# The Masters of Disaster

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

- Kind: Educational
- Year: 1985
- By: Friedman, Sonya, 1932- screenwriter, film director, Wetmore, Patricia, film producer, Pantzer, Jerry, director of photography, Indiana University,…
- Genres: Education, Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/themastersofdisaster)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/themastersofdisaster?play=1)