Netroots Nation: A Reuther Descendant, A Gosling Cutout And Souvenir Snapshots

This is the third in a series of brief items about the Netroots Nation conference downtown, compiled from social media and other sources.

Congress members, veteran activists, high-profile bloggers and other big shots are among those at the Cobo Center gathering of progressives -- but only one attendee has his family name on a Detroit freeway.

"I felt destined to tell this story,” says New York filmmaker Sasha Reuther.

Sasha Reuther, 38-year-old grandson of Victor Reuther (brother of legendary labor leader Walter Reuther), spoke Saturday afternoon at a screening of his award-winning UAW documentary, "Brothers on the Line." (See trailer below.)

"It tells the dramatic story of the rise of the Reuther brothers, union organizers whose unshakable devotion led an army of workers into a 40-year crusade for social justice," he says in an email to Deadline Detroit. "It is a fascinating piece of American history and one that appears to become more timely by the day. . . . Plans are in the works for a large-scale screening at Wayne State University in the fall."

The independent filmmaker, a CBS news associate producer, and his crew interviewed John Conyers, Doug Fraser, Ted Kennedy, Andrew Young, auto executives and historians about his ancestors -- brothers Walter, Roy and Victor. The narraror is Martin Sheen.

"I felt destined to tell this story,” the director and co-producer told The New York Times two years ago. “I feared that if I didn’t do it, it’s going to disappear.”

The film is available on iTunes, Amazon Instant and Google Play.

Allyson Goldsmith of NOW and a friend.

Celebrities, live and on cardboard

Pretty much all #NN14 attendees are intensely serious and laser-focused on social justice, political organizing and progressive strategies. That's not to say they can't cut loose at St. Andrew's Hall for karaoke and dancing, or at the Anchor Bar and Jacoby's for sponsored happy hours.

In other light moments, phone cameras clicked during Mark Ruffalo's unannounced visit Friday, when the actor paused for snapshots with fans.

Others posed alongside celebrity cutouts set up inside Cobo. Allyson Goldsmith, online communications manager at the National Organization for Women, cozyied up to a two-dimensional Ryan Gosling (wait, is that redundant?)

Look, social media pals -- I'm in Detroit