The pioneering social justice, media advocacy, and creative productions made by Paper Tiger Television over the past 25 years have influenced generations of media artists and activists around the world. This documentary tells the story of how the collective has combined media art, media activism and media analysis to create a new kind of television and provide a true alternative to the mainstream. This jubilant mosaic of media myth-smashing archival footage features interviews with media scholars, media critics and over 20 current and past Tigers. It includes Dee Dee Halleck, Jessie Drew, George Stoney, Deirdre Boyle, Adriene Jenik and Mary Feaster among many others. Paper Tiger Reads Paper Tiger Television is about how this volunteer video collective has championed independent media, critical thinking, and aesthetic innovations that encouraged people everywhere to take back the media and be creative with it!

An early innovator in video art and public access television of the early 80’s, PTTV developed a unique, handmade, irreverent aesthetic that experimented with the television medium mixing together art, academics, politics, performance and live television. PTTV, founded on the ideal that freedom of speech through access to the means of communication is essential in a democratic society, regularly exposed the hidden agenda of the mainstream media and questioned the powerful grip of corporate influence on media content to become the first nationally disseminated public access television program. Over the years, thousands have enjoyed the intelligent, irreverent, ultra-low-budget antics of PTTV.

PTTV produced Paper Tiger Reads Paper Tiger Television not only out of love and respect for its history of creating radical critiques of mass culture and politics, but from a desire to continue supporting and providing innovative leadership for documentary filmmakers, artists, media literacy educators and the social justice media movement. Archival footage, hand-crafted animations, video shorts and interviews are brought together in this documentary which serves as a catalyst for conversations on new directions in creative use of the media.

DVD extras: theatrical trailer, 25 year anniversary party installation loop and video postcards.