The Two Dollar Bill, written and produced by Lynn faculty member John Bennardo, was named Best Documentary at the Manhattan Film Festival and gained recognition in several other festivals throughout the nation.
“I had 11 $2 bills in a desk drawer since I was a kid,” said Bennardo, assistant professor, film and television, College of International Communication. “I wanted to do something with them because I found them so interesting.”
Originally intended as a short film, The Two Dollar Bill quickly changed course.
“I was amazed at what I found when I started researching,” said Bennardo. “Although the film is all about the many aspects of the $2 bill, at its core, it’s really about connection.”
The film brings many $2 bill stories together. It features interviews with a collector whose bills have been on Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions; a paranormal and superstitions expert who unveils the ways bad luck is associated with the currency; and a widow who obtained closure from a $2 bill after her husband’s life was lost in the tragedy of Sept. 11.
“The bill has a unique ability to spark conversation and memories when used in a transaction, so the film ultimately reveals the bill’s powers amidst all the other fascinating stories related to its history and usage,” Bennardo said. “I am hoping the film’s resume will help carry it to greater exposure, perhaps on Netflix or a cable channel. I am pursuing those avenues now.”
