Shawn Bennett
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"Shawn Bennett, was born and raised in Parkersburg, WV. His father worked for the Ravenswood Aluminum plant for decades. This is Mr. Bennett's first feature documentary. It was shot on video by Bennett and New York native Nicole Wittig over the course of five years starting in 2002. The 54 minute film was edited by Kevin Jones who recently edited "A Lion in the House" by Academy Award nominated filmmaker Julia Reichert. The original soundtrack was written, composed and scored by San Diego native Daniel Fickle of the band The Station Myth.
The film centers on local union 5668 of the United Steelworkers of America. In 1992, the prospects for labor were bleak. Reagan had just fired the air traffic controllers, big business was given free reign. 1700 men and women in rural West Virginia refused to give in to Big Business and fought for their rights as workers and individuals. It is a story that depicts a modern-day David and Goliath story.
This film is an in depth, straight journalistic account told by the men and women who were directly involved in the dispute. Even with 10 years reflection the passion and tenacity of the steelworkers in the small town of Ravenswood, WV still shocks and amazes.
Shawn Bennett is a community activist living and working in Los Angeles CA in the music video and television commercial industry. He has worked with Ang Lee, Wong Kar Wai, Guy Ritchie, Alejandro González Iñárritu (director of "Babel"), Bob Richardson, Lance Acord, Julian Temple, Alison MacLean, and others. This is his first feature length documentary. He has produced a number of short films and has written and produced a feature currently being edited. He is currently involved in the struggle to unionize production managers and coordinators in the entertainment industry."
From, "New WV Labor Films at WVLA State Conference Oct. 2"
West Virginia Library Association
The film centers on local union 5668 of the United Steelworkers of America. In 1992, the prospects for labor were bleak. Reagan had just fired the air traffic controllers, big business was given free reign. 1700 men and women in rural West Virginia refused to give in to Big Business and fought for their rights as workers and individuals. It is a story that depicts a modern-day David and Goliath story.
This film is an in depth, straight journalistic account told by the men and women who were directly involved in the dispute. Even with 10 years reflection the passion and tenacity of the steelworkers in the small town of Ravenswood, WV still shocks and amazes.
Shawn Bennett is a community activist living and working in Los Angeles CA in the music video and television commercial industry. He has worked with Ang Lee, Wong Kar Wai, Guy Ritchie, Alejandro González Iñárritu (director of "Babel"), Bob Richardson, Lance Acord, Julian Temple, Alison MacLean, and others. This is his first feature length documentary. He has produced a number of short films and has written and produced a feature currently being edited. He is currently involved in the struggle to unionize production managers and coordinators in the entertainment industry."
From, "New WV Labor Films at WVLA State Conference Oct. 2"
West Virginia Library Association
For more, please visit The Battle of Local 5668 on MySpace