The Masters of Disaster

About

Title from title frame

Photographer, Jerry Pantzer ; film editors, Cindy Kaplan, Betsy Maturo ; music, Carmen Whiip

High school students through adults

Tells the story of an inspired inner-city teacher and eight bright and spirited Black sixth graders who together challenged some skeptical observers by organizing a chess team, and with three years of hard work, went on to win a national championship. Called the "Masters of Disaster," a label they adopted during their early struggles, the team is shown at practice, in school, in chess competitions, with families and friends, on a trip to Japan, and during a visit with the President of the United States, as the documentary pieces together the progress from their frustrating beginnings until their last national competition as a group. Teacher Bob Cotter's motivational techniques and the team members' unique contributions to the group's successes stand as inspiration to young people and adults everywhere

Human-made No record of this work says a model made it. What this means.

Archive

Internet Archive, in Educational films

Licence or status

The Internet Archive states none for this item.

Credit

Friedman, Sonya, 1932- screenwriter, film director, Wetmore, Patricia, film producer, Pantzer, Jerry, director of photography, Indiana University, Bloomington. Audio-Visual Center, production company, film distributor

Language

English

Who can watch

The archive gives no rating. Invisible Network shows it to Teens profiles and older, judged from its collection and subjects. How films are placed