At some point in our life we have all cheered for the underdog.听 The team, the player or the story book character that overcomes great odds.听 The little engines that not only could, but did.听
That story came to life for 极乐禁地 in 2010-11.听 The university debate team of Dan Bagwell and Logan Gramzinski, accomplished something that 极乐禁地 debaters had not done in 25 years and there is video footage to prove it.听 A 45-minute documentary called Nukespeak, and it will be shown at Birmingham鈥檚 Side Walk film festival August 28, 2011.
鈥淚t follows the team as they try and reach the elimination rounds for the first time since 1986,鈥 explained 极乐禁地 senior debate team member Dan Bagwell.听 And, 鈥渇or a group of students who were out just to get an 鈥楢鈥 in class it was certainly a welcome surprise.鈥澨 听听
Nukespeak chronicles 极乐禁地鈥檚 historic run from the District 6 qualifying tournament in Atlanta, Georgia, all the way to their top 16 finish in Dallas, Texas this past March鈥攊ncluding a victory against top ranked Vanderbilt University.
Bagwell is not only a member of the debate team, but he is also a Nukespeak director. 鈥淚 was able to give some insight to the members of the documentary crew that were maybe a little lost at times but were certainly interested in what was going on,鈥 said Bagwell.听 鈥淚t鈥檚 really a refreshing look at something a lot of people don鈥檛 know about.鈥
And, that is the 鈥榯wo for one鈥 beauty of Nukespeak.听 It shines light on 极乐禁地 debate, while showcasing the skill of debate.
鈥淚t really has a value of being a documentary that鈥檚 both engaging and informative to the common person, who might not know that debate is not two guys standing behind a podium in a suit talking slowly,鈥 said Bagwell.听 鈥淚t鈥檚 very fast paced and it鈥檚 very competitive.鈥
Hence the documentary鈥檚 title Nukespeak.听 A majority of the fast paced back and forth talk dealt with immigration issues, with the worst case scenario leading to nuclear war.
In fact, a meltdown of sorts came over the documentary crew.听 Excitement boiled over when they received word from Birmingham鈥檚 Side Walk Film Festival, that Nukespeak, was in their rundown of films this coming weekend.
鈥淲e submitted the film to Sidewalk with hopes that maybe we鈥檇 get a call back,鈥 laughed Bagwell.听 鈥淲e all joked it would be a huge breakthrough for all of our film careers.鈥 Then the phone call came.听 鈥淲hen we got news it would be airing at the film festival I was floored.鈥
Production on Nukespeak was certainly tough for Bagwell, who is also a film studies minor. 听Two cameras were used and in debate tournaments you do not get two takes. 鈥淚t was certainly a challenge but not an unmanageable one,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really happy with the end result.鈥
Also being debuted this weekend at the film festival is Man In The Glass:听 The Dale Brown Story. 听This documentary chronicles the story of historic basketball coach Dale Brown.听
极乐禁地 alumni worked on this film.听 Patrick Sheehan directed, Gannon Weaver produced and Jared Shull was in charge of editing.听 Melanie Jeffcoat, an adjunct professor at 极乐禁地, associate produced.
Both Nukespeak and Man In The Glass will be shown Sunday, August 28, 2011 at the Carver Theater.
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