Product Description

In this acclaimed six-episode series, go behind the scenes of the 2004 Democratic Primaries with the press secretaries, personal assistants and 'body persons' behind Howard Dean, Joe Lieberman, Wesley Clark, Dennis Kucinich, and John Kerry. For these young campaign workers, life becomes a daily whirlwind of town meetings and celebrity rallies, handshakes and shouting matches, surprising victories and crushing defeats. From the chaos of the Iowa Caucuses to the drama of Super Tuesday, from the truth behind Dean's 'screaming rant' to the triumph of Kerry's clinched nomination, these are the public and private moments that defined one of the most decisive and unforgettable political races in our nation's history. This is the world of STAFFERS.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71623 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-10-26
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 24 minutes

Amazon.com
The six-part miniseries Staffers begins during the 2004 Iowa caucus. There we meet Chris Lavery, who works for the Joe Lieberman campaign. He's joined by Amad Jackson (Wesley Clark), and Sandra Abrevaya (Howard Dean). Then we move to New Hampshire, South Carolina, and points beyond, where we'll meet Marvin Nicholson Jr. (John Kerry) and others. Some, like Chris, have political experience. Some, like Amad, an actor (The Ladykillers), do not. Some are paid. Some are not. What motivates them is faith in their candidate. Staffers isn't for those who like their documentaries slick, arty, or biased (though there are no Republicans in sight), but it's a must for fans of campaign films like The Candidate and The War Room. Featuring appearances from the Democratic hopefuls, including Dennis Kucinich and soon-to-be-vice presidential nominee John Edwards, along with the occasional celebrity, like Janeane Garofolo and Joan Jett (on the stump for Dean). --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Suprised by the great quality, and lack of special features
As already noted, this 'series' is lacking on any kind of special features, which I personally would love to see. However, I felt so suprised by the quality of Staffers that I could do without those, and of course had to.

See, at first I presumed that the DVD would merely have different episodes following those quite far from the candidates themselves and, like many documentary's of late, lack the artistic style that can be present in non-fiction films. This was to the contrary though, as I soon found out.

For instance, the people focused on initially, except for the Clark campaing, were all relatively distant from the candidates themselves. However, you begin to realize that 'Staffers' does take you up close, and although it didn't focus on the candidates (that's why it's 'Staffers'!), it certainly gave what I felt was a new side to the campaign.

These kids, and yes most of them were still fairly young, had the chance of a lifetime. Now with this DVD, we can watch those chances, and maybe one day we too will rise to that noble position of STAFFER!

So, So
I received this for a Christmas gift excited to get some behind the scenes insight into the 2004 campaign (I was a volunteer at the DNC in DC for the final two months) in order to get some type of clarity into why the DEMS messed up so badly in taking back the Presidency.

Unfortunately, what you get is six 15 minute (or so) sections where the camera "man" follows around the "bodyguy" for the main DEM candidates (Bodyguy = personal assistant) as you see how draining it is and how boring it is to hear the same stump speach time and time again.

There is no director's commentary or extras at all.

Campaigning 'warts and all'...
You want to know why Kerry didnt win?

Watch this insightful DVD that allows you behind the scenes.

Kerry spends a lot of time playing golf and show boating the fact that he has kept his first car. (Though he doesnt mention how many others he has garaged).

The DVD offers insight into the world of campaigning from those who went onto the presidential race proper and those that didn't. Thereby the DVD is quite unique. Perhaps due to the fact that few politicians are eager to broadcast their faults.

If you are looking for a campaigning 'warts and all', this DVD has it.