Alex Gibney to Join Netroots Nation Panel

Filmmaker Alex Gibney Joins Online Advocacy Leaders to Discuss How the Internet Has Changed the Way Washington Works and What’s Next

Breakfast Panel to Feature First Look at Casino Jack: United States of Money, Gibney’s Upcoming Documentary About Notorious Lobbyist Jack Abramoff 

LOS ANGELES, CA, July 14, 2008--In the 2006 Congressional elections, U.S. voters in exit polls named "corruption" as the biggest factor in how they decided to vote. The national mood could largely be attributed to the scandals surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is the subject of Alex Gibney’s documentary, Casino Jack: United States of Money. Gibney, who brought us the Academy Award®-winning Taxi to the Dark Side and the Academy Award® nominated Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room as well as the recently released Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, has turned his attention to the story of behind that corruption and explores how our democracy was nearly hijacked by money and greed.

Gibney will give Netroots Nation attendees the very first look at the film at a panel discussion on how the Internet has revolutionized the democratic process and what the possibilities are for the future. Joining Gibney on the panel will be distinguished experts on online advocacy and media Roy Sekoff of Huffington Post, Naomi Seligman Steiner of CREW and moderator Jim VandeHei of Politico.

About Participant Media--Participant Media, the production company responsible for Casino Jack, is dedicated to telling compelling stories that bring about social change. To that end, the film will be accompanied by a social action campaign that will be shaped by input from Netroots Nation attendees, who will have the opportunity to inform the development of online toolkit that will allow anyone to become a “citizen lobbyist.” This toolkit will empower ordinary citizens in navigating the legislative process, investigating money in politics, advocating for issues they care about and holding their representatives accountable for their actions. Online activists can weigh in at TakePart.com/CitizenLobbyist.

Casino Jack: United States of Money will be released by Magnolia Pictures in 2009.

WHAT: A Breakfast with Alex Gibney and Others: How the Internet Has Changed the Way Washington Works and What’s Next
WHO: Alex Gibney, Academy-Award® winning documentary filmmaker, Roy Sekoff, editor, HuffingtonPost.com
Naomi Seligman Steiner, deputy director and communications director, CREW (Citizens for Responsible Ethics), Moderator: Jim VandeHei, executive editor, Politico.com
WHERE: Netroots Nation
Austin Convention Center – Room 16
Austin, Texas
WHEN: Friday, July 18  9:00AM – 10:15AM

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