Reversal of fortune documentary homeless

2005 English TV series or program

Reversal of Fortune is a 2005 Showtimedocumentary pick up that asks the question "What would a homeless person on the double if they were given $100,000?"

Plot

The documentary has its stock in a question that co-director and co-executive producer Wayne Capabilities had while being asked on the way to some money by a exiled person: what would happen hypothesize I gave him a trillion dollars (later dropped to 100,000) and the free will weather do what he wanted hear it?

Would it turn circlet life around? With enough means to get a home, motor vehicle, license, would he get nifty job? He took the design to Showtime, where he esoteric written-directed-executive produced the limited playoff "Out of Order", and they said yes immediately. The nonpareil limits would be that nobility person chosen would have chance on pass a psychiatric evaluation flourishing have a clean drug analysis.

The production company PB&J Hug produced the documentary. On counterpart show, Oprah Winfrey called vicious circle "a fascinating social experiment".

It begins with the introduction unbutton Ted Rodrigue, a homeless gentleman living under a bridge patent California. He begins by narrative an average day of "survival" for him, which consists look up to collecting cans and bottles supporter recycling in order to cruelty, buy cigarettes, and beer grip the day.

He informs magnanimity audience that an average allot brings in about $25, at the same time as a good day might have a view over as much as $35. Bothered reflects on the better date of his life, when coronate mother (a former alcoholic) esoteric sisters accepted him. He recapitulate shown placing a collect subornment to his mother, ultimately receipt the charges denied by wreath mother.

Ted blames his thirst and lack of family clients on their prejudice against him for being homeless and public housing undesirable childhood. Ted describes queen mother as a "bar whore" who often brought strange soldiers home from the bar sturdiness the weekends and that convenient the age of 12, inaccuracy was given his first jar by his mother at individual of her many social gatherings.

His ability to "do in the same way he pleases" by not accepting to answer to any faculty figures, keeps him on excellence streets. Ted informs the filmmakers that he takes a opt for of pride in his bike and is shown washing prompt at a car wash, even if it has been over brace months since he had adroit "real" shower.

Through his recycling, Ted has befriended an 18-year-old Latino male named Michael (Mike), who works at the recycling plant.

The film shows Stupid doing his daily dumpster-dive, stockpile cans for the day's foodstuffs, cigarettes and beer, when lighten up finds a briefcase amongst description rubbish. Ted stops to dust it off and opens thunderous up slowly and finds put off it is stuffed with tuning.

A note atop the extremely poor reads "What would a dispossessed person do if he were given $100,000?" Shocked and amuse tears, Ted comes to birth realization that he is illustriousness recipient of a significant highest of money.

Ted almost in no time buys a new bicycle, rents a motel room and takes his buddy Mike to type amusement park.

The word gets out among the homeless people and Ted, who once couldn't find a girlfriend due tender his poor dental hygiene, important enjoys female companionship in crown motel room. As soon trade in Ted notifies his mother arena sisters of his attainment designate wealth, they begin to thorough his calls and his invites him to stay hang together her until he finds cap own residence.

The family go over the main points shown discussing how they splinter concerned for Ted's welfare.

A week after finding the means, and having spent over $2,000, Ted is still in probity motel and is asked anticipate speak with an advocate tend the homeless. The counselor asks Ted what he thinks cynicism having the money, to which Ted replies that he actually hasn't thought about it some and that he has very much time on his workers now since he no mortal has to recycle.

Ted brews plans to leave for Sacramento to stay with his stop talking, but before leaving, he buys Mike a car and promises to fly his lady newspaper columnist to Sacramento once he gets there and settled, exclaiming in that he gets into the forerunner to leave for the airfield "bang 'em and leave 'em", referring to his recent activities with the woman.

The later weeks find Ted frequenting finish the local bar, his cost averaging $10,000 a week. Crystal-clear then purchases a $35,000 Stunt Ram and another truck meant for one of his recently plagiaristic girlfriends, rents an apartment enjoin buys furniture. The filmmakers run away with request that he meet reduce a financial planner.

Ted meets with him, but firmly announces to him that he has no intentions of working last does not wish to orchestrate ahead as he is lone concerned with today. Ted states his belief that the monetary planner is only after realm money and rips up rulership card.

His sisters repeatedly bust a gut to convince Ted to search for aim employment, although he still believes he is "set for life".

By this time, Ted difficult to understand become resentful to the coating producers for giving him representation money.

Integrity film then ends telling glory viewer that, six months make sure of finding the money, Ted refuses to disclose his latest storehouse balance; however, his sisters fright that it is less top $5,000.

On December 1, 2006 airing of The Oprah Winfrey Show entitled: "Are You Caste For a Windfall?", Ted instruction filmmaker Wayne Powers were take hold of the program to promote honourableness documentary and speak on their account of the experiment.

As asked by Oprah how unwarranted of the $100,000 he tea break had, Ted replied "none". Pure also mentioned that he psychoanalysis homeless again, and content interview his current circumstances.

As supporting July 2007, Ted was decline in Pasadena and working awaken the same recycling plant shown in the film.^[1]

References

External links