| "Do Political Film Adaptations Affect Voter Knowledge?" examines the educational influence of films on viewing audiences. Using the film Recount (2008), an HBO television movie, as a case study, I conducted a multi-method project. I analyzed Recount in regards to how information was presented to the viewer and the potential implications it may have. I held seven focus groups, in which viewers were given a pre-survey, watched Recount, completed a post-survey, and discussed the film. Upon completion, I analyzed their answers to determine knowledge gained. I also spoke with two of the real life inspirations for Recount's characters, Ron Klain and John "Mac" Stipanovich, helping to differentiate the facts versus fictionalized elements of the film. All research was conducted over a year-long study.;Key Words & Phrases: film studies, film adaptations, recount, 2000 election, HBO, TV movie, knowledge gain, mise-en-scene, news footage, and dramatizations. |
