Americathon

In the then-near future year 1998, America faces a total oil shortage and a transformed economy where paper money is obsolete. The government operates from a portable political hub in California, as citizens jog, bike, and rollerskate to get around a nation of stalled cars. The era is defined by gold as the medium of exchange and the prominence of televised fundraising as salvation.

Set primarily in Marina del Rey, the film centers on a near-future United States headquartered in a repurposed condo dubbed The Western White House. The coastal LA locale provides a satirical backdrop for national crisis, blending political farce with showbiz flavor. The setting emphasizes a nation clinging to media spectacle while resources have run dry.

🎭 Media Satire

The Americathon world uses television as a tool for political legitimacy and rescue, lampooning the power of propaganda, press conferences, and celebrity-hosted fundraisers. Monty Rushmore and a national telethon become instruments of national identity, while public faith is placed in entertainment over policy. The film skewers how media pipelines can distort reality in a crisis.

💰 Economic Collapse

Oil runs dry and currency collapses, forcing Americans to transact in gold and accept a government bailout from reluctant lenders. A cartel-led loan system under Sam Birdwater reveals how private wealth can hold the strings of national fate. Foreclosure and debt become the new normal, threatening the country’s sovereignty. The plot hinges on whether a fundraising spectacle can avert disaster.

🤝 Power and Influence

Behind the scenes, powerful financiers and corporate players manipulate politics for leverage, offering rescue loans in exchange for influence. Birdwater’s monopoly over Nike and his public demand for repayment illustrate how economic power can supplant democratic processes. The advisers and insiders who scheme to control the telethon show how leadership is a performative game. The film questions who truly holds the leash on a country in crisis.