- Directed by
- Friedman, Sonya
- Written by
- Friedman, Sonya
- Produced by
- Wetmore, Pat
- Distributed by
- Indiana University Audio-Visual Center, American
- Subject of
- Cotter, Bob, American
- Allen, Anthony, American
- Thomas, Derrick, American
- Patterson, John
- Owned by
- D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
- Date
- 1985
- Medium
- polyester film
- Dimensions
- Duration: 27 Minutes
- Length (Film): 950 Feet
- Caption
- This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
- Description
- A documentary film with the title The Masters of Disaster. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm polyester film with optical sound.
- The film profiles an Indiana elementary school chess team that calls themselves The Masters of Disaster. In the opening scene, elementary school teacher and chess coach Bob Cotter is seen practicing with the team while criticizing one of the boys, Thomas, for prioritizing basketball over chess; Cotter also motivates the young men in his monologue. In one scene, some of the boys tell an interviewer what they would say to President Reagan in the event that they met him, and in the subsequent scene they are seen with President Reagan in the Oval Office. Additionally, several of the boys' parents describe the impact chess has had on them. Towards the end of the documentary, one of the boys, Rabbit, defeats the mayor of the city in front of a packed auditorium.
- Place used
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Place filmed
- Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- DC Public Library Film Collection
- Classification
- Time-based Media - Moving Images
- Topic
- Documentary films
- Education
- Film
- Youth
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2017.55.88.1a
- Restrictions & Rights
- Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




