Even the most meticulous college preparation could hold disadvantages when compared internationally.

That’s the issue documentary film “Two Million Minutes” tackled at its Arizona premiere Thursday night.

From the moment of eighth-grade graduation, a student has exactly two million minutes to prepare for college and a career. All college students had — by the nature of our time continuum — the same amount of time, but preparation activities vary.

“Two Million Minutes” examines how America falls behind in international education and the deficit’s implications on our future.

The DVD cover says it all. A foreign classroom of uniformed, obedient students mirrors a classroom of mismatched, chattering American students.

The film follows two students of each nationality, from Bangladesh, India; Shanghai, China; and Indianapolis, Ind .

The American students attended Carmel High School, ranked in the top 5 percent nationally. Foreign schools were also ranked highly but reflected different ideas of what it means to be well rounded.

Bob Compton, executive producer, said he put the film together to understand how different countries allocate their time in high school.

He said he’s worried about the lower standards American students set and the missed opportunities that lack of academic confidence leads to.

“In India and China, your job is to absorb the most knowledge possible,” Compton said. “These countries are four times larger than us, and America has never competed against larger countries.”

Compton said making the film has changed the way he educates his daughters — both in high school — and hopes other parents will change as well.

The rigorous educational systems of India and China juxtaposed with America’s high schools provide a foreboding forecast of America’s future.

Thursday, on a table outside the Evelyn Smith Music Theatre, promotional buttons with the number 21 next to an American flag represented Americans rank of 21st internationally in high school graduation. Sweden is No. 1.

“Two Million Minutes” capped off a night of prominent speakers, including former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer and the presidents from all three state universities. Members of the Educational Board of Regiments sat among the public during a presentation entitled “A Quiet Crisis.”

Solution for Higher Education’s current campaign “ED in ’08,” sponsored by public awareness organization Strong American Schools, coordinates events for debate on education reform — an important issue this election year.

Representatives from Strong American Schools and Arizona’s Solutions for Higher Education focus on the role higher education plays in the prosperity and success of state and local economies.

Romer, who is also chairman of Strong American Schools, talked about the current presidential election and the opportunity it presents for education policy. He was unable to speak about presidential candidates in an interview, since his organization, a nonprofit, can’t endorse or fund politicians, but he emphasized the power of interaction.

“We’ve had a lot of communication with [the candidates’] staffs,” Romer said.

“Our concern is the world is passing us in education proficiency. We’re drifting further behind.”

Romer said Strong American Schools thinks globally when addressing local education.

He endorses tougher standards, improved pay for teachers and longer school years for K-12 children.

“No Child Left Behind helps but not enough” Romer said.

Abragail Kappel, a freshman journalist major, signed up to volunteered at the event. A graduate of Sedona Red Rock High school, Kappel wasn’t impressed with her high school curriculum.

She said she didn’t know about Solutions for Higher Education before but now believes in their message.

“I looked it up after I got involved,” Kappel said. “It’s really great.”

Reach the reporter at channing.turner@asu.edu.