not really news to many of you....

(Please note that eventually, the movie's new website will be the currently vacant whywalmartworks.com).

Posted by Kevin on October, 4 2005 at 04:43 PM

Comments & Trackbacks
Jim Gilliam wrote:

Fun fun fun!

Think Wal-Mart will carry it? Maybe an exclusive Wal-Mart only package deal with both films. :)

-- October 4, 2005 06:58 PM ∞

JR wrote:

The fundamental problem with any movie on Wal-Mart taking this angle is that it's going to be really dull. Seriously, there hasn't been a good propaganda documentary that didn't subvert the dominant paradigm since "Triumph of the Will" and that one has really good camera work and lots of huge statues to help you forget that its subject is morally reprehensible.

-- October 4, 2005 09:58 PM ∞

JR wrote:

Two more things:

1. Kevin, I'm sure you'd be the most interesting thing in the movie.

2. No direct comparison between Wal-Mart and the Nazis is intended. I'm just talking film here.

-- October 4, 2005 10:03 PM ∞

wrote:

If Riefenstahl were alive and available today, she'd be in WM's back pocket. Or maybe George W's, if he offered more money.

-- October 4, 2005 11:19 PM ∞

Kevin Brancato wrote:

Linking WM with Riefenstahl is pretty lame, in my opinion. (In addition, I think that this Riefenstahl comment is a good explanation for why Wal-Mart won't allow open comments on any blog it runs; why should WM's PR team waste its resources on that?)

JR,

Thanks for the compliment.

I have no idea if the film will turn out dull; I certainly hope not. Mr. Galloway recognizes the problem, and seems to be trying very hard to make it interesting and entertaining to a wider population...

-- October 5, 2005 06:56 AM ∞

Ron Galloway wrote:

I'm the director of "Why Wal-Mart Works." No Nazi tendencies here, except for my odd habit of shouting "No soup for you!" during Pat Robertson TV appearances.

-- October 5, 2005 08:32 AM ∞

JR wrote:

Kevin, you're right; it was lame. It's one of those things I regretted right after I wrote it, particularly in light of what Wal-Mart did in Arizona a few months back (although I REALLY DID only mean it in the context of film criticism).

My apologies Mr. Galloway. Thank you for taking a bad joke so well. Your comment makes me think you'll prove me wrong about dull.

-- October 5, 2005 09:07 PM ∞

tom wrote:

I have never purchased anything from Walmart and never will. I find the whole corporation very Anti-American.

Sam Walton would roll over in his grave in regards outsourcing products out of the U.S. in order to make some bucks.

The whole idea about Walmart was to keep the money
in the United States.

-- November 16, 2005 09:05 PM ∞