Documentary shows fun side of Bush campaign

AUSTIN, Texas -- Alexandra Pelosi came to the Texas capital as an NBC News producer to cover Gov. George W. Bush's bid for the White House in 1999. This week, she returned as a documentary filmmaker with "Journeys with George."

The 77-minute movie, which debuted Friday at the South by Southwest film festival, shows a silly side of the man who would become president. Some Bush aides were apprehensive it might make him look unpresidential.

"Stop filming me. You're like a head cold," an irritated but smiling Bush tells Pelosi in one scene. "This is going to be a lousy documentary."

By the end of the movie, though, Bush has grown into a more comfortable, confident candidate. During one heart-to-heart, Pelosi asks how the 18-month campaign has changed him.

"I started as a cowboy," Bush says. "I'm now a statesman."

Pelosi, the 31-year-old daughter of House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she hopes the movie gives people an uncensored look at the president's personality, the crafting of a campaign and the molding of the media.

"What it reveals is how we elect our presidents, and George Bush just happens to be the character," she said.

"He was a great person to go on a road trip with. He was a lot of fun. I certainly would not have been able to pull this off if I were covering Al Gore."

After the election, Pelosi quit her job, formed Purple Monkey Productions and, with editor Aaron Lubarsky, used a home computer to edit the film in her Manhattan apartment.

Capturing the candidate

"Journeys with George" -- Bush himself suggested the title -- captures a relaxed bologna-and Cheetos-eating candidate who often joked with reporters, even after primary losses.

He makes funny faces, blindly walks around the plane wearing large, dark aviator-style glasses, rolls oranges down the aisle and models what he calls real Texas fashion: long-tailed shirts, cowboy boots and a big belt buckle.

The movie also shows a well-funded, well-orchestrated operation that ensured every stop featured plenty of supporters waving hand-painted signs provided by the campaign.

"This is really, really homegrown, behind-the-scenes stuff," Lubarsky said. "I was pleasantly surprised by the camaraderie that existed and by the charm and intelligence of Gov. Bush. I was also disappointed by some things that I saw, too -- the staging of a lot of the rallies."

The film features some weary journalists forced to listen repeatedly to the same speech and eat the same turkey sandwiches.

At a snowy stop in Dubuque, Iowa, Houston Chronicle reporter R.G. Ratcliffe shivers as he waits for Bush.

"This is insane. The only reason we are out here is in case Bush comes out and slips on the ice and falls down," he says. "We're vicious predators."

Off-duty parties

Other scenes show off-duty reporters dancing and drinking margaritas at back-of-the-plane parties. One grew too loud for Pelosi, who complained to Bush.

"These are my people," Bush replies, holding a nonalcoholic beer.

He plays matchmaker with Pelosi and Trent Gegax, a magazine reporter he dubs "Newsweek Man."

A playful relationship grows between the filmmaker and Bush.

"If you were a tree, what tree would you be?" Pelosi asks in one scene.

"I'm not a tree. I'm a Bush. See, I'm a little quicker than you think, Alexandra," Bush says, seizing the handheld camera and turning it on his interviewer.

"I saw you walking along a secluded road the other day with Newsweek Man," Bush says. "It's none of my business what your private life is like. But let me ask you this question: Was that just a social encounter with Newsweek Man?"

Bush hasn't seen the movie, but Pelosi expects him to find it a fair portrayal.

"He was totally letting us laugh at him," she said. "But in the end, he became president."