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Barack Obama "Road to the White House"

On November 5th, 2008, Barack Obama became the first African American President of the United States, but the journey began months before he announced his intent to run for the nation's highest political office.

The story started when a little known Senator from the State of Illinois came to speak at the California African American Museum, which was hosting an Urban Issues Forum back on Oct. 27, 2006. The gifted orator spoke with such elegance and grace that there was a sense that Sen. Barack Obama was destined for greater things.  

The film Barack Obama ´Road to the White House¡ chronicles the two-and-a-half-year period between that fateful day back in October 2006 to that historic day on January 20th 2009, when the entire world witnessed an unprecedented feat, the inauguration of our country's 44th president, the first of African descent and one of only three sitting U.S. presidents to be awarded a a Nobel Peace Prize. The documentary film follows Obama's journey from his time in California to his swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C.  

Independent filmmaker Keith O'Derek spent three and a half days driving from Los Angeles, California to Washington D.C. to attend the ceremony. During his journey, he slept in his SUV and in bus stations, filming and interviewing average people from all walks of life on what they thought about the incoming President.  

In addition to some of the people who knew him personally, the documentary features in-depth interviews with high-profile politicians, celebrities and businessmen from around the Country who weigh in about the new President, as well as issues about race and the economy among other things. Never before has the nation and the world been so intrigued by such an influential leader. Whether one agrees or disagrees with his politics, he has indeed fostered change just by his mere presence in the White House.  

´Road to the White House¡ is the first movie of kind to be told by the candor and honesty of the American people and what they think about their elected leader. In addition, Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian  Louis Gossett Jr. lends his prolific voice and support to the film by providing  voice-over to the theatrical trailer that is coming soon. He is also among the featured high-powered celebrities to offer insight as to how Obama is performing as the Head of State. He also reflects upon the America?s history of racial injustice and its progress.  

The consensus of President Barack Obama is that he brings hope to so many who have so little. ´Road to the White House¡ is not told with any political slant or ideology, but with the straightforwardness of so many who have grown frustrated with the partisan politics in Washington D.C. over the course of the last eight years. It's not about the Republican or the Democratic point of view, it's about the American point of view, and it was done out of a labor of love, sweat and tears. 

Upfront Productions
PO Box 1333 Gardena, CA 90249
(310) 516-0232