Plot

Award winner, Accidental Hero plunges the viewer into a multi-racial high school classroom where the focus of the students is winning...bringing home a state championship in a little known academic sport called "forensics." The art of public speaking is changing their lives, and Tommie Lindsey, their powerful African-American coach, is proving it. By allowing students to draw on their cultural backgrounds, sometimes pent up pain or anger, Lindsey channels emotions positively into spellbinding performances. Lindsey creates champions and inspires dreams to happen. The audience experiences the process, from classroom to state championship.

Reception

Awards:
(Winner)Cinequest Film Festival Best Documentary,
(Winner)Ashland Independent Film Festival Best Documentary,
(Winner)Golden Eagle CINE Award

Film Festivals:
Cinequest Film Festival

Trailers and Artwork

Key Art:

Key Frames: Trailer links:

Quotes and Credits

Credits

Director Terri DeBono

Director Steve Rosen

Writer Terri DeBono

Writer Steve Rosen

Himself - Student Marcelo Garcia

Himself - Student Mike Coloma

Himself - Student Nathan Feingersh

Producer Terri DeBono

Himself - Student Jermaine Aaron

Sound Terri DeBono

Film Editor Steve Rosen

Assistant Editor Gail Atchinson

Assistant Sound Scott Herrigstad

Original Music Brian Eady

Himself - Student Al 'Spanky' Thompson

Film Editor Terri DeBono

Cinematography Steve Rosen

Herself - Student Cherie Murphy

Himself - Student Rashaud Martin

Himself - Student James Stephens

Himself - Student Cory Randolph

Herself - Student Amber Johnson

Himself - Student Robert Hawkins

Himself - Teacher Tommie Lindsay

Herself - Student Erica Lindsay

Distributors GPN Educational Media

Distributors Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Special Thanks Ann Tsuchiya

Special Thanks Eddie Wong

Special Thanks Don Young

Production Companies KQED

Special Thanks Lois Lindsey

Special Thanks Barbara Podoloff

Special Thanks Mollie Sumida

Special Thanks Yukio Sumida

Student Research Assistant Terry Flennaugh

Student Video Lamont Oakley

Special Thanks Joanne Elgart

Special Thanks Lamont Johnson

Himself - Student Di'Jonn Grizzell

Himself - Student James Harris

Associate Producer Sandra Jackson

Underwriter AT&T

Underwriter Pebble Beach Charities

Underwriter National Education Association

Funding National Black Programming Consortium

Underwriter Fleishhaker Foundation

Sponsoring Film Arts Foundation

Underwriter Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

Underwriter Clarence & Hazelle Rosen Trust

Underwriter Carnegie Corporation of New York

Underwriter California Teachers Association