Conference Call with Ben Stein

As I type, I am on a conference call with Ben Stein and Motive Entertainment and Premise Media Corp. executives. Motive Entertainment is the company that is helping to distribute the new film “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed”. Premise Media Corporation is the producer of the movie. Ben Stein, the star of the movie, is most noted for playing the principal in "Ferris Buellers Day Off" and the host of "Win Ben Stein's Money".


This new film, according to its website, follows Stein and his heroic and, at times, shocking journey confronting the world's top scientists, educators and philosophers, regarding the persecution of the many by an elite few. Ben travels the world on his quest, and learns an awe-inspiring truth that bewilders him, then angers him and then spurs him to action! He realizes that he has been "Expelled", and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired for the "crime" of merely believing that there might be evidence of "design" in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance.



I was a little disappointed at first that the producers gave the idea that they didn't want to endorse "Intelligent Design", but was encouraged as they talked about fighting for free speech in the academic world and elsewhere. They welcome all "reasonable" theories. However, Stein did mention that he felt Darwinism is lacking in certain fronts. Of the many educators and others they interviewed, many had their faces blacked out for fear of reprisal while others flatly refused to be interviewed at all. Many had lost their jobs, tenure and had been ridiculed if they dared go against the elite. Ben, himself, has lost opportunities because of his work on the project and regularly receives hate mail.



Both Stein and Walt Ruloff, Executive Producer and President of Premise Media Corporation, also mentioned that they hoped this movie could begin some open and intelligent dialog between those who believe in some form of intelligent design and those on the side of, for lack of a better word, Darwinism.



Ben said he thought that the country had "lost Its way morally" and hoped to see the return of morals throughout the land.



They gave two websites for "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed". The first, http://www.expelledthemovie.com/ is the official site. http://www.getexpelled.com/ is a site for educators, pastors, youth leaders and anyone who would like some resources, etc. to help with this free speech agenda. On both sites you can post your own experiences via text, video, and/or audio on the "shout-out" link.



The movie comes out this spring. I will post a trailer soon.