Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Ludwig Von Mises Institute Covers AFTF
 August 25, 2006, by Justin Ptak "Since V for Vendetta garnered much interest on this site, I thought people would be interested in Aaron "Hollywood" Russo's new documentary: America: Freedom to Fascism. Readers of Murray Rothbard's History of Money and Banking in the United States, and his What Has Government Done to Our Money? will be familiar with some of the material. Even the Mises Institute's DVD release Money, Banking and the Federal Reserve covers much of the material in great depth. Still, Russo is crisscrossing America with his documentary trying to raise awareness of the destructive role the Fed, the income tax, and the latest police measures are playing in the lives of American citizens ." [Continued on Website]
Sunday, August 27, 2006
AFTF Americapromodvd.com Creators: Allen & Art Pollock
 [Top Photo] Allen and Art Pollock at the University Of Delaware displaying their banner and handing out promo dvd's to students and others to help promote the film at a busy intersection.  [Bottom Photo] AFTF Volunteer Art Pollock's banner on his trailer which has been there for about 5 to 6 months now and has been seen in about 26 states and Canada. For more information about the AFTF promotional DVD, please visit Americapromodvd.comThe DVD has all Trailers, the 14 minute movie preview Trailer, PLUS the CMN interview with Aaron Russo and the Call to action, from Aaron Russo. This is NOT I repeat NOT the Full length America: Freedom To Fascism Film
CHICAGO AFTF IMAX SPECIAL SCREENING 9/21/06
  Aaron Russo plans to attend this Special Screening of America: Freedom to Fascism!Conscious Choice Magazine proudly presents a very special screening of America: Freedom to Fascism, Aaron Russo’s incendiary political documentary. Join Conscious Choice and Producer/Director Aaron Russo for this special event on Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Navy Pier IMAX Theater. [Order tickets on here]
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Erich "Mancow" Muller on AFTF: "This film is a wakeup call"
  Nationally syndicated radio talkshow host and TV commentator on FOX & WTTW, Erich "Mancow" Muller on AFTF: "Director Aaron Russo did a movie called Trading Places. Two old codgers tried to mess with little guy, Eddie Murphy, it's hillarious. Well, in his new documentary, America: Freedom To Fascism, Russo reveals how the IRS is like those two old codgers, and the rest of us, well we're like a nation of Eddie Murphys, being suckered into illegally paying for their party. Infuriating yet fascinating, the IRS has made America a prison without bars, and us hardworking Americans are nothing but slaves. This film is a wakeup call to all the drones, all the sheeple, all the P.C. people that keep paying." Listen to the MP3 audio!
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Volunteer & Help - AFTF 13 City Commitment!
WE HAVE LIFT OFF!! AARON COMMITS AFTF TO 13 CITIES....AARON'S ENERGETIC AND EXCITED!!! Dear AFTF Volunteers: Aaron has secured a continued commitment with Cinema Libre and we have a tentative list of 13 cities which he is committing to screening AFTF during September-October as follows: 1. Atlanta 2. Austin 3. Chicago 4. Dallas 5. Los Angeles 6. Nashville 7. Orlando 8. Portland 9. Philadelphia area - Allentown, PA 10. Salt Lake City 11. Seattle 12. Tuscon and/or Phoenix 13. Washington DC We NEED - ASAP - from our local volunteers in these cities a list a theatres we can book Aaron's movie into NOW!! Leads, names, numbers, addresses and any other information about local volunteer support/commitments for promotion, etc. need to be organized and shared with Aaron and Cinema Libre NOW! Also, Aaron and I are in the process of delegating leadership responsibilities to key AFTF volunteers to ensure this 13-city rollout is a resounding success. We need key volunteer leaders to oversee some of the work across the country in the following areas: targeting theatrical venues organizing volunteer meetings organizing private screenings contacting endorsement contacts organizing radio and television interviews setting up newspaper interviews flyer copying and distribution promo dvd copying and distribution volunteering at the theatres to pass out literature, etc. All of this work will be coordinated between Aaron, Cinema Libre and our local volunteer leaders in each city. Please be ready to step up with open arms to help out and share some positive energy to make this happen! Aaron and Cinema Libre want to complete this booking schedule in the next week! Aaron Russo will be periodically participating in our national daily AFTF volunteer conference call beginning at 6:26 pm Central time. Please be sure to join this call!! Call: (Contact Fred below for number) Press "2", Enter code , Press "#" Thanks for your continued help and support! Peace and God Bless, Fred Smart AFTF National Volunteer Coordinator 312-602-2568 w 847-878-8090 c
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Cinemania AFTF Review: "provocative and even intriguing"
by Dan Jardine, 8/3/06 "I happen to buy much of what Russo is selling, particularly when he attacks the dissolution of freedoms under the rule of America's Far Right, or when he points a finger at the conspiracy of the wealthy and privileged, of corporations and banks, to reduce political influence in the economic world to virtually nil through the imposition of inaptly named free trade agreements, or his clear and intelligent argument that the war on terror is really a war on [individual's] freedom." [Continued on Website]
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Video: Aaron Russo Unplugged- Chicago 7/30/06
 Aaron Russo speaks candidly about his movie "America: Freedom to Fascism" Shot on location at the Landmark Cinema and Borders books in Chicago on 7/30/06 Listen to Aaron discuss 9/11, being asked to join the CFR, the creation of Women's Lib movement, personal stories and much more. [Watch the Google Video]
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
The Movie Blog: "its trailer scared the hell out of me"
 by John Campea, 6/22/06 "Sometimes we see something that is just so scary, that we, in order to protect our own minds from that fear, instantly just write it off as pure fantasy or as a product of a paranoid conspiracy theorist. And often, that is indeed the case. Maybe that's what is behind this documentary America: Freedom to Fascism. Nothing more than some wacky ficticious extreme film. Or... maybe what I saw in its trailer scared the hell out of me and I'm trying to convince myself that it was all just fiction." [Continued on Website]
North Country Gazette covers AFTF
 3/24/06 "‘America: From Freedom to Fascism” is the title of Aaron Russo’s latest production, said to be inspired by Queensbury activist and tax protester Bob Schulz, founder of the We the People Foundation..." [Continued on Website]
TLA Movies Reviews AFTF: "this piece is provocative"
 by David Gorgos "Noted libertarian film producer/politician Aaron Russo delves head-first, Michael Moore style, into the US tax codes and comes up with a sloppy but intriguing exposé that all but demands the audience to stand up and scream "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna file my 1040 anymore!"" [Continued on Website]
Silver Screen Reviews gives AFTF 4 of 4 Stars
  by Bill King ..."There is absolutely nothing about this documentary that should ever be considered unpatriotic. The people behind and in front of the camera are patriots who have a deep understanding of their field of study, and they love their country enough to challenge the establishment politicians and press to reveal another side of the story that goes uncovered. Thomas Jefferson himself said, "The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive."" [Continued on Website]
from Reason To Freedom Reviews AFTF 5 of 5 Smiles
  by Herman Gardner, 08/11/06 "Aaron Russo is a man with guts. A former music promoter, talent agent, film producer, and near candidate for President of the Libertarian Party, Russo is one of those uniquely American iconoclasts whose stubbornness has led him to stray far and wide to satisfy his intellect. Initially a film about his search to find out whether Americans indeed are required to pay Federal Income taxes, Russo became compelled to delve into much deeper topics related to political corruption, the influence of international banking on American policy and, ultimately, the fate that awaits our nation if we continue to allow our government to increase its control on our daily lives." [Continued on Website]
Tampa Volunteers Promoting AFTF
 AFTF Volunteers Harry McKay dressed up as Patrick Henry and Carol Caldwell outside the AMC 24 in Tampa Florida on July 29, 2006.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
CNBC Bette Midler/Michael Eisner on Aaron Russo
 April 26, 2006 MICHAEL EISNER: Aaron Russo? BETTE MIDLER: I left my manager, the famous Aaron Russo, who was a real-- I-- I have to say, a real light n my life. He was a very exciting person to-- to be in business with. MICHAEL EISNER: He recently ran for Governor-- BETTE MIDLER: He-- MICHAEL EISNER: --of Nevada. BETTE MIDLER: --yes. He was-- he's a fearless kinda guy. MICHAEL EISNER: He's got a documentary out-- about to come out, about how you don't have to pay your axes. BETTE MIDLER: (LAUGHS) That sounds right. MICHAEL EISNER: I've seen it.
[Text Continued on Website + Video]
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
NewsMax Reviews AFTF: "It's a shocker"
 by Phil Brennan, Aug. 9, 2006 "As the film shows, none of this is the imagination of some right-wing conspiracy nut. What's happening is thoroughly backed up and documented with interviews with top experts such as Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, former IRS criminal investigator Joe Banister, Katherine Albrecht, author of "Spychips," and the authors of the Federal Reserve exposé, "The Creature from Jekyll Island." Telling the truth can be risky to a producer attempting to attract audiences to his film, as Russo explains." [Continued on Website]
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
The Hollywood Reporter AFTF Review: fascinating and compelling arguments
 Aug. 07, 2006, by Frank Scheck ..."It is most effective in its first half, when the Libertarian filmmaker methodically examines the controversies surrounding the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, most notably its lack of legal specificity when it comes to actually collecting tax revenue. Utilizing interviews with a variety of expert witnesses, including a Texan congressman, a former IRS commissioner, former IRS agents, attorneys, authors, etc., Russo makes provocative, albeit scattershot arguments about the system. " [Continued on Website]
Monday, August 07, 2006
New York Theatre Wire AFTF Review: "possibly the most important American documentary"
 By Brandon Judell Russo feels his direction of this film is a brave, seditious deed. The audience I was surrounded by at an advance screening agreed. As whacked out as it may seem at times, "America: Freedom to Fascism" is possibly the most important American documentary to be released this year after Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth." After all, the latter predicts the death of mankind, while the former just prognosticates the demise of liberty in these United States. [Continued on Website]
AFTF is #2 grossing film per box office basis!
 August 5, 2006 with Dave Champion "America: Freedom to Fascism" is the #2 grossing film in America on per box office basis! Dave critiques New York Times tax reporter's review of "America: Freedom to Fascism". Dave interviews an articulate and fun opponent on the income tax issue.
[Listen to the archived audio MP3]
The Morning Call: Trucker antes up for 'Freedom' trip
  July 28, 2006, by Kathy Lauer-Williams "David Noe of Bethlehem is spending nearly $3,000 of his own money to take a busload of strangers to New York to see Aaron Russo's documentary "America: From Freedom to Fascism". But the 42-year-old truck driver says the money is well worth it if the movie — Aaron Russo's documentary ''America: From Freedom to Fascism,'' — opens their eyes to abuses he believes are going on in our government."
[Continued on Website]
Stephen Lendman on AFTF: "a must-see film by Aaron Russo"
August 3, 2006, by Stephen Lendman, whose articles are syndicated on various websites "Aaron Russo has produced an important documentary film titled 'Freedom to Fascism' that should be must viewing by everyone. It's now playing in theaters in selective cities around the US and hopefully will be shown abroad as well as what happens in the most powerful country on earth affects all others for better or worse. No one seeing this film will doubt it's frighteningly for the worst." [Continued on Website]
Westside Chronicle: "Watching America: Freedom to Fascism was like watching a true life horror film"
 ..."Recently our so-called Democratic government is talking about forcing everyone to carry a National ID Card and having a computer “Spy Chip” placed under our skin to track every move we make. We must fight back against this. Watching America: Freedom to Fascism was like watching a true life horror film. A Fascist Nation is one in which big government and big corporations work together to stifle the people and Mr. Russo says he hopes he can wake up Americans to the myth that America is NOT still the land of liberty that it started out to be" [Continued on Website]
Greenwich Village Gazette AFTF Review
 by Eric Lurio "I'm afraid that the term “fascist” has been overused. For years the left has been calling anyone to the right of them fascist. I mean, if America were really fascist, do you think Aaron Russo would have been able to make this film? Of course NOT! [Jeez!] It begins with a couple of big, fat LIES. One, that the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was never actually ratified, which it most certainly was, and that the Congress didn't have the right to establish the Federal Reserve system."
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Aaron Russo's new film tackles the income tax
 by Vin Suprynowicz, Apr. 30, 2006 Former Nevada gubernatorial hopeful Aaron Russo -- one-time producer of mainstream films including "Trading Places" -- vows to take his new documentary, "America, Freedom to Fascism" to Cannes in May and open it in major U.S cities in July. The film, which previewed here April 9, is pure Aaron. In some of the most enjoyable parts, Mr. Russo casts himself in an on-camera role reminiscent of Michael Moore in such parallel (albeit from the left) documentaries as "Roger and Me." [Continued on Website]
Aaron Refutes Johnson's NY Times Hit Piece
 Aaron Russo preempts David Cay Johnston (davidcayjohnston@aol.com) of The New York Times as an IRS shill, with his 7/31/06 attack article "Facts Refute Filmmaker’s Assertions on Income Tax in ‘America’".  Listen to Aaron's comments on the interview prior to the article being published.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Chicago- Aaron & Bishop Mullins, Activist Lunch and Freedom Bus
 Aaron spoke to members of Bishop Mullin's church, New Aubundant Life Church, on Sunday, July 30th. Aaron was a guest on Bishop Mullin's weekly radio show - WBGX AM 1570 in Chicago - the previous Monday - by phone - and again the next day, 7/31, in person  Aaron is joined by Katherine Albrecht, author of " Spychips" and Chicago-area activists Mariel Hummer, Anita Wilson, and Karen McCoo at Captain Hardtimes Restaurant, 457 E. 79th Street in Chicago's south side, on Tuesday afternoon prior to Aaron's departure to Los Angeles.  Juror Marcy Brooks and some 30+ other AFTF "Freedom Riders" drove from the south side of Chicago to see Aaron Russo and his movie on Saturday, July 29th. The temperatures were over 100 degrees and the humidity could be cut with a knife. We kicked off the ride with a chorus of the Star Spangled Banner.
The Onion A.V. Club Reviews AFTF
 by Nathan Rabin July 26th, 2006 One-time Libertarian presidential candidate and Rude Awakening auteur Aaron Russo has some very good news for you: You don't have to pay income taxes anymore! Congrats! Don't spend all that extra money in one place! According to Russo, at least, there's no law on the books forcing individuals to pay any kind of graduated income taxes. In fact, according to Russo's documentary America: Freedom To Fascism, income taxes are downright unconstitutional. Now the bad news: any day now, jackbooted thugs will break down your door, seize your belongings, and insert a computer chip inside you so you can be monitored at all times by the looming one-world international government. [Continued on Website]
Aaron Russo's 'America: Freedom to Fascism' Opens To Sold Out Theaters
 Be sure to get updates like this below by signing up for AFTF progress updates, please also consider volunteering and donating to help promote this most important documentary.Aaron Russo's 'America: Freedom to Fascism' Opens To Sold Out Theaters
Film Grossed approximately $90,000 This Past Week In Test Markets
LOS ANGELES - It was a rush to the box office last week as Aaron Russo's hot documentary "America: Freedom to Fascism" opened in test markets in New York, Chicago, Austin, Tampa and Kansas City. The estimated box office last week was approximately $90,000. Russo used the test markets to evaluate audience response before spreading it across the country. The film was met with standing ovations and excellent exit polls. Russo feels that the prints could be technically improved, so he has made a decision to pull the film from theaters as of last night (Thursday). He will be upgrading the quality of the prints and releasing the film this September in time for the political season. The film will be released in many theaters across the country. In Austin, TX the Friday evening show sold out by mid-morning. Chicago's Landmark Century Centre sold out their Saturday evening show so quickly, they had to move it to a larger room. "I am gratified by the consistent standing ovations that the film is getting throughout America. The exit ratings have been incredibly high," said Russo. "The people of America are eager to learn the truth about how our government functions. It is time for the American people to understand that the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that the 16th Amendment did not give the government the authority to impose a direct unapportioned tax on the labor of the people. The IRS Code does not trump Supreme Court decisions. The Supreme Court has defined income, and it is neither wages nor labor." The film, which has strong appeal to niche markets, has received phenomenal support from the grassroots and online community.
IT'S A HIT!
IT'S A HIT! by Mark Yannone According to Nielsen EDI, Inc., the top moneymaker at the box office this past weekend (July 28-30) was Miami Vice, which earned over $25 million from more than 3000 theaters in its first weekend. In a field of 126 movies currently playing in theaters, Aaron Russo's latest film, America: Freedom to Fascism, also in its debut week, was only five points below the top grossing film, in terms of revenue per theater. Russo's movie knocked the socks off of some of the world's largest movie distributors, including giants like Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures, IMAX Film, Paramount, Universal, Miramax Films, and MGM Studios. [Data Source]
JamesBowman.net Reviews AFTF
 Reviewed July 28, 2006 "We see Mr Russo himself, a producer of The Rose and Trading Places who for the last decade or so has been busying himself with libertarian politics, browbeating Sheldon Cohen, a former IRS commissioner, and others to cite the legal basis for the income tax until they are forced to acknowledge that it pretty much boils down to judicial precedent. So then, says one of his tax-resisting heroes, the author Irwin Schiff, "Nobody can know what the law is, because the law is what the judges say the law is.""
Friday, August 04, 2006
Audio/Video: Aaron Russo from Chicago 7/30
Newsday Reviews AFTF
 by John Anderson, Special to Newsday, July 28, 2006 "Anyone with an inkling of what Benito Mussolini meant when he defined fascism as "corporatism" will know there's a story in "America: From Freedom to Fascism," Aaron Russo's cautionary tale about eroding rights in the United States." [Continued on Website]
Village Voice Reviews AFTF
 by Luke Y. Thompson July 25th, 2006 "It's a little disingenuous for filmmaker Aaron Russo to pose as just an uninformed individual trying to uncover the "truth" about the IRS in this new documentary—he doesn't tell you that he ran in the Libertarian Party's presidential primary in 2004, and his mind was made up a long time ago. Nonetheless, his arguments about the constitutionality of the federal income tax deserve a serious point-by-point response from someone in the know." [Continued on Website]
Slant Magazine Reviews AFTF
 by Ed Gonzalez ed@slantmagazine.com "Let me spare Armond White the trouble and call America: Freedom to Fascism a whacked-out piece of anti-American propaganda. The documentary begins as a rant about the not-so-unpopular belief that the IRS lacks the legitimate authority to collect income taxes, an argument director Aaron Russo's interviewees dutifully flatter—everyone else is a nutjob or unavailable for comment, ostensibly because they are unable to hand over the legal documents that state we have to pay the IRS. Russo makes a good case against the organization (the crux: that the 16th Amendment was improperly ratified), its illegitimate power and abuse of existing laws"... [Continued on Website}
SilverStockReport.com Covers AFTF
 by Jason Hommel, August 2, 2006 "Here is one more reminder of why you need silver and gold; a movie is out now that is promoting gold and silver, and this may actually be responsible for the rise in the gold price this week! A movie came out this last weekend in ten theaters that is receiving many A+ reviews from Yahoo users. It opened to a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival a few months ago. This movie will be especially loved by gold and silver investors, who have sent me hundreds of emails about it in the past few months." [Continued on Website]
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