New Hollywood Debt Drama

A new Hollywood documentary takes on the out-of-control American debt crisis – and takes swipes at the major credit card companies. The creators of “In Debt We Trust: America Before the Bubble Bursts” are still shopping for someone to distribute their film, but they are convinced that the issue central to their work couldn’t be more relevant. Danny Schechter, writer and director, has publicly denounced the advertising of such big hitters as Mastercard (with their ubiquitous “priceless” campaign) as dishonest, and stated that the unregulated fees and interest rates on these cards have made a “modern serfdom” of the American public.

The film calls not only for consumer awareness and action to combat the rising burden of debt in American lives, but for federal intervention as well. At present, the Federal Reserve estimates that Americans owe a ballpark figure of $2.17 billion.  ■