CITY/WHITEWATER, COLORADO – Independent Media Network is prereleasing Season 1 of Citizen Rocky, TV/web series, featuring former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. Presented by Independent Media Network and produced by Gavry Monroe Productions, this series is available to watch free with a Prime membership on Amazon Prime. The series can also be accessed by the press with the VIP links on Vimeo. Use the access code: rocky2018 on Vimeo. This access code may be used 500 times and will enable the first 500 adopters full access to Season 1 episodes.
The culmination of 10 years of work by independent director/producers Rhea Monroe and Douglas Monroe, the project follows Rocky Anderson during his last year as Mayor through his 2012 presidential bid as a candidate representing the Justice Party. This look back through recent history reveals how the executive branch grew to become “The Imperial Presidency” during the George W. Bush years and continued through the Obama presidency. The series is pertinent for all voters pondering the future of our Nation and what role citizens can play in it.
Utahans will enjoy this behind the scenes look at Rocky Anderson. A controversial leader in Utah, residents either love Rocky or hate him. Watching him in Citizen Rocky is insightful and entertaining. Rocky, a “lapsed Mormon” says his life revolves around Kant’s Categorical Imperative: if you see a wrong and have the power to right that wrong you must do it. Through a Mormon history lesson Rocky’s reveals his ethic may have evolved from his Mormon heritage and upbringing. As the segments show the genesis of Rocky’s thought leading to his action, the film becomes an intimate portrayal of this man working to create change. Citizen Rocky reveals the former Mayor’s public side juxtaposed with Rocky’s private life.
As our fly on the wall cameras roll, Rocky befriends Daniel Ellsberg(whistle blower, released Pentagon Papers), Ralph Nader (consumer advocate), Katrina vanden Heuval (editor/publisher The Nation Magazine), Richard Dreyfus (actor/professor), Bill McKibbon (science writer – Step-it-Up; 350.org), Mary Mapes (producer, broke Abu Ghraib and Bush National Guard Story; later fired by CBS) and Colonel Ann Wright, 26 year Army veteran and diplomat who quit in protest of the invasion of Iraq.

We watch Rocky grow his vision into action as he joins these and many equally celebrated people (and those not so legendary) working together on the crucial issues of our time. These scenes feel as though the viewer is there, a part of history in the making. Beyond the opportunity to watch these Americans acting to save the rule of law and the Constitution, the camera’s eye lets us know these leaders as fellow citizens, not unlike ourselves.

Forever pushing to do what he believes to be right, Rocky Anderson fights his good fight against all odds. With the keys to the city, Rocky signs the Kyoto Protocol to reduce city greenhouse emissions by the 2012 target date. He then gives city employee family benefits to same sex couples, creates restorative justice programs, stops the war on drugs in the city and seeks immigration reform. When Rocky joins tens of thousands of protesters demanding the impeachment and removal from office of President Bush and Vice President Cheney – during the president’s visit to Salt Lake City — national media asked, “Who is Rocky Anderson?”
The Nation Magazine put him on the cover of its magazine. filmmaker Michael Moore declares him “America’s Mayor.” Fox Network’s Bill O’Reilly calls him a “kook.” Fox News pundit Sean Hannity debates Rocky about the genesis of the Iraq War for a standing room only crowd in Salt Lake City. Anderson had a 59 percent approval rating when he declined to seek a third term as mayor, yet Utahans outside the City make no bones about their dislike for the outspoken Mayor. The ultraconservative Utah State Legislature places stumbling blocks wherever they can to trip him up. Rocky is not deterred.

Five episodes are now available for viewing on Amazon Prime and Vimeo On Demand. There will be 10 episodes in Season One, each running 25-40 minutes long.  Season Two, featuring Rocky’s run for president in 2012 as a third-party candidate will be released just before 2020 campaign season begins.

Rhea Monroe (formerly Rhea Gavry) has worked in television and film production for national broadcast for the past 25 years. She served as series producer/director on the nationally syndicated reality show HomeTeam, featuring Troy McClain of the Apprentice. Monroe was series producer for the Sundance Channel Festival Dailies. She also freelances as a producer for ABC News, CNN, HGTV, High Noon Entertainment and many television magazine shows. Currently in post-production editing Citizen Rocky TV/web series centered on former Salt Lake City Mayor and 2012 presidential candidate Rocky Anderson, she is also editing a pilot for a fishing series centered on ex-pats living in Mexico who live to catch and release game fish in the Sea of Cortez.

Douglas Monroe, Producer/Director of Photography serves as Director of Photography on the hit Cable TLC show, Sister Wives, a reality show based on a Polygamist family which receives the highest ratings on the TLC network and is now going into its eighth season. Monroe was Director of Photography on the KUED PBS documentary series, titled, We Shall Remain. The series highlighted five Native American tribes in the Four Corners region of the West. Monroe was nominated for a Rocky Mountain Emmy for this project. Other clients include; ABC 20/20, 60 Minutes, 48 hours, National Geographic Television, Discovery Channel, Sundance Channel, Showtime, HBO, MTV, VH1, BBC, NHK and more.

Independent Media Network: This 501 (c) (3) private nonprofit corporation (1988) assists media artists producing and distributing their work created for the common good. Independent Media Network serves as fiscal agent for artists needing funds for production and distribution. Other documentary projects completed by Gavry Monroe Productions include: Promise Not To Tell, which aired on POV/PBS and KUED centered on a child sexual abuse legal case from Lehi, Utah; Tales of the Rails – The Building of the Transcontinental Railway which aired on KUED in Utah and KRMA in Colorado.

For more information about Citizen Rocky or interview requests, please contact Rhea Monroe at rhea@gavrymonroe.com