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New Film Takes on the Problems in the Educational System

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    Mandalay Entertainment CEO Peter Guber on the new movie “Won’t Back Down.”

  • Duration 5:04
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New movie out it's really shaking things up because of its direct attack on one of liberal Hollywood's most sacred cows labor unions.

It's kind of a mirror image of Erin Brockovich where the union -- the lawyers of the good guys in this film.

The little guys are parents fighting against the Goliath of an -- trench teachers union.

And the whole public school bureaucracy.

Guarded by a phalanx of clever lawyers to other films call won't back down it's not a conservative documentary -- a store studded drama.

With well known actors like Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The Oleg Davis and Holly Hunter so.

What does Peter Guber chairman and -- Mandalay entertainment make of all this.

Let's ask it.

By the way first of all Peter I should mention desert fox film course fox is owned by News Corp.

which also owns Fox Business but -- you're totally independent guy what do you think of the felt.

Well I think that's David and Goliath that you know it simplifies very very complex issues.

They moved away at the same group made waiting for Superman -- the -- 2000 down.

Where they were really anti charter -- I do relative -- for charter schools.

And I think that the real issue is that they -- act as they wanna do if you will embellish and they did say on the screen inspired by two events.

The idea though is no at wherever in the United States has anybody taken over the school that this film portrays you should know that and actually in Florida which is -- there's certainly a a Republican state.

They failed to pass these trigger a laws California does have one so -- -- is as a David and Goliath.

-- and it is a fictional film in Big -- try to present that is factional but it's fictional.

But it does shine the light on an issue.

An important issue -- -- all anti union is a -- that union that particular unit which is very entrenched.

And very sophisticated its membership so this issue is very very important to our country because -- -- rests on public education.

And the problems and it in -- it shines a light on and does that it makes people talk about it.

That's a good well by the way there there have been a lot of -- fictionalized accounts of stories that better sort of based on on reality like lean on me remember that when Morgan Freeman film and and stand stand to deliver so this is that this has been done before I gotta tell you I was -- I was a public schoolteacher.

In Chicago and I dealt with the -- I don't with a whole public school bureaucracy and it is a -- This film does not necessarily.

-- allies.

The degree to which the public school system is a mess I think that's why people will but be -- identify -- Yes definitely they identify with the problem.

The solution I'm not sure they had that the -- would but they've that the -- -- the play is the big institutionalized.

Bureaucracy.

And the individual moms and dads trying to get a better education for their kids.

And the problem that is the central core of the film.

On the other hand you have to recognize really look at it all honestly and say that it does simplify a very complex problem it doesn't.

Does an -- sometimes you have to just say flat out this system is not working we need something different and I know a lot of people parents and teachers who were trying to do that by the way.

Let's focus first second or how Hollywood is reactors -- it's getting slammed by critics I sought on Sunday of my wife of course.

-- I was kind I was sympathetic to its ideas because I can't stand this a lot of his public school bureaucracy.

But here's what -- to ran from the LA times says.

This -- film is so shamelessly manipulative and hopelessly bogus it will make you bite your tongue in regret and despair the whole.

Liberal elite is coming down on this film because it goes against.

Some of their sacred cows do you think that -- -- -- attempt to -- would've felt.

I don't know your question is whether -- -- most self as an economic Angela getting traction it's a nineteen million dollar film.

Which is not a small amount of money it's got big -- as you said it move on the documentaries.

As section of Bob -- -- mental into a live action actors portraying roles they've tried to ignite that audience and I think.

-- -- that is in the yeah I'd -- -- directly but that's Maggie Gyllenhaal got emphasize Maggie Gyllenhaal is a liberal activist she's not a conservative Brad also she's the star of this film.

That may I thought that might have tempered the critics a little bit the go ahead.

Nothing good -- critics nothing has that there is nothing that can hold them down Monday when they had if it's that -- -- is going to be the Bane of their.

There there existence artists make but the idea areas I think that the real question is can ignite a controversy that'll create a conclusion they'll be helpful.

You know in the old days -- really did that -- had that unique voice but today with the Internet and Internet and cable and all the other main means of media with social networks.

It may not be a -- may not be the best way to reach the audience and really ignites the passions of the public to make a change.

I don't know the public is already pretty -- folks there who have their kids in public schools and our work and Peter thank you very much good stuff appreciate -- Peter -- for Mandalay entertainment the chairman and C you know.

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