Watch Dirty Driving: Thundercars of Indiana

If you get a chance this Thursday check out a new documentary that we worked on called Dirty Driving. The film is produced and directed by Jon Alpert and takes place in the midwestern former industrial boom town of Anderson, Indiana.

Auto racing is an obsession in Anderson, Indiana. Even with local auto factories closing down and jobs being lost, the town's residents continue to flock to the local speedway every Friday night--and its drivers continue to pour their dwindling resources into their Thundercars. Since the closing of a GM plant and the loss of 33,000 jobs, the once-thriving town of Anderson now stands witness to empty factories, shuttered stores and abandoned homes--but also to packed houses at Anderson Speedway where people put their troubles on hold to watch the cacophony of screeching tires and crashing metal as drivers vie for Thundercar supremacy.

With the few manufacturing factories that are left in the US moving overseas, and with the auto industry in a deep crisis this film could not be more relevant. Jon Alpert does a great job of telling the tough story of the people most effected by this crisis, like our friend in car #26 Sammy Hawkkins, while taking the viewer on the wild ride that is Thundercar racing.

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/dirtydriving/index.html?ntrack_para1=insidehbo4_image

Renaud Brothers Edit new HBO Film: Section 60 Arlington National Cemetery

We couldn't be more proud than to have edited and been involved with the new HBO film Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery. Section 60 is Directed and Produced by Jon Alpert, who has served as an executive producer on Renaud Brothers films like Dope Sick Love.

Called "the saddest acre in America," Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery is a burial ground for U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, a place that epitomizes the honor of service and the cost of war. Alperts film is a moving verité special that commemorates the lives of the deceased and the mourning of their survivors.

The film airs throughout November on HBO, make it a point to watch it and tell everyone you know about it. http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/section60/index.html

Renaud Brothers Produce Video for New York Times

We have recently returned from Beijing with the US Paralympic Team. This was an historic year for the US team which included the first wounded veterans from the Iraq War. Check out a story we did from Beijing on US swimmer, Melissa Stockwell, for the New York Times. Melissa became the first female amputee of the war when her humvee hit a roadside bomb near Baghdad, and later became the first Iraq War veteran to make the US Paralympic team.

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=d54ae703c026d0aa452bd1219d92e6fef791d0e1

Renaud Brothers to Produce Web Video for the US Paralympic Team in Beijing

We couldnt be more excited than to be working with the US Paralympic Team. Over the next month we will be producing web video content that follows the team from Okinawa, Japan where they are acclimating to the climate and time zone in Asia before heading over to China for the 2008 Paralympic Games. The US team looks very strong this year and expects to bring home a bunch of medals. Follow the team, and watch our videos at http://paralympics.teamusa.org/.

This years team is not only one of the best the US has ever fielded but it is also historic in that it includes the first Injured Iraq War Veterans to compete in the Olympic or Paralympic Games. Melissa Stockwell, Scott Winkler, and Carlos Leon all served in and around Baghdad, and in an amazingly short time have reached the pinnacles of Paralympic Sport.

The 2008 Beijing Paralympics will be broadcast live online, and on television (Universal Sports) in October.

TakePride.com Releases T-shirt in Honor of Iraq War Veteran and Paralympian Melissa Stockwell

Our friends Pat and Ryan at TakePride.com had a genius idea to marry hip urban fashion with patriotic themes. The result is a very cool t-shirt line that not only celebrates the American soldier but donates up to 20% of profits to the Wounded Warrior Project. www.TakePride.com

TakePride.com's latest project features another friend of ours, US Paralympic Swimmer Melissa Stockwell. On April 13, 2004, Melissa Stockwell lost virtually her entire left leg to an Iraqi roadside bomb attack. She was only 23 and the first female US soldier amputee of the war. No one would have blamed her if she was angry and lashed out at everyone insight: the President, Iraqis, two-legged American civilians who’ have largely sacrificed nothing during the wars, at the unfairness of life itself. Instead, Melissa did the exact opposite. She loved more deeply; she lived more fully; and dedicated herself more completely to the service of others. Since losing her leg Melissa has completed 8 triathlons and 2 NYC marathons; set 3 US Paralympic swimming records [remarkably without any real pre-injury swimming experience]; become a prosthetist and plans to devote her life to helping other amputees; and this summer she will again proudly wear the uniform of the USA as she competes for Gold in the Beijing Paralympics. In a culture of “me,” she is a living tribute to the virtue of being inspired by, as well as being an inspiration for others. This shirt relays her experience in her own words. It's a story every American should hear.

Support the American Soldier, the Paralympics, and TakePride.com. We will be in Beijing with Melissa as she goes for Gold in Beijing this September. Follow Melissa's progress and the rest of the Paralympic athletes at http://paralympics.teamusa.org/

Renaud Brothers "Off to War" featured on Southern Movie DVD

The Oxford American Magazine will feature a segment from our ten part television series Off to War, on their new Southern Movie DVD. The DVD comes free with the new edition of Oxford American Magazine hitting newsstands on July 7.

The Southern Movie DVD is "a peek into the wild and wonderful world of Southern film". In addition to Off to War, the DVD features clips from Ed Pincus, Frederick Wiseman, Zack Godshall, Kentucker Audley, and Ray McKinnon.

Off to War, represents the first time in the history of television that a unit of soldiers was followed throughout their entire deployment at war. Off to War won or was nominated for an International Documentary Association Award, a Directors Guild Award, and an Overseas Press Club award.
http://www.renaudbrothers.com/Films/OTW.html

Oxford American Best of the South DVD #2 from Oxford American on Vimeo.

Iraq War Amputee releases new book "Amped"

We are very excited to recommend a new book from a great athlete, a national hero, and a good friend of ours Kortney Clemons. The book is called "Amped: A Soldier's Race for Gold in the Shadow of War".

Kortney was an army medic who lost his right leg to a roadside bomb in Baghdad. Upon returning home he suffered from depression and wondered what he was going to do with his life now. But then slowly, through sports he began to recover both mentally and physically.

Barely three years after the awful attack that changed his life forever, he aims to join the elite corps of international athletes vying for gold in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. His account of his recovery from this catastrophic wound and his drive to become the first Iraq veteran to win Paralympic gold is one of the most remarkable, inspiring, and compelling stories in the history of sports.

If you care about about veterans issues, the disabled, or just love a great sports story. Get this book. Release date is early July but you can order an advance copy now.

http://www.amazon.com/Amped-Soldiers-Race-Gold-Shadow/dp/0470281375

Congressman Patrick Murphy from Renaud Brothers Film Taking the Hill releases Book

March 25, 2008


Patrick Murphy is the first and still only Iraq War Veteran elected to the US Congress. In the film Taking the Hill, the Renaud Brothers followed Murphy for a full year during his 2006 historic run for Congress. (http://www.renaudbrothers.com/Films/TakingtheHill.html)

Congressman Murphy has just released a book about his life with a familiar title. "Taking the Hill: From Philly to Baghdad to the United States Congress" tells Patricks story of growing up the son of a Philly Cop and a legal secretary, becoming the youngest professor at West Point, and ultimately serving in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. Its an inspiring story of struggle, perserverance, service and patriotism. Check it out at (http://www.murphytakingthehill.com/index.htm)

Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later Wins National Education Writers Award

February 25, 2008

The Renaud Brothers HBO fim Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later, has been selected First Prize in the 2007 National Awards for Education Reporting. The prestigious award from the National Education Writers Association, will be given to the Renaud Brothers in Chicago on April 26.

For more details about the award, and to view recepients in other categories visit:

http://www.ewa.org/desktopdefault.aspx?page_id=102

Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later Nominated for NAMIC Award

January 17, 2008

The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) announced their nominees for this year’s NAMIC Vision Awards. The Renaud Brothers HBO film, Little Rock Central:50 Years Later was nominated for best Documentary. The 14th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at the Beverly Hilton, in Los Angeles.

For more information on this award or to view the other nominees visit:

http://www.namic.com/events/NAMICVisionAwardsPressRelease2008.pdf