The Documentary

"Genius on Hold" is a Documentary film that is based on corporate corruption. It is a true "David and Goliath" story. It is a film that recounts the epic story of Walter L. Shaw, an engineering genius who, almost half a century ago, invented the technology that transformed the rudimentary telephone system of the early 1900s into the foundation of today’s cutting-edge global telecommunications industry. It is narrated by
Frank Langella.

This film is the story a man with the visionary genius, passion and integrity that should have made him the quintessential candidate for achieving the ‘American Dream.’ But a monopoly-controlled telecommunications company made sure his revolutionary inventions never saw the light of day.

Instead, Walter L. Shaw’s life took another direction, when, in order to provide for his family, he invented the infamous ‘black box,’ exposing his son Walter T. Shaw to the world of organized crime, and creating a ripple effect that would damage their family for generations to come.

Shaw's quiet revolution against The Bell Companies, the largest domestic corporation, helped bring down the telephone monopoly and release the stranglehold it had on American telecommunications for almost 100 years. However, Shaw’s recognition for his achievements still eludes him, while his inventions of the speakerphone, conference calling, call forwarding, touch tone dialing, and voice print recognition, are used today by billions of people around the world every moment of every day.

The Documentary was filmed over a two month period in Florida and New York as well as edited in New York. It is a film that is one hour and ten minutes long and includes the following footage: