West Liberty University’s Highlands Center will be the site for a screening of the controversial documentary, FrackNation, at 6:30 p.m., Monday, May 6. The event is free and open to the public.
Sponsored by the University Economic Club, the evening will include a question and answer forum after the film. Described as a journalist’s search for the truth about fracking for natural gas, the documentary is directed by journalist Phelim McAleer, who will be in attendance for the showing.
“FrackNation is pro-truth and pro-investigative journalism. It reveals the exaggerations and frauds that are at the heart of the anti-fracking movement and the length activists will go to reach their goal of banning fracking,” said McAleer.
FrackNation follows McAleer across America as he faces threats, malicious 911 calls and bogus lawsuits for trying to question green extremists for the truth about fracking. McAleer uncovers fracking facts suppressed by environmental activists, and he talks with rural Americans whose livelihoods are at risk if fracking is banned.
Fracking is a way of extracting oil and gas from deep in the earth. It has led to a fossil fuel boom in many states across the U.S. and has become a target of the environmental movement and was attacked in the HBO documentary Gasland and Matt Damon’s Hollywood movie Promised Land, according to McAleer.
The film was written and directed by a trio of filmmakers: husband and wife team Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney and their colleague Magdalena Segieda.
“If you think the media failed to investigate the Manti Te’o story, you’ll be shocked to see how badly they dropped the ball on fracking,” McElhinney said. “The truth wasn’t being told; people who supported fracking were being ignored. FrackNation fixes that.”
The New York Times, which has been skeptical of fracking, reviewed FrackNation and said it is “meticulously researched…provocative.”
FrackNation was funded by 3,305 backers through crowd-funding website Kickstarter. It was one of the most successful documentary campaigns ever launched through Kickstarter.
“FrackNation is a movie by the people, for the people. It was funded through their small donations because they were tired of Hollywood celebrities such as Matt Damon misrepresenting their lives,” said co-director Magdalena Segieda. To view a trailer, visit YouTube.
Founded in 2009, the BB&T Center for Economic Philosophy at West Liberty University seeks to engage faculty, students and the public in serious and sustained examination of the free market. In recent years BB&T’s charitable foundation awarded grants to dozens of colleges and universities to support teaching about capitalism.
The University Economics Club is sponsored by the Center for Economic Philosophy and Dr. Erik Root, associate professor of political science, is chairman of the center.
The West Liberty Highlands Center is located at 355 Wharton Circle and the entrance to the center is just across from the Marquee Cinemas. For more information please call 304-336-8301.