Seniors Pursue Documentary

By Broadside Correspondent Jennifer Green

Although everyone knows that the economy is having far-reaching effects, senior film and video studies major Joe Inabinett and senior business management major Phil Covert are endeavoring to bring to light an effect of the economy that they believe has not received sufficient attention.

Inabinett and Covert have partnered together along with their friend Kyle Patrick to make a documentary addressing the effect of the economy on college graduates. Inabinett and Covert are graduating from George Mason University this May, and Patrick is graduating from Liberty University. All three men have a background in film projects.

Inabinett is the creator of the documentary’s concept and the executive producer. “I decided to create this documentary because I myself am graduating this semester and personally, I’m going through the struggle of finding out what I’m going to be doing after college, what jobs I’ll try and apply for, what I can do, what my dream job is, etc.” said Inabinett.

The project began in December 2008 and a director for the project has been acquired. Inabinett believes the topic of the documentary is important because it speaks directly to the United States’ current situation. “The graduate unemployment rate is the highest in history, and people will be interested in seeing our personal stories on film as we find other people all over the country struggling with the decision of what to do with their lives after they finish college,” said Inabinett.

Research for the project has uncovered some interesting statistics for Inabinett and his partners.

“One statistic that stood out in particular was that the current valued worth of a college degree only accumulates to something in the neighborhood of $250,000 over the course of a total lifetime, and that if people started working after high school, that they would’ve made more money than those who currently graduate college,” said Inabinett. In addition to research, Inabinett and his partners spent time interviewing people. Clips of these interviews can be seen in a trailer they created as pitch for their project as they endeavor to find financial and distributional support from various media networks and corporations.

Some of the networks that Inabinett is currently talking to regarding potential distribution rights include WETA, MTV, Sundance Channel and HBO. “We are also in talks with corporations like Microsoft and Kodak who are considering supporting us with product placements and equipment” said Inabinett. He hopes that “funding [will be in] place for filming to start this summer and then be released in 2010 on a major television network.”

MTV has shown interest in the documentary. “MTV has been the only network so far where we’ve actually broken the documentary down into an episode-style budget, in which case we will be holding casting calls and re-tooling the story for a 12 to 13 episode run on that network come next year some time,” said Inabinett.

Inabinett hopes that the finished documentary will bring awareness to the difficulties that many college graduates will face. “This piece is hopefully going to be a wake up call for the rest of America who turn a blind eye to this problem,” said Inabinett. He also hopes that the film will inspire college graduates to persevere despite the economic circumstances.

Inabinett’s trailer, titled The Last Degree, can be viewed at vimeo.com/3797375.