The American Constitution film premieres in Sanford

The American Constitution film by Filmmaker David Garrigus premiered in Sanford on Oct. 23 at the Dennis Wicker Civic Center.

The daytime showings attracted about 140 viewers, and the evening had 36 attendees.

Premiere showings enable updates and clarifications to the film before it airs on PBS. At the end of the premiere, audience members are invited to use a QR code for feedback.

Christopher McDuffie—”I loved the film, and it was very good and explained the constitution to a tee. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

David Smoak—”Entertaining and informative”

Jimmy Randolph—”Inspiring, informative and remarkably relevant. There was a scene listing the states and discussing the north and south division. It probably wasn’t intended this way, but when I saw the word South on the right side, it implied to me those states on the right side were “south” and the first state name I saw was Delaware. Perhaps I’m mistaken, but that’s how I remembered it. Tyvm!”

Filmmaker Garrigus said the film is important to people because it is part of an argument.

“People say the film tells the real history, and it leaves them with a different perspective. They learn how and why the Constitution developed. They learn it was a hard-fought three-and-a-half month meeting fighting for their power,” Garrigus said about why the film took 15 years to produce because he dug into research and used historically correct quotes for the actors. “What actors say is what James Madison wrote.”

“It began as a journey, looking for a great story and thought nobody had done a story on the Constitution. Once I got into it, I realized the depth and knew I had to do a lesson on government and the consequences of decisions,” Garrigus said about portraying the laws on the division of power.

Garrigus said school groups make up a large portion of premiere attendees and provide much helpful feedback and the film is opening conversations about the struggle for maintaining the Constitution, which is based on a Republic form of government.

Gallup and Walton Family Foundation surveys from 2023 to 2025 show Generation Z, including teens, tend to trust some institutions such as schools and science more than others, including Congress, big tech and the media. Overall, trust levels among Gen Z is lower than older generations. The findings reveal younger Gen Z students in kindergarten through 12th grade are sometimes have more trust in institutions than older Gen Z adults.

Some young Americans who say they’ve lost faith in institutions and have no sense of civic ownership view his film are inspired to give the processes of power a chance again.

Lee County Commissioner Kirk Smith answered questions about how localized government follows the Constitution.

Smith’s wife, Wendy Smith, made most of the costumes for The American Constitution.

The next premiere is in Florida from Jan. through Feb.

Learn more here.

Oct. 26, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers

Submit news tips, events and interview requests to editor@sandhills.news.