Great Kickoff For "Killing America"

Hey all,

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday.

I just got back home this morning from the Bay Area where we held our very first screening for “Killing America.” We sold out — 200 seats. We had people drive in from all over the Bay Area to The Guild Theater in Menlo Park see the film. Several mayors from nearby cities came as well.

(Despite the rain, people stood in line to go through security to enter the theater.)

Overall, the response was very positive. I think people who have been fighting the DEI ideology, antisemitism, anti-Asian hate, and other negatives really appreciated having a film that expressed their thoughts. The school boards and local governments have operated in the shadows for too long (the Sequoia Union High School District featured in this film spent the last 8 years quietly removing the honors classes without alerting the parents) and last night was the chance for The People to speak up for their children.

(The beautiful Art Deco theater 30 minutes before the screening. The organizers did a great job, providing guests with popcorn, brownies, and gift bags on each seat.)

What was most validating about last night were the many requests to screen the film in other cities. Folks are also asking how they can help this 38 minute film go national. So far, we have multiple screenings coming up in San Francisco, New York, Florida, and several other places.

(Diana Blum, featured in the film, speaks during the panel session after the screening. Lef of her is Jacob Yuryev, a student, Ram Duriseti, a Stanford doctor, and Christine Linnenbach, who heads Friends of Lowell and helped restore merit-based admissions.)

After the film, we had a great panel discussion that lasted nearly an hour. Everybody spoke from their hearts. What was interesting about the panel was that everyone was an immigrant or a child of immigrants. The reason why this is significant is because there were many Americans whose families have been here multiple generations and agreed to be in the film — only to back out at the last minute. But these people on the panel did not and we can draw whatever conclusions we want from that.

(Brandy Shufutinsky (right) served as an excellent moderator. Next to her is Elina Kaplan, a critic of liberated ethnic studies.)

I would go into more detail about what the panel said but it was recorded and when I get the recording I will be sure to pass it along to you. I think you will enjoy it since it was a heartfelt discussion on how to restore merit and better our nation.

(From left to right, Ram Duriseti, Christine Linnenbach, Eli Steele, Jacob Yuryev, Elina Kaplan, Diana Blum, and Brandy Shufutinsky.)

I have to give a huge thank you to Christine Linnenbach and her team for going above and beyond to make everyone feel welcomed at the screening despite featuring a very controversial topic. It was Diana Blum’s idea to screen the film at this wonderful theater and it made for a night I will never forget.

Lastly, on a personal note, I saw this screening as a very positive sign in our ongoing culture wars. Only five years ago, I would have laughed if someone told me that a film of mine would play at a Menlo Park theater. My last two films were rejected from nearly every film festival despite me having a good track record — my first film, “What’s Bugging Seth?” won over 12 festivals. I won’t even mention the Amazon ban of “What Killed Michael Brown?” So I think we are in the middle of a major cultural shift in America — people are choosing to put politics aside and unite under something larger and important: merit. They know that without merit you do not have America. So last night was a great move in bringing people of all stripes together under one common cause. Isn’t that what America is about?

All my best,

Eli