From founding ideals to modern barriers
The film connects liberty, property, work, contracts, enterprise, credit, and inheritance to the practical question of who gets a real chance to build.
A feature-length documentary
The
Pursuit
Who Gets to Build the American Dream?
For 250 years, Americans have pursued liberty. But what does freedom mean when the ability to build, own, create, and provide remains unevenly distributed?
A documentary, podcast, and book project
Written, Directed & Produced by Max Fortune
The American question
One dream. Many roads. Uneven rules.
The Pursuit examines the history, meaning, and lived reality of economic freedom in America through the founding era, Reconstruction, Black business districts, women’s economic participation, veterans’ transitions into civilian life, banking and credit history, Atlanta’s role as a commercial center, immigrant enterprise, and contemporary entrepreneurship.
A national mosaic of pursuers
Historians, bankers, business owners, veterans, immigrants, workers, athletes, families, and people who built outside formal systems all become part of the same larger inquiry.
A commercial city as case study
Atlanta provides a contemporary observation point where history, ambition, capital access, and community building meet in visible, cinematic ways.
Project ecosystem
Documentary. Podcast. Book. One narrative.
Documentary
A feature-length film designed for festivals, public screenings, streaming, public media conversations, and future series expansion.
Podcast
A companion series designed to go deeper into voices, histories, contradictions, and personal stories that cannot all fit inside the film.
Book
A 6x9 companion book for extended interviews, historical essays, reflections, and the fuller story of the pursuit across generations.
Coming soon to PursuitAmericanDream.com
Trailer, screening information, podcast links, book pre-order options, partner updates, and public engagement resources will be added here as they become available.
Sponsored in part by
