Director: Phillip Klein

In 2005, a divided U.S. Supreme Court gave city governments the authority to take private homes and businesses by eminent domain and transfer ownership to private developers for the purpose of building things like shopping centers, corporate office towers and professional sports arenas. According to the court, the community economic development benefits of such private projects qualified them as being for “public use” under the 5th Amendment's "takings clause." The Court's ruling immediately sparked public outrage and was broadly criticized as a gross misinterpretation of the constitution.

Through a mix of guerrilla journalism, expert interviews, and the stories of victims; Begging For Billionaires reveals the fallout of the Kelo case, exposing how city governments brazenly seize property after property from the powerless and give it to the powerful for the pettiest of non-essential “economic development” projects, many of which are subsidized with taxpayer money. Meanwhile, poor and disadvantaged families are forced from their homes. Everyday citizens watch helplessly as their family histories are bulldozed to smithereens. In some cases, homeowners scramble to save their life’s possessions as demolition crews pulverize the walls around them, and Centuries-old neighborhoods are wiped from existence despite rich histories and beautifully maintained homes. Begging for Billionaires begs the question: are we losing sight of the balance between individual property rights and those of the community?

NOTE: Much of the work on Begging for Billionaires was done by local filmmakers, including editing, post-production, cameras, sound mix, HD mastering, marketing, and promotions. Minneapolis singer-songwriter Phil Solem, formerly of the Grammy-nominated Rembrandts and best known for his theme to the hit TV series “Friends,” wrote performed the movie’s theme song.

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