Gala World Premiere: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Dallas' Angelika Film Center hosts a tony invitation-only advance screening of a confrontational doc sure to stir up controversy.

by John P. Meyer

Wednesday's (April 16) gala event marking the world premiere of Premise Media's new documentary, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, constituted what I can only describe as a PR full-court press. There were so many servers running around the Angelika lobby pushing hors d'oeuvres and plastic champagne flutes that I kept knocking into them as I swiveled about with my camera. Press folks were provided with a nifty swag bag (in the form of an Expelled-insignia backpack) containing a t-shirt, a coozy and a dog tag chain complete with Expelled-embossed dog tag. (Must be a new fashion trend of which - like all the rest of them - I'm blissfully unaware).

To emphasize the invitation-only nature of the event, a check-in table (manned - and womaned - by black tie/cocktail garbed attendants) stood at the entrance to the theater, along with several uniformed cops. There was also a visible police presence inside the theater - the planners were clearly erring on the side of security overkill.

After scarfing up some complimentary popcorn and bottled water, I made my way into the press auditorium to join the other (underdressed) representatives of the media - all three of them.

(I learned later that there had been 23 reporters scheduled to attend, but 19 were no shows. Some wag suggested that the pope had scheduled an impromptu local stopover. Which would have been ironic, if true. Perhaps they simply decided to wait for the forthcoming Dallas Philosopher's Forum panel discussion.)

I'll be posting a review of the film on opening day (Friday, April 18), but in the meantime kick back and listen to the rather abbreviated press conference and have a look at the photo gallery.

HIGHLIGHTS of the appended audio:

* The producers report that their film has already (before ever having been released) created "a political will for change," citing a new "freedom bill" up for vote in the Florida State Senate.

* In response to an audience question, Ben Stein (who - in addition to starring - co-wrote the film along with Kevin Miller and Walt Ruloff) states: "Something vaguely similar is happening in global warming." And: "There is an intelligent designer, and his name is God."

* Regal, AMC and Cinemark chains - among other exhibitors - have picked up the film for release, resulting in a total of 1050 screens booked for the film's opening - a record number for a documentary, according to the producers.

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