Oh, and this about Professor Pierson

DISSENT PIECE

UT class gets a lesson in film promotion

Students serve as producer's reps for documentary critical of Michael Moore.

By Theresa Everline
SPECIAL TO THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Friday, March 16, 2007

In a large studio classroom on the University of Texas campus last week, 20 students bounced ideas off their teacher, the lanky and gregarious John Pierson, a lecturer in the department of radio-television-film.

This was no textbook exercise. Their real-world, semester-long task was to promote and seek distribution for a documentary already having its world premiere at South by Southwest.

To make things more interesting, the focus of their efforts was the film "Manufacturing Dissent," a documentary by directors Debbie Melnyck and Rick Caine that critically examines Michael Moore, the notorious filmmaker sanctified by liberals and vilified by conservatives.

The first screening at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday loomed a mere three days away.

(full article)