LWVFA/ LWVPW to Showing of “Gerrymandering: The Movie”

Time: Social Gathering 1:30, Program starts at 2:00

Who:  Sponsored by two local leagues:  LWV of the Fairfax Area and of Prince William County. Open to public, bring friends and neighbors

Cost: Free

In a continuing effort to educate League members AND the public, the Fairfax and Prince William boards have agreed to rent the movie "Gerrymandering: the Movie."   A convenient location to both counties is Pohick Library where the movie will be shown.  Dr. Michael McDonald from George Mason University will introduce and comment on the movie (with  Q&A in available time).  

The LWV, on a local, state and national level has worked very hard trying to better the redistricting process.  Showing this movie is another effort to help constituents understand current redistricting (in which gerrymandering takes place) in the hopes for a better process.  The film was shown at the LWVUS national convention in Atlanta last June.

The political documentary "Gerrymandering: The Movie" was financed by Green Film Company and written and directed by Jeff Reichert.  Reichert thought 'Gerrymandering' was a fascinating untold story that begged for feature-film treatment. He noted "... viewers are going to be stunned by what they see."  Production started in California with Reichert and director of photography Gary Griffin following Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful push to pass Proposition 11.  In addition to "Gerrymandering," Green Film Company has financed the "United Obama Documentary," and is producing an adaptation of the best-selling book "Freakonomics."

Dr. Michael P. McDonald is Associate Professor of Government and Politics in the Department of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.  He received his Ph.D. in Political Science  His research interests include voting behavior, redistricting, Congress, American political development, and political methodology. He is currently working on developing open-source redistricting software that is accessible through a web browser.  He has worked as a redistricting consultant or expert witness in Alaska, Arizona, California, Michigan, and New York and has provided testimony to the the Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee.  He is frequently quoted in the media regarding United States elections.  He currently serves on the advisory boards of the Overseas Vote Foundation and the Non-Profit Voter Engagement Network. He has formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Public Access Project and was a member of the Fairfax County School Board Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee. He has spoken to many organizations, including The League of Women Voters.

The Fairfax and Prince William boards are hoping that the room will be filled on Jan. 16!  Please spread the word about this movie.  Invite family, friends and neighbors and then come!