AIDS Denialist Movie is a House of Cards

Speaking of deceit in denial, a new crockumentary spreading AIDS denialism is making the scene. Competing with Gary Null & Void Productions to become a major AIDS denialist filmmaker, first timer Brent Leung has released ‘House of Numbers’. Not that Brent Leung is not new to AIDS Denialism. Brent Leung had produced a film based on Boyd E. Graves' book, "State Origin: The Evidence of the Laboratory Birth of AIDS." Now we have House of Numbers, which is aimed at a broader demographic with the potential to confuse a new audience of viewers.
House of Numbers masquerades as a legitimate documentary in much the same way AIDS pseudoscience is confused for science. The movie travels to Perth, Europe, South Africa, and the US as if showing all sides of AIDS. Just as Thabo Mbeki created the illusion of an even divide among scientists by stacking his Presidential Panel in South Africa, Leung creates the impression of a conspiracy around AIDS.

Leung uses the same tactics that denialists have used for years - goal post moving, technobabble, cherry picking, conspiracy theorizing, and misuse of science. Brent Leung tried to stage a pseudo-debate at the world premiere. He sent requests to leading AIDS scientists and was met with a general response of, “Can he be serious? There is not a legitimate AIDS scientist on the planet who would waste their time contributing to delusion that there is a debate about what causes AIDS.”

The film’s trailer presents itself as an evenhanded view of AIDS science. What you are not told is that the legitimate AIDS scientists interviewed were not informed of the film’s intent. Some of the scientists said to be interviewed have no recollection of the experience. It would seem that Brent Leung is the Borat of AIDS denialism, duping people into thinking they are in documentary, Not! But in this case, no one is laughing.

When I first leaned about House of Numbers my prediction was that the film would show to an audience of AIDS Denialists about twice the number that showed up at the Village Voice protest - that would be eight. The film is making its way to film festivals and will surely show globally at HEAL meetings. I was sure that it would show at beer and Weiner Schnitzle parties on UC Berkeley and Virginia Tech campuses. I did not expect it to get much traction.


Was I wrong? House of Numbers may be getting more attention than we hoped. Unfortunately, the crockumentary played well to unknowing local press, who actually bought it as legitimate. House of Numbers is an example of how ignoring AIDS Denialists gives them openings to the public. The answer to denialism is to get the word out on who the denialists are and what they are up to. Read this Opinion Editorial published to alert the public about the film's intent. House of Numbers is a House of Cards and we should take every possible opportunity let the world know.
UPDATE 6/7/09: "House of Not so Large Numbers" They are finally here! Official pics from the Nashville Opening. Young men looking crazy and old men looking very old. See who you can see at this not so full house. Is it me or is that a ward officer? And are those walls padded or what?
UPDATE 5/7/09: AIDS Denial buzzing about Nashville after film fest.
UPDATE 5/6/09: More(on) Brent Leung lingers in Tennessee.
UPDATE 4/29/09: Liam Scheff fires back at Bay Windows, watch out Nancy Padian here he comes!
UPDATE 4/24/09: More coverage in Boston from Edge.
UPDATE: House of Denialism kicks up dust in Boston. Here is the Bay Windows posting.