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Two Indiana Students Star in Riveting New Education Documentary; Screening to be Held at Landmark’s Keystone Art Theatre in Indianapolis
Press Contact: Liza Dittoe: 317-202-2280 x12
Titled 2 Million Minutes, the film examines education in the U.S., India and China
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN – November 20, 2007) Bob Compton, local entrepreneur and venture capitalist-turned-film producer, will screen his breakthrough documentary film 2 Million Minutes for a private audience on Thursday, November 29th at 7:30pm at Landmark’s Keystone Art Cinema here in Indianapolis.
Two local students from Carmel High School, who have since graduated and gone on to study at Indiana University and Purdue University, star in the film along with four other students, two from India and two from China. One of the U.S. students, Neil Ahrendt, will be present at the screening next week as part of a discussion panel.
The film examines education in the United States as it compares to global standards. Regardless of nationality, once children exit the eighth grade – the clock starts ticking. They have roughly 2 million minutes to build their intellectual foundation and prepare for college and career. The film is intended to spark discussions and dialogue about American education. How do Americans compare on a global scale?
Executive producer Bob Compton – with local ties to ExactTarget, Vontoo, Interactive Intelligence, Aprimo and Indian Math Online – teamed up with two former teachers-turned-filmmakers to produce the documentary. Twenty months in the making, 2 Million Minutes highlights the various pressures and priorities of these students and their families, providing insight into the changing nature of competition in the knowledge economy.
“As a high tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist for the past 25 years, I can tell you the people who have reaped the greatest economic rewards in the past two decades have been those with the most rigorous and thorough understanding of technology – and thus a solid foundation in math and science - AND who have an ability to solve problems and possess entrepreneurial skill,” said Compton. “While we still have time to change our views and to better adjust to the realities of the 21st century, that window is closing.”
The filmmakers have also tapped a world-class panel of experts who elaborate on the differences in education among the countries and discuss implications for America. Among those interviewed are Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor; Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Vivek Paul, former CEO of WiPro technologies of India; Tim Draper, Managing Director of Silicon Valley venture firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson; Vivien Stewart, Chinese Education Specialist at the Asia Society; Richard Freeman, a Harvard University economist; and Vivek Wadhwa, Executive-in-Residence at Duke University and Wertheim Fellow, Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School.
“America is the one country in the world that doesn’t seem to recognize that it’s in competition for the great minds and the capital of the world,” says Tim Draper in the film.
The screening on November 29th will be held in Auditorium #4 in Landmark’s Keystone Art Cinema. Future screenings will take place in Silicon Valley, New York City, and Washington D.C. For more information or to view a trailer of the film, please visit www.2mminutes.com/index.html. For screening information, contact Meg Charlebois at #317-202-2280 ext 11 or meg@dittoepr.com.
