"Why Wal-Mart Works'' Debuts on Capitol Hill and in Stores

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 2005--Ron and Robert Galloway's new
documentary - "Why Wal-Mart Works: And Why That Makes Some People
C-r-a-z-y" debuts this week and was screened on Capitol Hill Tuesday.
The riveting documentary explores why Wal-Mart is one of the greatest
success stories in business history, how it improves the lives of
individual working Americans and their communities, and the social
pathology behind the escalating attacks on the company by special
interest groups.


Following is a commentary by Ron Galloway, sharing his thoughts and
insights on the production of the movie.

In Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged the productive, inventive minds of the
world are constantly belittled and attacked by the envious and
agenda-driven in a society whose squeaky wheel gets the most grease.

Sound familiar?

Wal-Mart, hate it or love it, will always be the subject of
controversy. Because this is the case, I set out on my own to find out
what makes the retail giant and employer of over 1 million Americans,
tick. I'm a filmmaker, and I made a film about Wal-Mart, called Why
Wal-Mart Works, and Why that Drives Some People C-R-A-Z-Y.

I started making my film with no agenda, with no set outcome in mind.
With the $85,000 of our own money my brother Robert and I spent to
make my film, I couldn't afford an agenda. Why Wal-Mart Works'
positive tone is solely a product of my experience making it.

My brother and I made Why Wal-Mart Works with almost no cooperation
from Wal-Mart. I say "almost" because Wal-Mart - after several failed
attempts -- did finally allow me into their stores and to interview
some of their associates. They had no editorial oversight and I
solicited no input from them. They're not even going to sell my movie
in their stores!

I talked with many individuals while making my film and one of the
things that surprised me most was how the many Wal-Mart critics
concluded that Wal-Mart just might be good for people, once they
considered the facts. I'm from Augusta, Georgia, where it's hard to
get a driver's license if you don't play golf, and we have a saying
"You play it where it lays." The facts, when examined, "lay" in
Wal-Mart's favor. Wal-Mart saves working families money, it's
convenient, and it provides jobs, both at the store and vendor level.

I originally made the film as a study of Wal-Mart's logistics
operations (we Georgia Tech grads live for logistics). But I soon
realized Wal-Mart is not about the machines. Why Wal-Mart Works tells
the story that's not being told. I firmly believe no special interest
group in this nation benefits the poor and blue collar as much as
Wal-Mart does. Money is freedom, and by saving families money, as is
its mission (Always Low Prices), they literally provide their
customers more freedom in their daily lives.

Wal-Mart's detractors are focused and well organized in their media
assault on the company. I think that Wal-Mart believes that by doing
their best to fulfill their responsibilities to their associates and
customers, the need to defend their success and innovations is an
afterthought. In today's world, where too much is political, it's not.

In Atlas Shrugged John Galt is a fabulous businessman and inventor,
yet is constantly criticized for benefiting society as a whole through
his innovation and success. In the book, the question is famously
asked, "Who is John Galt?"

Sam Walton is John Galt.