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Fast Talk
A feature documentary about Northwestern University fast-talking debaters
Produced by David E. Tolchinsky
Overview
Genre
Sports, Social Issues, Culture, Society, and Essay
Synopsis
Fast Talk tracks the NU debate team as it tries for a second consecutive championship while simultaneously examining why debaters now talk so fast and how their arguments are unintelligible and inconsequential to a non-debate audience. Clearly there are benefits to fast-talking--more arguments presented in a shorter amount of time. But is there a dark side? How does fast-talking affect the participation and success of women, minorities, and low-income students? Has debate slowly morphed from an academic activity meant to train young minds to an activity meant to train winners regardless of whether or not they know how to communicate and/or form nuanced arguments? At a broader level, perhaps what has happened to debate is a microcosm of what has happened to many arenas in academia and the world. Students are increasingly pressured to achieve more quickly. Often good pedagogy and health are sacrificed in favor of rewards whether it be certificates, trophies or A's.
Stage
finished
Running time
56 minutes
Links
Official Website
Fast Talk Official Website
Credits
Debra Tolchinsky
... Director/Producer
Ron Ward
... Editor/Producer
David E. Tolchinsky
... Producer
Production Details
Prod. Co.
Cross X Productions, LLC
Country
United States
Production years
2005-2011
Locations
various throughout the United States
Distribution Details
Release year
2011
Festivals
2011 DocuWest Documentary Festival, 2011 LA Femme Film Festival
Awards
Best Doc, 2011 LA Femme Film Fest; 2011 Award of Excellence: short documentary, The Indie Fest 2011 Award of Merit: editing, The Indie Fest 2011 Award of Merit, The Accolade Competition 2011 Award of Merit, Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood
Distribution
Premiered August 18, 2011 at the Downtown Independent in Los Angeles: downtownindependent.com
Broadcast (Prod.)
N/A
Broadcast (Acq.)
N/A
Language
English
Subtitles
n/A
Overview
Genre
Sports, Social Issues, Culture, Society, and EssaySynopsis
Fast Talk tracks the NU debate team as it tries for a second consecutive championship while simultaneously examining why debaters now talk so fast and how their arguments are unintelligible and inconsequential to a non-debate audience. Clearly there are benefits to fast-talking--more arguments presented in a shorter amount of time. But is there a dark side? How does fast-talking affect the participation and success of women, minorities, and low-income students? Has debate slowly morphed from an academic activity meant to train young minds to an activity meant to train winners regardless of whether or not they know how to communicate and/or form nuanced arguments? At a broader level, perhaps what has happened to debate is a microcosm of what has happened to many arenas in academia and the world. Students are increasingly pressured to achieve more quickly. Often good pedagogy and health are sacrificed in favor of rewards whether it be certificates, trophies or A's.