Maxed Out shows how the modern financial industry really works, explains the true definition of "preferred customer" and tells us why the poor are getting poorer and the rich getting richer. By turns hilarious and profoundly disturbing, Maxed Out paints a picture of a national nightmare which is all too real for most of us. Maxed Out won critical acclaim at the South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas in March, and Simon & Schuster plans to publish a memoir based on Director James Scurlock's interviews and travels during the making of the film next year. Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post, calls Maxed Out a "riveting examination of America's debt problem." Sally Foster of Film Threat says that "Maxed Out is a skillful intertwining of facts, interviews and vignettes, ultimately coming together to form a picture of our country's current financial state."

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

On March 9, 2007, Maxed Out, a new entertaining documentary on debt in America is being released in cities across our country. Director James Scurlock takes a fresh look at debt, focusing on the supply side and the role that lenders play. Mr. Scurlock has also written a book by the same title and published by Simon and Schuster.

Americans For Fairness In Lending (AFFIL) is a new organization that exists to raise awareness of abusive credit and lending and to call for re-regulation of the industry. AFFIL is the collaborative effort of numerous organizations, each contributing their expertise to AFFIL and the public through AFFIL's activities. AFFIL recognizes that lending and credit are an essential and good part of our country but is concerned that the tricks and traps employed by many creditors are threatening the American dream as more people fall further into debt and spend more of their income on financing that debt. AFFIL hopes to create a groundswell of public support for regulation of the lending industry to ensure fairness in lending for all Americans.

The National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA), which I am a member of, is a partner of AFFIL. Other organizations involved include the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, National Consumer Law Center, AARP, ACORN, Center for Responsible Lending, the NAACP, National Council of La Raza and UAW. A full list of organizations, as well as more information about AFFIL can be seen at their website at www.affil.org.

Thank you for your attention to the financial issues of consumers in America and I hope you make time to see this very important movie.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 01, 2007