Premiere of Boom - The Sound of Eviction

For Immediate Release: 10/15/01

San Francisco Documentary Filmmakers
Explode the Myths of the Dot-Com Boom

San Francisco - Whispered Media announces the premiere of their feature-length documentary, "Boom - The Sound of Eviction." "Boom" explores the effects of the recent dot-com boom and bust on community displacement and gentrification, particularly in San Francisco's largely Latino Mission District.

The first San Francisco screenings will take place at the Roxie Cinema, November 4th and 5th (http://www.roxie.com).

By turns humorous and scathing "Boom" delves into the ironies and contradictions of the "New Economy" and delivers a potent social critique that is ambitious in its scope, while remaining close to the human scale. The viewer moves easily between dot-com party crashing at one end of the economic spectrum and painful moments with families forced out of their homes at the other. "Boom" features interviews with dot-com workers, real estate developers, and Mayor Willie Brown, as well as those who challenged the new economic order through community organizing, electoral politics, and direct action. Dramatic footage of communities in conflict brings you out into the streets while experts and community members themselves offer analysis of the social and historic forces which have shaped the current political landscape.

In addition to doggedly pursuing the daily drama of San Francisco gentrification and resistance, the filmmakers have amassed an enormous amount of material from which to fashion their motion picture. "Boom" draws on 60's-era tourist movies, 50's educational films and other archival materials as well as a rainbow of slice-of-life images that paint a detailed portrait of San Francisco's lightning transformation from funky western outpost to high-tech haven.

"Boom - The Sound of Eviction" (100 minutes) is Whispered Media's first feature-length documentary. Made on a miniscule budget by a volunteer crew, "Boom" was created with the support of many community members who donated their work to this effort, including photographers, musicians, performance artists, film archivists, and other filmmakers whose work is featured in the documentary.
Music by Amaldecor, Antibalas, Aztlan Underground, Coldcut, Fugazi, Japonize Elephants, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Mushroom, and Tortoise, as well as original sound design by Alex Theory and Alan Wilner.

Formed in 1996, San Francisco's Whispered Media is best known locally for "The Pie's The Limit," their video about the pie-throwing Biotic Baking Brigade. They are also one of the founding collectives within the Independant Media Center (indymedia.org), and co-produced two IMC documentaries, "Showdown in Seattle: Five Days that Shook the WTO" and "Breaking the Bank." They have also been very active in their community, documenting direct action protests and other political events, teaching workshops, and coordinating screenings of the Video Activist Network (VAN), which bring attention and resources to a range of social justice issues. Past screenings have highlighted East Timor independence, the WTO Seattle demonstrations, ancient forest defense, and San Francisco gentrification and homelessness.

The 7:00 pm show on Sunday, November 4 will be a special benefit screening, with proceeds going to the Mission Anti-Displacement Coalition (MAC) and the Redstone Tenants Association. Advance tickets for this benefit are available at Modern Times Bookstore at 888 Valencia Street in San Francisco, (415) 282-9246.

CONTACT: For more information, contact Elliot at the Roxie at (415) 431-3611, or Whispered Media at (415) 626-4942 to schedule future screenings in your area. http://www.roxie.com