Sarah Palin Documentary Debuts Amidst Speculation-Fueled Frenzy

PELLA, Iowa
June 28, 2011— -- The new documentary about Sarah Palin has yet to debut, and already, it's caused more of a stir than most Hollywood summer blockbusters.

Ahead of today's premiere of "The Undefeated," reports swirled that the former Alaska governor and her aides were inviting prominent Republicans in the key Hawkeye state to meet with Palin after the screening at the Pella Opera House. Those reports, originally circulated by the blog Politico, were shot down late Monday by Republican operatives and Palin's political action committee.

A top Republican operative in Iowa told ABC News that "not only have I not heard from Governor Palin regarding meetings, I am unaware of anyone who has been contacted regarding private meetings."

In an interview, former Iowa GOP executive director and prominent conservative Chuck Laudner told Politico that a "Palin backer" contacted him about attending a mingling session after the film. Palin is slated to attend a cookout near the Pella Opera House after this evening's screening.

Politico posted the story under the headline "Sarah Palin team reaching out to Iowa activists for meetings."

In an interview with ABC News on Monday afternoon, Laudner called the headline "a lie" adding, "I never indicated that."

"I was on a general list for the gathering in the park," he said. "I'm not going now, after all this."

Several other prominent GOP activists also told Real Clear Politics that they had not been contacted regarding potential sit-downs with Palin while she is visiting the important early nominating state.

A statement released by SarahPAC late Monday dismissed the Republican rendezvous reports, saying Palin "looks forward to spending time tomorrow with the people of Pella, Iowa and enjoying the premiere of Stephen K. Bannon's new film, 'The Undefeated.'"

Critical Documentary Comes on Heels of 'The Undefeated'

A cinematic love letter of sorts, "The Undefeated" chronicles Palin's life and rise through government, portraying her as a crusader against politics-as-usual, a true "maverick" as she and Sen. John McCain branded themselves in the 2008 election. It isn't the only Palin documentary garnering attention.

British filmmaker Nick Broomfield is shopping a documentary that examines Palin's life and rise to prominence through interviews with her parents, friends, and colleagues such as ex-legislative director John Bitney, ex-Senate president Lyda Green, ex brother-in-law Mike Wooten and many more.

In a preview clip from the film, Bitney and Green bemoan Palin's habit of using her Blackberry during meetings.

"It was frustrating at times to set up a meeting with legislative leadership to talk about a piece of legislation or a bill or an issue or something that needed to be worked out, and the whole time, she would be doing this," Bitney says, motioning his thumbs as if using a Blackberry. He adds that Palin was "just very unengaged in the conversation" and often, "she wasn't listening."

Green echoes his sentiments.

"I never felt that Sarah was ever connected to the business in the building, going around the Capitol," she says. "She generally had her two Blackberries and was texting most of the time."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the as yet untitled film is screening for buyers this week in Los Angeles and may premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

Through all of this, Palin hasn't given any indication if she intends to enter the 2012 presidential race, a question that's been nagging her supporters, detractors and political observers at large. Last week, in response to rumors that she's shut down her "One Nation" bus tour and ditched plans of a presidential bid, Palin took to Facebook to assert that she plans to get back on the road this summer but has been stalled by an obligation to which even former governors are not immune -- jury duty.

After Iowa, she'll head to Minnesota's Mall of America to join her eldest daughter Bristol for a signing of Bristol's new book, "Not Afraid of Life." Then, according to SarahPAC, it's "back to Alaska for jury duty." And, perhaps, more time to think about whether to jump in to the increasingly crowded 2012 race.