THE AMERICAN DREAM
a work in progress

Angry Filmmaker Kelley Baker has been traveling throughout the US the last few years with camera in hand.  As he makes his way across the country screening his movies and teaching work shops, he has also been making a movie.  A documentary on The American Dream.

Kelley has talked to people from all walks of life, a local conservative radio newsman, a retired phone company worker from the Mississippi Delta, a first generation Spanish Architect, a small specialty newspaper editor, 2 twenty something business owners, a laid off worker, a “street sociologist”, and countless others.  And they all have something to say.

In The American Dream – a work in progress, these people talk about what they think the American dream is.  To them.  To their parents.  To their children, or future generations.  These are “on the street” interviews, where Kelley asked each person the same 5 questions.  He rarely gets the same 5 answers…

We were raised to believe in the Horatio Alger myth.  It doesn’t matter if you are poor, a new immigrant, or whatever, if you work hard you can succeed in this country.  You can be rich, or at least comfortable.  Is this still true?

After World War 2, Madison Avenue showed us images of houses in the suburbs, Dad going to work and Mom staying home to raise the kids.  It was two cars and a TV set for every one.  The Suburbs were safe, people were friendly, and there were always lots of kids to play with.  Many people took the lead, and moved to the suburbs.  They wanted a piece of the American Dream.  But is there really an American Dream, or is it something Advertisers made up to move products and goods?

We hear stories on the news about the economy getting better, unemployment going down, people are buying, buying, buying.  But is this true?  Are people really better off?  Or are they working harder just to make ends meet.  Are the rich getting richer and the poor and middle class being left behind?

Are people happier now?  Are they consuming more?  Are they worried about debt?

I have injected himself in to this discussion.  As a self-employed filmmaker for over 25 years, I recently sold my home to pay off debts.  I now live in a small apartment and spend 5 – 6 months a year on the road teaching work shops and showing my movies.  Do I still believe in an American Dream?

In The American Dream, there are no experts in suits.  There are no government officials, or journalists telling us how things are going.  There are just real people talking about what they see and hear.  Telling us if they still believe in an American Dream.

Help me complete this project.  It is an important story that needs to be told.