Who is Free What Do We Choose (work-in-progress)

preview & about

A series of short essay films, Who is Free What Do We Choose (work-in-progress), an ironic remake of the extremely influential 1980 PBS series Free to Choose, economist Milton Friedman’s consequential and reckless neoliberal argument for “free” markets. These short films can be viewed separately, or combined will be a 60 to 80-minute film. (“Free” is in quotes since all markets have rules, were preceded by governments, and are embedded in societies.)

The work-in-progress includes a few moments from my last completed film, My Mis-Education in 3 Graphics. It sets up the personal reasons I am interested in Friedman’s 1980 series and introduces the importance of Friedman and his series in ushering in the changes in the U.S. government’s economic support of the working and middle-class through the gradual dismantling of the New Deal and other later government institutions and policies. 

This was a series my father watched when it was first broadcast. As most Americans were, my family was helped by those government policies, yet my father agreed with Friedman and wanted me to watch the series too, telling me when I disagreed with Friedman, that I needed to take an economics course. I did, about 25 years later and then made a film about that mis-educating experience. I am thinking of this new project as a film about economics for people who wouldn’t take an economics course. 
 
In the sample I’ve used text and images and a few moments of recorded interview to hijack the introduction to the first episode of Friedman’s series. I am thinking of this as a “first take.” I may follow it or replace it with a similar second take re-presenting the series opening but with relevant authorities interrupting to make similar and more in-depth points that are now quickly made with text and images.