Interview: Fred Mauney, Roadside Pitch Artiste - Page 2

Interview
Fred Mauney
Roadside Pitch Artiste
Page 1 | Page 2

AW: So, in a nutshell, what are the top three stories you’re trying to pitch out here at Sundance?

"...it looks like I might have $52 million coming to me under what they call a whistle blower suit."

FM: Well, one’s terrorism at the Olympics. Two’s kind of a Forrest Gump thing from last summer and the bike ride.

AW: What kind of Forrest Gump thing?

FM: Well I thought I was paralyzed for life, and after I ride the bike across the country then I was involved with – and I can show you some pictures in a minute, and stuff – and I’m going to be suing, along with Ralph Nader, I’m putting it together with all of the Green Parties to sue the state of Massachusetts, each one individually because they refused to let the banner go down there.

AW: That’s story number three?

FM: And then four is: I was a disabled person, I was in Salt Lake City, and I got robbed by this Mafia crew, and I investigated them, and I uncovered a telemarketing scam operating in their businesses, and I did an amicus brief in front of a federal judge, and he hit the ceiling because – there’s a lot more to it, I can’t just tell you so quick everything. But it looks like I might have $52 million coming to me under what they call a whistle blower suit.

"...I was one of the biggest drug dealers in the history of the country back in the ‘80s..."

AW: Wow.

FM: Yeah. And then I’m involved in this road rage that came out a few years ago. It was People magazine and all that about a postal worker getting killed down here. Well, I was one of the two guys that pulled up to help him; I was the one who helped identify the guy that killed him. And they handcuffed us that night and drug us around town for four hours, and then I turned around and sued. Well, they threw it out of court, finally out of all kind of legal procedures in the federal court, because they didn’t know how to handle people.

AW: So, if you win just one of these lawsuits, you’ll be able to produce your own film, maybe.

FM: Yeah, yeah, yeah. See it goes back when I was in my past, I was one of the biggest drug dealers in the history of the country back in the ‘80s, because all the people I knew, and people say "Who’s he in business with?" and I said, "Reagan and Bush – who do you think?" (laughs) I could hear everybody laughing, but it’s the truth; that’s how he (Reagan) got away with everything!

AW: So has this banner gotten you any attention from any of the Hollywood types out here?

FM: Well, this? I just got here today with it. I’ve stood on the corner, and people’re blowin’ horns, wavin’, and people say, "Hey, that’s cool! That’s great!" Which is pretty good when people’ll roll down the window and say things to you. And, well, it’s caught your attention, which is pretty good. And I’m just hoping that an agent or a producer will come by say, "Well, what kind of stories?" – this on top of things, this on top of things – "These stories are what we’re looking for." That’s what you’re here now for is looking for the stories or the documentaries – the documentary is a story. So if somebody wants to stop and look, or they want to touch the things – I can really give the hot stuff, boy. And stuff is going on. I’m defending – I met some of the protesters in Philadelphia, and they’re part of that WTO thing, I met ‘em in Washington, they got arrested in Philadelphia at the Republican convention. So as I start listening to ‘em, well they didn’t know that I was involved in all kind of politics, know what I’m sayin’, because I’m like Abbie Hoffman’s disciple. You know what I’m sayin’? And I’ve worked with all kinda criminals; I do everything that goes on. Just absolutely everything.

AW: Well, I wish you the best of luck at Sundance. I hope that your signboard ploy works.

FM: Somebody’s gonna be out here, and maybe they’re sayin’ "Hey, I’m looking to find the thing" – I am the real thing. You see what I’m sayin’? I am the real thing, I am the real person that’s done it. You know, I’ve worked with the Cosa Nostra, I’ve worked with all kind of other people, you know and they’ve given me permission to do the stories – as long as I change a couple of names. (laughs)