Daily Wire Takes Conservative Media to the Big Screen

The historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, known as the birthplace of country music, hosted an event by conservative media organization Daily Wire in August. The event, titled ‘Backstage Live,’ was a sell-out, drawing an audience of supporters clad in American-themed attire. Organized by Daily Wire, an influential conservative media company, the evening featured prominent hosts such as Andrew Klavan, Michael Knowles, Matt Walsh, and Ben Shapiro, who engaged the audience with discussions on political and cultural topics.

The gathering at the Ryman marked a significant development for Daily Wire, which relocated its headquarters to Nashville from Los Angeles three years ago. This shift was celebrated as a strategic move amid conservative discontent with Hollywood and traditional media, described by co-founder Jeremy Boreing as a move intended to position Nashville as “Movie City.”

A primary focus of the event was the debut of a new cinematic venture, highlighted by the screening of the trailer for ‘Am I Racist?’ – a politically charged film starring Matt Walsh. Set for widespread release, the film represents Daily Wire’s first foray into theatrical distribution, scheduled to show in over 1,500 theaters across the United States and Canada. Co-CEO Jeremy Boreing acknowledged this move as a significant risk but an essential step to expand their audience and attract subscribers to their streaming service, DailyWire+.

Daily Wire’s ambition to penetrate the entertainment industry is not just business-oriented but ideologically driven. Founded by Boreing and Shapiro in Los Angeles, the company sought to counterbalance what it perceives as a liberal-dominated Hollywood. The initiative to venture into film production underscores their strategy to influence culture through media, resonating with Shapiro’s belief in the adage “politics is downstream from culture.”

Aligning with this strategy, Daily Wire has collaborated with producer Dallas Sonnier, known for his work on films appealing to conservative audiences. Sonnier transitioned to Nashville, bringing his expertise to produce films that align with Daily Wire’s ideological stance. This includes films like ‘Run Hide Fight,’ a project that underscores the company’s push towards creating alternative content for conservative audiences.

The company’s efforts to establish a foothold in the entertainment industry come amid broader cultural shifts and the evolution of media consumption, where conservative content sees increasing demand. With their first cinematic release achieving commendable box-office success, Daily Wire aims to expand its content offering further, including future projects like adaptations of Arthurian fantasy and Ayn Rand’s ‘Atlas Shrugged.’