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Bob Compton invited to screen the documentary film - Two Million Minutes - at the Aspen Ideas Festival; Also participating in roundtable discussion on 'Education in America'

Powerful documentary on global education to be viewed at gathering of thought leaders


Press Contact: Liza Dittoe: 317-202-2280 x12


(ASPEN, Colo. – June 23, 2008) Bob Compton, Memphis-based venture capitalist and entrepreneur, will be screening his documentary film Two Million Minutes at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, CO on Tuesday, July 1st.

The Aspen Ideas Festival has been a gathering place for thought leaders around the world for the past fifty years. The festival provides a venue for these individuals to engage in intellectual and thought-provoking dialogue about current issues in the arts, science, culture, religion, philosophy, economics and politics. For a week in July, this group of global leaders will participate in a variety of programs, tutorials, seminars and discussion events organized by the Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue.

“We’re looking for the world’s best and brightest to be a part of our event and Bob Compton fit that bill perfectly,” said Kitty Boone, Vice President of the Aspen Institute. “His perspective on global education is so rich because he’s actually been on the ground in India and China and in the classrooms and the homes of students in both countries – and he has documented what he saw. We’re thrilled he accepted our invitation to participate and screen his documentary.”

Two Million Minutes will be featured at the Aspen Ideas Festival as an event which will include a screening of the film in its entirety as well as opportunity for Q&A with the executive producer, Bob Compton. The 54-minute film addresses the issue of U.S. society’s lack of dedication to education and careers as compared to the societies of India and China. It illustrates how two students in each of these three countries spend the two million minutes they live during their four years of high school. The screening in Aspen will take place on Tuesday, July 1st at 8pm.

In addition to screening Two Million Minutes at the festival, Compton will be participating in a roundtable discussion on education in America along with Founder and President of Teach for America Wendy Kopp, Vice President and General Manager of the Corporate Affairs Group at Intel Corporation Will Swope, CEO of KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Richard Barth and University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer. This breakfast roundtable will occur on Thursday, July 3rd at 8am.

Other presenters at the Aspen Ideas Festival include Eli Broad, founder of The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation; Charlie Rose, the host of a national TV show produced by WNET and PBS; Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat; and Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education.

For more information about the screening of Two Million Minutes at the Aspen Ideas Institute or the breakfast roundtable discussion, please contact Liza Dittoe at liza@dittoepr.com or 317-202-2280.


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About Two Million Minutes Titled Two Million Minutes, this documentary film takes an in-depth look at how students in the United States allocate their high school years (approximately four years or two million minutes) compared with India and China. It examines the implications this may have on the U.S. position in the global economy during the 21st century. Two Million Minutes is currently screening across the country. For more information, please visit www.2mminutes.com.