Education reform advocates are hoping that the upcoming film Waiting for ‘Superman’ will inspire the same kind of public interest that An Inconvenient Truth generated for climate change – but with a more impactful outcome. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, the visionary filmmaker behind An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting for ‘Superman’ follows the stories of five bright, hopeful children navigating the challenges of America’s struggling public school system.
Inspired in part by the education reform campaign of the Business Roundtable—a trade association of CEOs from the nation’s largest corporations—the film aims to shine a light on the state of U.S. education, which has long been a priority for corporate leaders.
“We’re at a defining moment in education,” says Bill Green, CEO of Accenture and chair of the roundtable’s reform efforts. “This is the issue where the administration, business community, and Congress are most aligned, and we ought to exploit that.”
Corporate America has been grappling with a shortage of skilled workers for more than a decade, and the situation has worsened as global competition intensifies. With U.S. educational standards falling behind those of Europe and Asia, there is growing concern about whether the current education system adequately prepares students to thrive in the global workforce.
The hope is that the current economic downturn, coupled with heightened awareness of the job market, will fuel a broader discussion on whether the education system, in its present form, is effectively preparing students for real-world employment.
“We’ve got educated people who can’t find jobs. That’s where the spotlight should fall on what needs to be taught to work,” Green argues.
Through the film, reform advocates aim not only to expose the faults within the system but also to mobilize viewers to take action and support local education improvement efforts. The children featured in the documentary come from diverse areas, including Washington, East Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, the Bronx, and Harlem, providing a broad, representative look at the disparities across different communities.
Paramount Pictures, a subsidiary of Viacom, is distributing the film and has pledged its support for other pro-reform initiatives through its involvement in the Business Roundtable. Viacom has already produced a special feature focusing on individuals who work for prominent figures like President Barack Obama, singer Kelly Clarkson, and basketball star LeBron James. These assistants share their educational journeys and how their schooling helped them land their high-profile jobs, ultimately exposing underprivileged students to a broader view of the job market and the opportunities available to them if they are properly prepared.
While Waiting for ‘Superman’ ultimately aims to inspire, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman is hoping for tangible results—such as new legislation on Capitol Hill—that will help modernize and expand Bush-era education reform efforts.
“We will not revive this economy unless we fix education,” Dauman asserts. “It was supposed to be a central issue for the Obama administration, and we need to keep the pressure on.”
