ASK THE PRODUCERS: LIVE ANOTHER DAY - AUTOLINE FEATURE

EV Channels Review

This Autoline Feature interviews the producers of the film "Live Another Day," which chronicles the 2008-2009 collapse of the American auto industry and subsequent bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler. The producers, Bill Burke and DDA Petri, explain their motivation stemmed from Paul Ingrassia's book "Crash Course." They highlight their success in securing private funding and gaining unprecedented access to key figures like Sergio Marchionne and Jennifer Granholm, noting that Ron Galfinfer was the only major figure who declined to be interviewed. A significant focus of the discussion is the producers' perspective on the UAW's role, which they present as a distinguishing factor contributing to the industry's struggles, while also acknowledging the union's historical importance. They defend their narrative approach, emphasizing the power of direct interviews over a narrator to convey the story's authenticity. The film also explores the complexities of management decisions, the surprising financial contributions of Chrysler to Fiat, and the potential for a similar crisis to reoccur due to industry cyclicality and dependence on trucks and SUVs. The producers express satisfaction with the final product, despite the intense three-year editing process.