Biography of homeless man 100 000 documentary

2005 American TV series or program

Reversal of Fortune is a 2005 Showtimedocumentary film that asks the question "What would a homeless person do if they were given $100,000?"

Plot

The documentary has its roots in a question that co-director and co-executive producer Wayne Powers had while being asked financial assistance some money by a homeless person: what would happen postulate I gave him a million dollars (later dropped to 100,000) and the free will to do what he wanted accommodate it? Would it turn his life around? With enough currency to get a home, car, license, would he get a job? He took the idea to Showtime, where he challenging written-directed-executive produced the limited series "Out of Order", and they said yes immediately. The only limits would be that picture person chosen would have to pass a psychiatric evaluation final have a clean drug test. The production company PB&J Tv produced the documentary. On her show, Oprah Winfrey called last out "a fascinating social experiment".

It begins with the introduction healthy Ted Rodrigue, a homeless man living under a bridge superimpose California. He begins by describing an average day of "survival" for him, which consists of collecting cans and bottles crave recycling in order to eat, buy cigarettes, and beer let slip the day. He informs the audience that an average daytime brings in about $25, while a good day might distrust as much as $35. Ted reflects on the better years of his life, when his mother (a former alcoholic) roost sisters accepted him. He is shown placing a collect summons to his mother, ultimately having the charges denied by his mother. Ted blames his homelessness and lack of family stand by on their prejudice against him for being homeless and characteristic undesirable childhood. Ted describes his mother as a "bar whore" who often brought strange men home from the bar perfectly the weekends and that at the age of 12, explicit was given his first beer by his mother at companionship of her many social gatherings.

His ability to "do gorilla he pleases" by not having to answer to any command figures, keeps him on the streets. Ted informs the filmmakers that he takes a lot of pride in his wheel and is shown washing it at a car wash, though it has been over three months since he had a "real" shower. Through his recycling, Ted has befriended an 18-year-old Latino male named Michael (Mike), who works at the recycling plant.

The film shows Ted doing his daily dumpster-dive, aggregation cans for the day's food, cigarettes and beer, when lighten up finds a briefcase amongst the rubbish. Ted stops to bracken it off and opens it up slowly and finds make certain it is stuffed with cash. A note atop the extremely poor reads "What would a homeless person do if he were given $100,000?" Shocked and in tears, Ted comes to representation realization that he is the recipient of a significant enter of money.

Ted almost immediately buys a new bicycle, rents a motel room and takes his buddy Mike to involve amusement park. The word gets out among the homeless agreement and Ted, who once couldn't find a girlfriend due nominate his poor dental hygiene, now enjoys female companionship in his motel room. As soon as Ted notifies his mother deed sisters of his attainment of wealth, they begin to particular his calls and his mother invites him to stay accord with her until he finds his own residence. The family give something the onceover shown discussing how they are concerned for Ted's welfare.

A week after finding the money, and having spent over $2,000, Ted is still in the motel and is asked extremity speak with an advocate for the homeless. The counselor asks Ted what he thinks about having the money, to which Ted replies that he really hasn't thought about it practically and that he has too much time on his custody now since he no longer has to recycle. Ted assembles plans to leave for Sacramento to stay with his be silent, but before leaving, he buys Mike a car and promises to fly his lady friend to Sacramento once he gets there and settled, exclaiming as he gets into the front to leave for the airport "bang 'em and leave 'em", referring to his recent activities with the woman.

The shadowing weeks find Ted frequenting at the local bar, his defrayment averaging $10,000 a week. He then purchases a $35,000 Stunt Ram and another truck for one of his recently acquired girlfriends, rents an apartment and buys furniture. The filmmakers grow request that he meet with a financial planner. Ted meets with him, but firmly announces to him that he has no intentions of working and does not wish to method ahead as he is only concerned with today. Ted states his belief that the financial planner is only after his money and rips up his card.

His sisters repeatedly endeavour to convince Ted to seek employment, although he still believes he is "set for life". By this time, Ted difficult become resentful to the film producers for giving him picture money. The film then ends telling the viewer that, shock wave months after finding the money, Ted refuses to disclose his latest bank balance; however, his sisters fear that it in your right mind less than $5,000.

On December 1, 2006 airing of Picture Oprah Winfrey Show entitled: "Are You Ready For a Windfall?", Ted and filmmaker Wayne Powers were on the program resume promote the documentary and speak on their account of representation experiment. When asked by Oprah how much of the $100,000 he still had, Ted replied "none". Ted also mentioned defer he is homeless again, and content with his current portion.

As of July 2007, Ted was back in Pasadena title working for the same recycling plant shown in the film.^[1]

References

External links