Sony Pictures Animation Unveils Varied Upcoming Slate
Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry and Sir Patrick Stewart Join Studio's Voice Roster
Animated Films from Phil Lord & Christopher Miller and Lin-Manuel Miranda on the Horizon
Culver City, CA – Making good on the commitment to increase overall output while continuing to offer its distinctive mix of family films, Sony Pictures Animation today released the project details on its upcoming roster of titles through 2018, along with additional highly anticipated future feature film projects, including one from Pulitzer Prize-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Kristine Belson, President of Sony Pictures Animation, says, "We are proud of the artist-driven titles we have coming to the marketplace. The abundance, variety and quality of the features are a testament to the wealth of creative talents who call Sony Pictures Animation their home."
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE (April 7, 2017 release)
Newly announced voice cast includes: Michelle Rodriguez (SmurfStorm), Ellie Kemper (SmurfBlossom), Ariel Winter (SmurfLily) and Julia Roberts (SmurfWillow), all residents of the title's Lost Village. Special voice cameos to include: Gordon Ramsay (Baker), Gabriel Iglesias (Jokey), Tituss Burgess (Vanity), Jeff Dunham (Farmer), Jake Johnson (Grouchy), and director Kelly Asbury (Nosey).
Previously announced voice cast includes Demi Lovato (Smurfette), Rainn Wilson (Gargamel), Joe Manganiello (Hefty), Jack McBrayer (Clumsy), Danny Pudi (Brainy), and Mandy Patinkin (Papa).
The feature is directed by Kelly Asbury (SHREK 2), produced by Jordan Kerner (CHARLOTTE'S WEB) and Mary Ellen Bauder Andrews (HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA), and written by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon, based on the characters and works of Peyo. Digital animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
In this fully animated, all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!
THE EMOJI MOVIE (August 4, 2017 release)
Newly announced voice cast: Jennifer Coolidge (Gene's mother, Mary Meh), Maya Rudolph (Smiler), Jake T. Austin (Alex), and Sir Patrick Stewart (Poop).
Previously announced voice cast includes T.J. Miller (Gene), James Corden (Hi-5), Ilana Glazer (Jailbreak), Steven Wright (Gene's father, Mel Meh).
The feature is directed by Tony Leondis, produced by Michelle Raimo Kouyate, and written by Tony Leondis & Eric Siegel and Mike White. Digital animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
THE EMOJI MOVIE unlocks the never-before-seen secret world inside your smartphone. Hidden within the messaging app is Textopolis, a bustling city where all your favorite emojis live, hoping to be selected by the phone's user. In this world, each emoji has only one facial expression – except for Gene, an exuberant emoji who was born without a filter and is bursting with multiple expressions. Determined to become "normal" like the other emojis, Gene enlists the help of his handy best friend Hi-5 and the notorious code breaker emoji Jailbreak. Together, they embark on an epic "app-venture" through the apps on the phone, each its own wild and fun world, to find the Code that will fix Gene. But when a greater danger threatens the phone, the fate of all emojis depends on these three unlikely friends who must save their world before it's deleted forever.
THE STAR (November 10, 2017 release)
The voice cast will be led by Steven Yeun (Bo the donkey), Kelly Clarkson (Leah the horse), Aidy Bryant (Ruth the sheep), Keegan-Michael Key (Dave the dove), Kristin Chenoweth (Mouse), Anthony Anderson (Zach the goat), Gabriel Iglesias (Rufus the dog), Ving Rhames (Thaddeus the dog), Delilah Rene (Elizabeth), Kris Kristofferson (Old Donkey), Gina Rodriguez (Mary), Zachary Levi (Joseph), with Oprah Winfrey (Deborah), Tyler Perry (Cyrus) and Tracy Morgan (Felix) as the three camels, and Christopher Plummer (King Herod).
THE STAR is directed by Academy Award® nominated writer/director Timothy Reckart (HEAD OVER HEELS); executive-produced by DeVon Franklin (MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN), Lisa Henson and Brian Henson (The Jim Henson Company); produced by Jenni Magee Cook; with a story by Carlos Kotkin and Simon Moore; and screenplay by Carlos Kotkin. Digital animation by Cinesite Studios.
A small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 (September 21, 2018 release)
Mavis surprises Dracula with a family voyage on a luxury Monster Cruise Ship so he can take a vacation from providing everyone else's vacation at the hotel. The rest of Drac's Pack cannot resist going along and once they leave port, romance zings Drac when he meets the mysterious ship captain Ericka. Now it's Mavis' turn to play the overprotective parent, keeping her dad and Ericka apart. Little do they know that his "too good to be true" love interest is actually a descendent of Van Helsing, arch nemesis to Dracula and all monsters!
The voice ensemble of favorites returns, including Adam Sandler (Dracula), Selena Gomez (Mavis) and Andy Samberg (Johnny).
Director Genndy Tartakovsky (SAMURAI JACK, STAR WARS: CLONE WARS) is back in the director's chair, along with Michelle Murdocca back producing and Adam Sandler executive-producing, with a screenplay by Genndy Tartakovsky and Michael McCullers (AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME).
In addition to this feature film, a new animated short, PUPPY, directed by HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA's Genndy Tartakovsky, will be debuting in theaters attached to THE EMOJI MOVIE in August 2017. In the short, the residents of Hotel Transylvania find their world turned upside-down when youngster Dennis gets a surprise monster-sized pet! .
UNTITLED ANIMATED SPIDER-MAN (December 21, 2018 release)
From Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, the geniuses behind THE LEGO MOVIE, comes an animated SPIDER-MAN™ feature starring Miles Morales.
The feature is directed by Bob Persichetti (head of story on PUSS IN BOOTS and THE LITTLE PRINCE) and Peter Ramsey (RISE OF THE GUARDIANS). The film is written by Phil Lord. Avi Arad (IRON MAN, SPIDER-MAN™), Amy Pascal (SPIDER-MAN™: HOMECOMING), Phil Lord & Christopher Miller (Untitled HAN SOLO Movie) are executive producing; Christina Steinberg (TROLLHUNTERS) is producing.
VIVO (December 18, 2020 release)
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the award-winning (Emmy, Tony, Grammy, Olivier, Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur "Genius Grant" recipient) creative force behind the groundbreaking Broadway musical HAMILTON, writes new songs for this musical animated feature. Academy Award® nominated director Kirk De Micco (THE CROODS) is set to helm a script by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara AlegrÃa Hudes (IN THE HEIGHTS). Academy Award® nominated producer Laurence Mark (DREAMGIRLS, JULIE & JULIA) serves as executive producer, and Lisa Stewart (ALMOST FAMOUS) produces.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ANIMATION
Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated and family entertainment for audiences around the world. The studio is following its worldwide comedy hits—the record-breaking monster comedies Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2, the hybrid live action/animated blockbusters The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2, and the mouth-watering Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies—with the fully animated reboot Smurfs: The Lost Village in April 2017; a surprising and comic take at the secret world inside our phones with The Emoji Movie in August 2017; the inspirational The Star in November 2017; Hotel Transylvania 3 in September 2018; and an animated Spider-Man™ feature from the minds of directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord in December 2018. The studio, in conjunction with Aardman Animations, has produced two critically acclaimed feature films: the CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas; and the Academy Award® nominated stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The Pirates! Band of Misfits. In 2007, Surf's Up also received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Feature Film; a sequel entitled Surf's Up 2: WaveMania now available on DVD and digital. The division, whose first feature film Open Season led to a very successful movie franchise including the brand new Open Season: Scared Silly now available on digital, DVD and Blu-ray, was founded in 2002. Sony Pictures Animation is a division of the Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group.
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Showing posts with label Oprah Winfrey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oprah Winfrey. Show all posts
Monday, February 6, 2017
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 24th to 31st, 2016 - Update #56
Support Leroy on Patreon.
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 7/29 to 7/31/16 weekend box office is "Jason Bourne" with an estimated gross of $60 million.
From Variety: "Jason Bourne" makes a $60 million debut at the box office.
---------------
HARRY POTTER - From TheWrap: The boy wizard is done says J.K. Rowling.
--------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: Trump asserts that the NFL is on his side because both are against two presidential debates that are the same time as NFL games.
---------------
MOVIES - From CinemaBlend: Will Smith totally starstrck by Batman on set of "Suicide Squad."
---------------
OBIT-COMICS - From MADMagazine: Jack Davis, one of the founders of "Mad Magazine," has died at the age of 91, Wednesday, July 27, 2016.
---------------
MOVIES - From ScreenRant: John Carpenter and his fellow plaintiffs won a lawsuit against French filmmaker, Luc Besson, claiming that Besson's film, "Lockout" was plagiarized from Carpenter's cult 1981 film, Escape from New York.
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump insult Khizr and Ghazala Kahn, the couple who appeared at this past weeks 2016 DNC. Khizr spoke and castigated Trump. the Kahns' son, Humayun was an Army captain and a Muslim who was killed in Iraq in 2004.
---------------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap: "Season 8" will be the final season of HBO's Emmy-winning "Game of Thrones."
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: Women feeling empowered by Hillary Clinton's nomination.
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: Rising acting talent, Paul Dano, is making his directorial debut with the film, "Wildfire," based on the 1990 Richard Ford novel.
---------------
MOVIES - From HitFix: "Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 and Part II" get title changes. "Avengers: Infinity War Part I" is not just "Avengers: Infinity War."
---------------
MOVIES - From TheWrap: Danny Trejo wants Betty White to be in his next movie.
---------------
POLITICS - From NYPost: Malia Obama, Barack and Michelle's older daughter, skips the DNC and goes to Lollapalooza instead, and conservatives, Obama-haters, and racists freak out.
---------------
SPORTS/CRIME - From YahooSports: Former Boston Red Sox pitcher and World Series champion, Curt Schilling, won't face criminal charges for his video game company scam which cost Rhode Island tax payers $112 million.
---------------
MOVIES - From TheVillageVoice: John Waters' "Multiple Maniacs" (1970) is back.
----------------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: 30 years of "Stand By Me," so we have an oral history of the film that almost didn't make it into theaters.
---------------
From YahooMovies: Sometimes actors do cosplay, too.
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: Oprah Winfrey is in final negotiations to appear in the film, "A Wrinkle in Time," which is being directed by Ava DuVernay ("Selma"). Winfrey appeared in "Selma."
From EntertaimentWeekly: 5 things we want to see in Ava DuVernay's "A Wrinkle in Time" adaptation.
---------------
COMICS/FILM - From ThePlaylist: Disney is developing a reboot/sequel of its 1991 film, "The Rocketeer."
----------------
OBIT - From TheWrap: The actor and radio talk show host, Jerry Doyle, has died at the age of 60, Wednesday, July 27, 2017. He was probably best known for his role as "Michael Garibaldi" on the cult TV show, "Babylon 5."
---------------
MUSIC - From YahooMusic: Kanye still pushin' the Taylor Swift message.
---------------
POLITICS - From CNN: President Barack Obama's entire Democratic convention speech at the 2016 DNC.
From CNN: Some GOP are feeling jelly about President Obama's speech.
From YahooTV: People loved First Lady Michelle Obama's DNC sppech, but the designer of her dress is in awe that she chose to wear it.
---------------
POLITICS - From CNN: Bradley Cooper was at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, and now, some Republicans are angry. Why? Read on...
---------------
TELEVISION - From PopSugar: 6 teaser photos from "American Horror Story" Season 6.
---------------
TELEVISION - From PopSugar: The Netflix reboot of the "Gilmore Girls," which is called "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" has a premiere date: November 25, 2016.
----------------
MOVIES - From YahooCelebrity: Kim Ledger talks about the tragic death of his son, Heath Ledger.
From YahooMovies: Jared Leto will play "The Joker" in the upcoming "Suicide Squad." He talks about playing the character after Heath Ledger, who played the Joker in "The Dark Knight," and won a posthumous Oscar for his performance.
---------------
CRIME - From YahooNews: In 1981, John Hinkley shot and injured President Ronald Reagan and 3 others, during an assassination attempt on Reagan. He will be freed by August 5th, 2016 from a government psychiatric hospital.
---------------
MOVIES - From IndieWire: Charlie Hunnam, the lead in "Pacific Rim," will not return for the sequel. He's not enough of a star for this to be considered a big lost. There must be at least 20 young white actors of his age and talent and overblown status that could take Hunnam's place.
---------------
HARRY POTTER - From YahooMovies: What critics are saying about the stage play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."
---------------
CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity: Eddie Murphy, his current girlfriend (Paige Butcher), and ex-wife (Nicole Murphy), make nice on the red carpet.
---------------
OBIT - From TMZ: The website is reporting that Youree Harris, best known as the iconic TV psychic, "Miss Cleo," has died at the age of 53, after a battle with cancer.
---------------
POLITICS - From RSN: Michael Moore has five reasons Donald Trump will win the presidency.
---------------
COMICS - From Variety: Kiersey Clemons (a breakout in "Dope") is in talks to star as "Iris West" in Warner Bros. and DC Comics' "Flash" movie next to Ezra Miller as "Flash." Rick Famumiya, the director of "Dope," is directing "Flash."
---------------
COMIC-CON - From Refinery29: Zendaya to play a character named "Michelle" in "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
From BusinessInsider: The lead villain in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is "Vulture."
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: First Lady Michelle Obama delivers a soaring powerful speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
---------------
CULTURE - From YahooSports: After years of relative silence, Michael Jordan is speaking out on the issues of police shootings and police shooting people. Cop killers buy sneakers, too, eh, Mike?
---------------
COMIC-CON - From BleedingCool: The links to 300 Bleeding Cool articles on the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International in one place.
---------------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 7/22 to 7/24/2016 weekend box office is "Star Trek Beyond" with an estimated take of $59.6 million.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooNews: It did not take much convincing for Michael Rooker to appear in blue makeup for a Marvel Studios panel discussion "Guardians of the Galaxy 2."
--------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From LATimes: Ben Affleck confirmed as director of standalone "Batman" film.
---------------
SDCC-TV - From YahooTV: The Comic-Con trailer for "Sherlock Holmes" Season 4 shocks viewers.
---------------
POLITICS - From NYT: Donald Trump, Jr. has said that his father, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, would turn over foreign and domestic affairs to his vice-president, if Trump were be elected president...
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From Variety: Marvel vs. DC - comic book movies at Comic-Con.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Comic-Con debuts a new trailer for "LEGO Batman."
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: A new, longer "Doctor Strange" trailer debuts at Comic-Con.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Oscar-winner Brie Larson ("Room") officially announced as Marvel Studios' "Captain Marvel." Her solo film arrives in 2019.
-- Also, Danai Gurira, "Michonne" of "The Walking Dead," was introduced as the latest member of the "Black Panther" squad.
---------------
TRAILERS:
From BleedingCool: The trailer for Zhang Yimou's "The Great Wall" with Matt Damon.
From YouTube: Teaser trailer for "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage," due in January 2017.
From YahooMovies: First teaser trailer for "T2: Trainspotting," the sequel to the film, "Trainspotting."
COMICS - From YahooMovies: First full "Wonder Woman" trailer, which debuted at San Diego Comic-Con International 2016.
COMICS - From YahooMovies: Warner Bros. unleashes footage from its "Justice League" movie.
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: King Kong is massive in "King: Skull Island."
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 7/29 to 7/31/16 weekend box office is "Jason Bourne" with an estimated gross of $60 million.
From Variety: "Jason Bourne" makes a $60 million debut at the box office.
---------------
HARRY POTTER - From TheWrap: The boy wizard is done says J.K. Rowling.
--------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: Trump asserts that the NFL is on his side because both are against two presidential debates that are the same time as NFL games.
---------------
MOVIES - From CinemaBlend: Will Smith totally starstrck by Batman on set of "Suicide Squad."
---------------
OBIT-COMICS - From MADMagazine: Jack Davis, one of the founders of "Mad Magazine," has died at the age of 91, Wednesday, July 27, 2016.
---------------
MOVIES - From ScreenRant: John Carpenter and his fellow plaintiffs won a lawsuit against French filmmaker, Luc Besson, claiming that Besson's film, "Lockout" was plagiarized from Carpenter's cult 1981 film, Escape from New York.
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump insult Khizr and Ghazala Kahn, the couple who appeared at this past weeks 2016 DNC. Khizr spoke and castigated Trump. the Kahns' son, Humayun was an Army captain and a Muslim who was killed in Iraq in 2004.
---------------
TELEVISION - From TheWrap: "Season 8" will be the final season of HBO's Emmy-winning "Game of Thrones."
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: Women feeling empowered by Hillary Clinton's nomination.
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: Rising acting talent, Paul Dano, is making his directorial debut with the film, "Wildfire," based on the 1990 Richard Ford novel.
---------------
MOVIES - From HitFix: "Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 and Part II" get title changes. "Avengers: Infinity War Part I" is not just "Avengers: Infinity War."
---------------
MOVIES - From TheWrap: Danny Trejo wants Betty White to be in his next movie.
---------------
POLITICS - From NYPost: Malia Obama, Barack and Michelle's older daughter, skips the DNC and goes to Lollapalooza instead, and conservatives, Obama-haters, and racists freak out.
---------------
SPORTS/CRIME - From YahooSports: Former Boston Red Sox pitcher and World Series champion, Curt Schilling, won't face criminal charges for his video game company scam which cost Rhode Island tax payers $112 million.
---------------
MOVIES - From TheVillageVoice: John Waters' "Multiple Maniacs" (1970) is back.
----------------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: 30 years of "Stand By Me," so we have an oral history of the film that almost didn't make it into theaters.
---------------
From YahooMovies: Sometimes actors do cosplay, too.
---------------
MOVIES - From Variety: Oprah Winfrey is in final negotiations to appear in the film, "A Wrinkle in Time," which is being directed by Ava DuVernay ("Selma"). Winfrey appeared in "Selma."
From EntertaimentWeekly: 5 things we want to see in Ava DuVernay's "A Wrinkle in Time" adaptation.
---------------
COMICS/FILM - From ThePlaylist: Disney is developing a reboot/sequel of its 1991 film, "The Rocketeer."
----------------
OBIT - From TheWrap: The actor and radio talk show host, Jerry Doyle, has died at the age of 60, Wednesday, July 27, 2017. He was probably best known for his role as "Michael Garibaldi" on the cult TV show, "Babylon 5."
---------------
MUSIC - From YahooMusic: Kanye still pushin' the Taylor Swift message.
---------------
POLITICS - From CNN: President Barack Obama's entire Democratic convention speech at the 2016 DNC.
From CNN: Some GOP are feeling jelly about President Obama's speech.
From YahooTV: People loved First Lady Michelle Obama's DNC sppech, but the designer of her dress is in awe that she chose to wear it.
---------------
POLITICS - From CNN: Bradley Cooper was at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, and now, some Republicans are angry. Why? Read on...
---------------
TELEVISION - From PopSugar: 6 teaser photos from "American Horror Story" Season 6.
---------------
TELEVISION - From PopSugar: The Netflix reboot of the "Gilmore Girls," which is called "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" has a premiere date: November 25, 2016.
----------------
MOVIES - From YahooCelebrity: Kim Ledger talks about the tragic death of his son, Heath Ledger.
From YahooMovies: Jared Leto will play "The Joker" in the upcoming "Suicide Squad." He talks about playing the character after Heath Ledger, who played the Joker in "The Dark Knight," and won a posthumous Oscar for his performance.
---------------
CRIME - From YahooNews: In 1981, John Hinkley shot and injured President Ronald Reagan and 3 others, during an assassination attempt on Reagan. He will be freed by August 5th, 2016 from a government psychiatric hospital.
---------------
MOVIES - From IndieWire: Charlie Hunnam, the lead in "Pacific Rim," will not return for the sequel. He's not enough of a star for this to be considered a big lost. There must be at least 20 young white actors of his age and talent and overblown status that could take Hunnam's place.
---------------
HARRY POTTER - From YahooMovies: What critics are saying about the stage play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."
---------------
CELEBRITY - From YahooCelebrity: Eddie Murphy, his current girlfriend (Paige Butcher), and ex-wife (Nicole Murphy), make nice on the red carpet.
---------------
OBIT - From TMZ: The website is reporting that Youree Harris, best known as the iconic TV psychic, "Miss Cleo," has died at the age of 53, after a battle with cancer.
---------------
POLITICS - From RSN: Michael Moore has five reasons Donald Trump will win the presidency.
---------------
COMICS - From Variety: Kiersey Clemons (a breakout in "Dope") is in talks to star as "Iris West" in Warner Bros. and DC Comics' "Flash" movie next to Ezra Miller as "Flash." Rick Famumiya, the director of "Dope," is directing "Flash."
---------------
COMIC-CON - From Refinery29: Zendaya to play a character named "Michelle" in "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
From BusinessInsider: The lead villain in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is "Vulture."
---------------
POLITICS - From YahooNews: First Lady Michelle Obama delivers a soaring powerful speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
---------------
CULTURE - From YahooSports: After years of relative silence, Michael Jordan is speaking out on the issues of police shootings and police shooting people. Cop killers buy sneakers, too, eh, Mike?
---------------
COMIC-CON - From BleedingCool: The links to 300 Bleeding Cool articles on the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International in one place.
---------------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 7/22 to 7/24/2016 weekend box office is "Star Trek Beyond" with an estimated take of $59.6 million.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooNews: It did not take much convincing for Michael Rooker to appear in blue makeup for a Marvel Studios panel discussion "Guardians of the Galaxy 2."
--------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From LATimes: Ben Affleck confirmed as director of standalone "Batman" film.
---------------
SDCC-TV - From YahooTV: The Comic-Con trailer for "Sherlock Holmes" Season 4 shocks viewers.
---------------
POLITICS - From NYT: Donald Trump, Jr. has said that his father, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, would turn over foreign and domestic affairs to his vice-president, if Trump were be elected president...
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From Variety: Marvel vs. DC - comic book movies at Comic-Con.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Comic-Con debuts a new trailer for "LEGO Batman."
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: A new, longer "Doctor Strange" trailer debuts at Comic-Con.
---------------
SDCC-COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Oscar-winner Brie Larson ("Room") officially announced as Marvel Studios' "Captain Marvel." Her solo film arrives in 2019.
-- Also, Danai Gurira, "Michonne" of "The Walking Dead," was introduced as the latest member of the "Black Panther" squad.
---------------
TRAILERS:
From BleedingCool: The trailer for Zhang Yimou's "The Great Wall" with Matt Damon.
From YouTube: Teaser trailer for "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage," due in January 2017.
From YahooMovies: First teaser trailer for "T2: Trainspotting," the sequel to the film, "Trainspotting."
COMICS - From YahooMovies: First full "Wonder Woman" trailer, which debuted at San Diego Comic-Con International 2016.
COMICS - From YahooMovies: Warner Bros. unleashes footage from its "Justice League" movie.
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: King Kong is massive in "King: Skull Island."
Monday, December 7, 2015
Review: Gripping "Selma" is History Unfarnished
[A version of this review originally appeared on Patreon.]
Selma (2014)
Running time: 128 minutes (2 hours, 8 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including violence, a suggestive moment, and brief strong language
DIRECTOR: Ava DuVernay
WRITER: Paul Webb
PRODUCERS: Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Oprah Winfrey
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Bradford Young
EDITOR: Spencer Averick
COMPOSER: Jason Moran
Academy Award winner
DRAMA/HISTORY
Starring: David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Giovanni Ribisi, Andre Holland, Stephan James, Wendell Pierce, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Colman Domingo, Omar Dorsey, Tessa Thompson, Common, Lorraine Toussaint, Lakeith Stanfield, Henry G. Sanders, Charity Jordan, Trai Beyers, Dylan Baker, Stephen Root, Niecy Nash, E. Roger Mitchell, Tim Roth, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Michael Shikany, Brandon O'Dell, Nigel Thatch, and Oprah Winfrey
Selma is a 2014 historical drama from director Ava DuVernay. Written by Paul Webb, the film chronicles the 1965 Selma to Montgomery, Alabama voting rights marches and its leaders: Martin Luther King, Jr., James Bevel, Hosea Williams, and John Lewis. Brad Pitt is one of this film's executive producers.
Selma opens in 1964. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo) of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) accepts his Nobel Peace Prize. King believes that after the passage of the “Civil Rights Act of 1964” (which outlawed discrimination), the next big effort for civil rights should be to secure voting rights for Black Americans, especially in the South. He and the SCLC decide that the campaign to secure equal voting rights will be highlighted with an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.
However, several forces gather to stop the march. President Lyndon B. Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) wants Dr. King to hold off on seeking voting rights until after Johnson can push through his “War of Poverty” program. Alabama Governor George Wallace (Tim Roth) wants to bring an end to Civil Rights activism in his state, and decides to use force, including state police and local law enforcement, against marchers and protesters.
Meanwhile, Coretta Scott King (Carmen Ejogo), Dr. King's wife, is concerned for her husband's safety and for the disruption to their marriage and danger to his family caused by his work. Younger Black activists, such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), are not happy with Dr. King and the SCLC's methods. Worst of all, dark forces are gathering to keep the marchers from crossing Edmund Pettus Bridge, which will keep them from leaving Selma.
Like many Civil Rights films, documentaries, and television movies, Selma is an epic, but not by being grand. Director Ava DuVernay composes the film as an intimate tale that closes in on its subjects. Selma is not about the struggle of the Civil Rights movement at large, but about the struggle of the key players, especially Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at a particular moment in time.
Now, having seen the film, I cannot understand the controversy that surrounded Selma regarding its portrayal of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Some... what can I call them... fans, admirers, protectors of Johnson's legacy, etc. claimed that Selma played the late President as if he were a villain and an obstacle in the Civil Rights movement. First of all, this film is a dramatization of the events surrounding the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march, and, thus, the President Johnson that appears in the film is a fictional depiction of a real person. Secondly, the doubts, reservations, objections that the fictional Johnson expressed here are the same expressed by other characters in Selma, including characters involved in the marches.
Paul Webb's screenplay for Selma depicts nearly all of the major characters and main supporting players as having feet of clay, of being fragile and vulnerable. They are self-interested and self-serving, often to protect what they see as right for the Civil Rights movement, but also to protect themselves and loved ones in a time that was dangerous for many, but especially for people involved in the movement, in particular for Black people, but also for some White people.
Selma is not colorful and whimsical like fellow best picture Oscar nominee, The Grand Budapest Hotel. It is not arty and guileful like the behind-the-scenes Birdman, with its sense of familiarity for actors. Selma is meat-and-potatoes. DuVernay does not compose the Selma to Montgomery march as a grand, historical event, as if it were a history-changing struggle taking place on the kind of wide-open battlefield that is perfect for an epic conflict.
DuVernay closes in on the players in this movement, showing the inner workings of a social movement. This is not the stuff seen on television, like the march itself. This is that unseen stuff, the details that are not glamorous, and sometimes seems petty and trivial, except to those making them and living with the consequences. This intense focus on the interior workings creates a sense of claustrophobia, but also so of dread. Selma often seems like a thriller, because DuVernay brings the audience in so close that they might feel as if they are there. Watching this film, I felt endangered.
The one glitch in this film, I think, is that it sometimes feels disconnected from the larger Civil Rights movement. It is as if nothing came before the marches or would come after it. Sometimes, Selma simply seems out of context.
As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., David Oyelowo gives Selma its best performance. Oyelowo's is both an imaginative and a bold presentation of Dr. King. In the decades since his assassination, many people have made him both a martyr and, sadly, an idol of adoration. This worship of a false idol is dangerous because it allows people who were or would have been against Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement to appropriate him and the movement. It is as if he is a religious figure that can be reshaped for whatever cause or ideology that needs King's moral position. Oyelowo makes Dr. King human, fragile, and self-serving or self-interested, if not quite selfish. Thus, when Oyelowo brings out the best of Dr. King, it seems genuine and honest, rather than expected.
I think that Selma should have been a more popular film and that it should have received more Oscar nominations than it did (two). In the end, box office and industry accolades don't matter because Selma will stand out as one of the truer cinematic expressions of the Civil Rights movement, which was a fight for freedom and for the soul of the United States of America.
9 of 10
A+
Friday, September 25, 2015
NOTES:
2015 Academy Awards, USA: 1 win: “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song” (Common as Lonnie Lynn and John Legend as John Stephens for the song “Glory”); 1 nomination: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner)
2015 Golden Globes, USA: 1 win: “Best Original Song - Motion Picture” (John Legend and Common for the song, “Glory”); 3 nominations: “Best Motion Picture – Drama,” “Best Director - Motion Picture” (Ava DuVernay), and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama” (David Oyelowo)
2015 Black Reel Awards: 8 wins: “Outstanding Motion Picture” (Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Christian Colson), “Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture” (David Oyelowo), “Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture” (Wendell Pierce), “Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture” (Carmen Ejogo), “Outstanding Director, Motion Picture? (Ava DuVernay), “Outstanding Ensemble” (Aisha Coley), “Outstanding Score” (Jason Moran), and “Outstanding Original Song” (John Legend as performer, writer and Common as performer, writer, and Rhymefest as writer for the song, “Glory”); 2 nominations: “Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male” (André Holland) and “Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male” (Stephan James)
2015 Image Awards: 4 wins: “Outstanding Motion Picture,” “Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture” (David Oyelowo), “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” (Common), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Carmen Ejogo); 4 nominations: “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” (André Holland), “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” (Wendell Pierce), “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” (Oprah Winfrey), and “Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture” (Ava DuVernay)
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
---------------------------------
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Paramount Pictures to Provide All Public and Private High Schools with a Copy of "Selma"
Every High School in the U.S. to Receive Academy Award®-Winning “SELMA” on DVD
Paramount Continues Successful “Selma for Students” Initiative Launched During the Film’s Theatrical Run
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In celebration of the home entertainment debut of director Ava DuVernay’s inspirational and Academy Award-winning epic “SELMA,” Paramount Home Media Distribution announced today that every high school in the U.S., both public and private, will receive a copy of the DVD free of charge. In addition, teachers can receive free companion study guides to help further illuminate the remarkable historical events depicted in the film.
“The response from students and teachers to our ‘Selma for Students’ initiative was overwhelmingly positive and we are delighted to be extending the campaign”
“Our ‘SELMA’ filmmaking journey has had many highlights, but to me, the response from students and educators has been the most magnificent part of the experience. To think that this triumphant story of dignity and justice will be available to every high school in this country is a realization of many dreams and many hopes,” said director Ava DuVernay. “I applaud Paramount on this extraordinary effort, and salute the teachers who will provide classes and context on the work of Dr. King and his comrades to the young minds of our nation.”
“The response from students and teachers to our ‘Selma for Students’ initiative was overwhelmingly positive and we are delighted to be extending the campaign,” said Megan Colligan, president, Worldwide Distribution and Marketing, Paramount Pictures. “During the film’s theatrical run more than 300,000 young people were able to see the film for free. By providing DVDs to all of the high schools in the country, we hope to reach all 18 million high school students with the film’s powerful and inspiring story. With many of these students preparing to vote for the first time in next year’s elections, it is especially fitting that they witness the bravery and fortitude of those who fought to establish the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”
Teachers who would like to receive a copy of the “SELMA” companion study guide can visit http://bazaned.com.
“SELMA” won the Academy Award® and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture and Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
From Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films, “SELMA,” a Plan B, Cloud Eight Films, and Harpo Films production in association with Ingenious Media, tells the incredible story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the epic march from Selma to Montgomery to secure equal voting rights in an event that forever altered history.
The film is produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Oprah Winfrey. The film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
“SELMA” is available now on Digital HD and will be available on Blu-ray™ and DVD May 5th, 2015.
For more information visit: www.Selma4Students.com
#Selma4Students
About Paramount Home Media Distribution
Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The PHMD division oversees PPC’s home entertainment, digital and television distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles. PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and distribution across worldwide digital and television distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.
“ACADEMY AWARD®” is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
-----------
Paramount Continues Successful “Selma for Students” Initiative Launched During the Film’s Theatrical Run
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In celebration of the home entertainment debut of director Ava DuVernay’s inspirational and Academy Award-winning epic “SELMA,” Paramount Home Media Distribution announced today that every high school in the U.S., both public and private, will receive a copy of the DVD free of charge. In addition, teachers can receive free companion study guides to help further illuminate the remarkable historical events depicted in the film.
“The response from students and teachers to our ‘Selma for Students’ initiative was overwhelmingly positive and we are delighted to be extending the campaign”
“Our ‘SELMA’ filmmaking journey has had many highlights, but to me, the response from students and educators has been the most magnificent part of the experience. To think that this triumphant story of dignity and justice will be available to every high school in this country is a realization of many dreams and many hopes,” said director Ava DuVernay. “I applaud Paramount on this extraordinary effort, and salute the teachers who will provide classes and context on the work of Dr. King and his comrades to the young minds of our nation.”
“The response from students and teachers to our ‘Selma for Students’ initiative was overwhelmingly positive and we are delighted to be extending the campaign,” said Megan Colligan, president, Worldwide Distribution and Marketing, Paramount Pictures. “During the film’s theatrical run more than 300,000 young people were able to see the film for free. By providing DVDs to all of the high schools in the country, we hope to reach all 18 million high school students with the film’s powerful and inspiring story. With many of these students preparing to vote for the first time in next year’s elections, it is especially fitting that they witness the bravery and fortitude of those who fought to establish the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”
Teachers who would like to receive a copy of the “SELMA” companion study guide can visit http://bazaned.com.
“SELMA” won the Academy Award® and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture and Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
From Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films, “SELMA,” a Plan B, Cloud Eight Films, and Harpo Films production in association with Ingenious Media, tells the incredible story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the epic march from Selma to Montgomery to secure equal voting rights in an event that forever altered history.
The film is produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Oprah Winfrey. The film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
“SELMA” is available now on Digital HD and will be available on Blu-ray™ and DVD May 5th, 2015.
For more information visit: www.Selma4Students.com
#Selma4Students
About Paramount Home Media Distribution
Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The PHMD division oversees PPC’s home entertainment, digital and television distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles. PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and distribution across worldwide digital and television distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.
“ACADEMY AWARD®” is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
-----------
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Oscar-Winning "Selma" is Returning to Theatres
ACADEMY AWARD®-WINNING “SELMA” TO BE RE-RELEASED NATIONWIDE BEGINNING MARCH 20TH
TICKETS ARE ON SALE TODAY
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, Paramount Pictures will re-release its Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award-winning film “SELMA” nationwide for a special encore engagement. The film will play in theaters across the U.S. beginning Friday, March 20th, 2015.
Tickets are on sale today online and at theater box offices. For a list of theaters and to purchase tickets, visit www.SelmaMovie.com
Moviegoers who purchase a ticket to see “SELMA” at a participating theater can receive an additional ticket free. This limited time offer is only available at participating theater box offices.
“SELMA” won an Academy Award® and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture and Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
“SELMA,” from Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films, is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”
The film is produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
-----------------
TICKETS ARE ON SALE TODAY
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, Paramount Pictures will re-release its Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award-winning film “SELMA” nationwide for a special encore engagement. The film will play in theaters across the U.S. beginning Friday, March 20th, 2015.
Tickets are on sale today online and at theater box offices. For a list of theaters and to purchase tickets, visit www.SelmaMovie.com
Moviegoers who purchase a ticket to see “SELMA” at a participating theater can receive an additional ticket free. This limited time offer is only available at participating theater box offices.
“SELMA” won an Academy Award® and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture and Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
“SELMA,” from Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films, is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”
The film is produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
-----------------
Monday, March 16, 2015
"Selma" Arrives on DVD and Blu-ray May 5, 2015
Experience the Power of Director Ava DuVernay’s Critically Acclaimed Epic SELMA on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack May 5, 2015
Buy It Two Weeks Early on Digital HD April 21, 2015
“This is the film of the year.”—Richard Corliss, Time
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hailed as “extraordinary” (David Denby, The New Yorker), “deeply moving” (Claudia Puig, USA Today) and “a triumph” (A.O. Scott, New York Times), director Ava DuVernay’s powerful drama SELMA debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand May 5, 2015 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. The film arrives two weeks early on Digital HD April 21, 2015.
“definitive depiction of the 1960s American civil rights movement”
Embraced by critics and audiences alike, SELMA was named one of the best films of the year by New York Times, New York Post, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Huffington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Variety, Hollywood Reporter and many more. The film was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture and won the Oscar® for Best Original Song for John Legend and Common’s compelling tribute “Glory.”
Director Ava DuVernay delivers the “definitive depiction of the 1960s American civil rights movement” (Lou Lumenick, New York Post) with the incredible story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the epic march from Selma to Montgomery to secure equal voting rights in an event that forever altered history. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary march.
David Oyelowo is “mesmerizing” (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) as Dr. King and leads an outstanding ensemble cast including Academy Award nominee Oprah Winfrey1, Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson2, Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding, Jr.3, Academy Award nominee Tim Roth4, Grammy®-winning artist Common5, Giovanni Ribisi, Carmen Ejogo, and Lorraine Toussaint.
SELMA will be available in a Blu-ray Combo Pack with UltraViolet™ that includes an in-depth exploration of the making of the film, historical newsreels, a video for the Academy Award-winning song “Glory,” featuring John Legend and Common, commentary by director Ava DuVernay and actor David Oyelowo, a photo gallery and more.
SELMA Blu-ray Combo Pack
The SELMA Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The combo pack includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film, as well as the following:
Blu-ray
Feature film in high definition
The Road to Selma
Recreating Selma
“Glory” Music Video featuring John Legend and Common
Historical Newsreels
Photo Gallery
Deleted and Extended Scenes
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute
Selma Student Tickets: Donor Appreciation
Commentary by director Ava DuVernay and actor David Oyelowo
Commentary by director Ava DuVernay, director of photography Bradford Young and editor Spencer Averick
DVD
Feature film in standard definition
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute
Selma Student Tickets: Donor Appreciation
The Blu-ray Combo Pack available for purchase includes a Digital Version of the film that can be accessed through UltraViolet™, a way to collect, access and enjoy movies. With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them—reliably and securely—to a variety of devices.
SELMA Single-Disc DVD
The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The disc includes the feature film in standard definition plus a look at the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute and Selma Student Tickets: Donor Appreciation.
Website: http://www.SelmaMovie.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/selmamovie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SelmaMovie
Instagram: http://instagram.com/selmamovie
iTunes: http://j.mp/BuySelmaMovieNow
Amazon: http://j.mp/BuySelmaMovie
Paramount Pictures, Pathé and Harpo Films present a Plan B/ Cloud Eight Films/Harpo Films Production in Association with Ingenious Media, an Ava DuVernay film “SELMA.” Executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Nik Bower, Diarmuid McKeown, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes, and Nan Morales. Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Oprah Winfrey. Written by Paul Webb. Directed by Ava DuVernay.
About Paramount Home Media Distribution
Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The PHMD division oversees PPC’s home entertainment, digital and television distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles. PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and distribution across worldwide digital and television distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.
SELMA
Street Date:
May 5, 2015 (Blu-ray Combo/DVD/VOD)
April 21, 2015 (Digital HD)
SRP: $39.99 U.S. (Blu-ray Combo Pack); $29.99 U.S. (DVD)
U.S. Rating: PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including violence, a suggestive moment, and brief strong language
Canadian Rating: PG for violence and mature theme
1 Best Picture , Selma, 2014; Best Actress in a Supporting Role, The Color Purple, 1985
2 Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Michael Clayton, 2007; Best Actor in a Leading Role, In the Bedroom, 2001
3 Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Jerry Maguire, 1996
4 Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Rob Roy, 1995
5 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, Southside, 2007
“ACADEMY AWARD®” and “OSCAR®” are registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
-----------------
Buy It Two Weeks Early on Digital HD April 21, 2015
“This is the film of the year.”—Richard Corliss, Time
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hailed as “extraordinary” (David Denby, The New Yorker), “deeply moving” (Claudia Puig, USA Today) and “a triumph” (A.O. Scott, New York Times), director Ava DuVernay’s powerful drama SELMA debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand May 5, 2015 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. The film arrives two weeks early on Digital HD April 21, 2015.
“definitive depiction of the 1960s American civil rights movement”
Embraced by critics and audiences alike, SELMA was named one of the best films of the year by New York Times, New York Post, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Huffington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Variety, Hollywood Reporter and many more. The film was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Picture and won the Oscar® for Best Original Song for John Legend and Common’s compelling tribute “Glory.”
Director Ava DuVernay delivers the “definitive depiction of the 1960s American civil rights movement” (Lou Lumenick, New York Post) with the incredible story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the epic march from Selma to Montgomery to secure equal voting rights in an event that forever altered history. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary march.
David Oyelowo is “mesmerizing” (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) as Dr. King and leads an outstanding ensemble cast including Academy Award nominee Oprah Winfrey1, Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson2, Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding, Jr.3, Academy Award nominee Tim Roth4, Grammy®-winning artist Common5, Giovanni Ribisi, Carmen Ejogo, and Lorraine Toussaint.
SELMA will be available in a Blu-ray Combo Pack with UltraViolet™ that includes an in-depth exploration of the making of the film, historical newsreels, a video for the Academy Award-winning song “Glory,” featuring John Legend and Common, commentary by director Ava DuVernay and actor David Oyelowo, a photo gallery and more.
SELMA Blu-ray Combo Pack
The SELMA Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The combo pack includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film, as well as the following:
Blu-ray
Feature film in high definition
The Road to Selma
Recreating Selma
“Glory” Music Video featuring John Legend and Common
Historical Newsreels
Photo Gallery
Deleted and Extended Scenes
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute
Selma Student Tickets: Donor Appreciation
Commentary by director Ava DuVernay and actor David Oyelowo
Commentary by director Ava DuVernay, director of photography Bradford Young and editor Spencer Averick
DVD
Feature film in standard definition
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute
Selma Student Tickets: Donor Appreciation
The Blu-ray Combo Pack available for purchase includes a Digital Version of the film that can be accessed through UltraViolet™, a way to collect, access and enjoy movies. With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them—reliably and securely—to a variety of devices.
SELMA Single-Disc DVD
The single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The disc includes the feature film in standard definition plus a look at the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute and Selma Student Tickets: Donor Appreciation.
Website: http://www.SelmaMovie.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/selmamovie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SelmaMovie
Instagram: http://instagram.com/selmamovie
iTunes: http://j.mp/BuySelmaMovieNow
Amazon: http://j.mp/BuySelmaMovie
Paramount Pictures, Pathé and Harpo Films present a Plan B/ Cloud Eight Films/Harpo Films Production in Association with Ingenious Media, an Ava DuVernay film “SELMA.” Executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Nik Bower, Diarmuid McKeown, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes, and Nan Morales. Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Oprah Winfrey. Written by Paul Webb. Directed by Ava DuVernay.
About Paramount Home Media Distribution
Paramount Home Media Distribution (PHMD) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The PHMD division oversees PPC’s home entertainment, digital and television distribution activities worldwide. The division is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CBS and applicable licensing and servicing of certain DreamWorks Animation titles. PHMD additionally manages global licensing of studio content and distribution across worldwide digital and television distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices and emerging technologies.
SELMA
Street Date:
May 5, 2015 (Blu-ray Combo/DVD/VOD)
April 21, 2015 (Digital HD)
SRP: $39.99 U.S. (Blu-ray Combo Pack); $29.99 U.S. (DVD)
U.S. Rating: PG-13 for disturbing thematic material including violence, a suggestive moment, and brief strong language
Canadian Rating: PG for violence and mature theme
1 Best Picture , Selma, 2014; Best Actress in a Supporting Role, The Color Purple, 1985
2 Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Michael Clayton, 2007; Best Actor in a Leading Role, In the Bedroom, 2001
3 Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Jerry Maguire, 1996
4 Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Rob Roy, 1995
5 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, Southside, 2007
“ACADEMY AWARD®” and “OSCAR®” are registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
-----------------
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
"Selma" Dominates 2015 Black Reel Awards - Complete Winners List
The Black Reel Awards annually honor African-Americans in feature, independent, and television film. The awards also take notice of the work in film by people of color throughout the African Diaspora. The awards were launched in 2000, and this is the 15th year the awards will be handed out. The Black Reel Awards are now given out by the Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF).
The 15th Annual Black Reel Awards winners were announced on Friday, February 20, 2015. The Black Reel Awards are comprised of more than 60 voters across the country. The voters annually select and spotlight films and performances featuring African-Americans, as well as people of color throughout the African Diaspora.
Selma won 8 awards, tying the film with last year's 12 Years a Slave for the most Black Reel Award wins in a single year.
2015 / 15th Annual Black Reel Awards Winners:
Outstanding Motion Picture
Selma | Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner & Christian Colson (Paramount)
Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture
David Oyelowo | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture
Gugu Mbatha-Raw | Belle (Fox Searchlight)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture
Wendell Pierce | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Carmen Ejogo | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Director, Motion Picture
Ava DuVernay | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Screenplay, Motion Picture
Chris Rock | Top Five (Paramount)
Outstanding Documentary
Anita: Speaking Truth to the Power | Freida Lee Mock
Outstanding Ensemble (Awarded to Casting Directors)
Selma | Aisha Coley (Paramount)
Outstanding Foreign Film
Fishing Without Nets (Kenya) | Cutter Hodierne (Drafthouse Films)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
Tyler James Williams | Dear White People (Lionsgate/ Roadside Attractions
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Teyonah Parris | Dear White People (Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions)
Outstanding Voice Performance
Morgan Freeman | The LEGO Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Score
Jason Moran | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Original Song
“Glory” from Selma | Performed by: John Legend & Common;
Written by: John Legend, Common & Che Smith (Paramount)
INDEPENDENT:
Outstanding Independent Feature
The Retrieval | Chris Eska
Outstanding Independent Documentary
25 to Life | Mark Brown
Outstanding Independent Short
#AmeriCan | Nate Parker
TELEVISION:
Outstanding Television Documentary or Special
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown | Alex Gibney (HBO)
Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series
The Trip to Bountiful | Bill Haber, Cicely Tyson, Hallie Foote & Jeff Hayes (Lifetime)
Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Larenz Tate | Gun Hill (BET)
Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Cicely Tyson | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Blair Underwood | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Anika Noni Rose | A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime)
Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)
Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)
----------------
The 15th Annual Black Reel Awards winners were announced on Friday, February 20, 2015. The Black Reel Awards are comprised of more than 60 voters across the country. The voters annually select and spotlight films and performances featuring African-Americans, as well as people of color throughout the African Diaspora.
Selma won 8 awards, tying the film with last year's 12 Years a Slave for the most Black Reel Award wins in a single year.
2015 / 15th Annual Black Reel Awards Winners:
Outstanding Motion Picture
Selma | Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner & Christian Colson (Paramount)
Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture
David Oyelowo | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Actress, Motion Picture
Gugu Mbatha-Raw | Belle (Fox Searchlight)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture
Wendell Pierce | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Carmen Ejogo | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Director, Motion Picture
Ava DuVernay | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Screenplay, Motion Picture
Chris Rock | Top Five (Paramount)
Outstanding Documentary
Anita: Speaking Truth to the Power | Freida Lee Mock
Outstanding Ensemble (Awarded to Casting Directors)
Selma | Aisha Coley (Paramount)
Outstanding Foreign Film
Fishing Without Nets (Kenya) | Cutter Hodierne (Drafthouse Films)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
Tyler James Williams | Dear White People (Lionsgate/ Roadside Attractions
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Teyonah Parris | Dear White People (Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions)
Outstanding Voice Performance
Morgan Freeman | The LEGO Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Outstanding Score
Jason Moran | Selma (Paramount)
Outstanding Original Song
“Glory” from Selma | Performed by: John Legend & Common;
Written by: John Legend, Common & Che Smith (Paramount)
INDEPENDENT:
Outstanding Independent Feature
The Retrieval | Chris Eska
Outstanding Independent Documentary
25 to Life | Mark Brown
Outstanding Independent Short
#AmeriCan | Nate Parker
TELEVISION:
Outstanding Television Documentary or Special
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown | Alex Gibney (HBO)
Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series
The Trip to Bountiful | Bill Haber, Cicely Tyson, Hallie Foote & Jeff Hayes (Lifetime)
Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Larenz Tate | Gun Hill (BET)
Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Cicely Tyson | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Blair Underwood | The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Anika Noni Rose | A Day Late and a Dollar Short (Lifetime)
Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)
Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Mini-Series
Reggie Rock Bythewood | Gun Hill (BET)
----------------
Sunday, February 22, 2015
"Birdman" Wins Oscar as Best Picture of 2014
Best Picture:
“American Sniper” Clint Eastwood,
Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan,
Producers
“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of
Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W.
Skotchdopole, Producers WINNER
“Boyhood” Richard Linklater and
Cathleen Sutherland, Producers
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Wes
Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, Producers
“The Imitation Game” Nora Grossman,
Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwarzman, Producers
“Selma” Christian Colson, Oprah
Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers
“The Theory of Everything” Tim
Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, Producers
“Whiplash” Jason Blum, Helen
Estabrook and David Lancaster, Producers
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Oprah Winfey, Benedict Cumberbatch Among Oscar Nominee Presenters at 87th Oscars
Oscar® Nominees Cotillard, Cumberbatch, Streep, Winfrey And Witherspoon To Present At 87th Oscars®
Oscar® nominees Marion Cotillard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon will be presenters at this year’s Oscars®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will air on Sunday, February 22, 2015 live on ABC.
Cotillard is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for “Two Days, One Night.” She previously won an Oscar in this category for the 2007 film “La Vie en Rose.”
Cumberbatch is nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for “The Imitation Game.”
Streep earned a record 19th acting nomination this year for her supporting role in “Into the Woods.” She previously took home Oscars for her lead performances in “Sophie’s Choice” (1982) and “The Iron Lady” (2011), and her supporting performance in “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979). Streep’s previous Best Actress nominations were for “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” (1981), “Silkwood” (1983), “Out of Africa” (1985), “Ironweed” (1987), “A Cry in the Dark” (1988), “Postcards from the Edge” (1990), “The Bridges of Madison County” (1995), “One True Thing” (1998), “Music of the Heart” (1999), “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006), “Doubt” (2008), “Julie & Julia” (2009) and “August: Osage County” (2013). She also received Best Supporting Actress nominations for “The Deer Hunter” (1978) and “Adaptation” (2002).
Winfrey is nominated for Best Picture as one of the producers of “Selma.” She was previously nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role for “The Color Purple” (1985). She received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2011.
Witherspoon is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for “Wild.” She previously won an Oscar in this category for the 2005 movie “Walk the Line.”
The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Oscar® nominees Marion Cotillard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon will be presenters at this year’s Oscars®, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The Oscars, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, will air on Sunday, February 22, 2015 live on ABC.
Cotillard is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for “Two Days, One Night.” She previously won an Oscar in this category for the 2007 film “La Vie en Rose.”
Cumberbatch is nominated for Actor in a Leading Role for “The Imitation Game.”
Streep earned a record 19th acting nomination this year for her supporting role in “Into the Woods.” She previously took home Oscars for her lead performances in “Sophie’s Choice” (1982) and “The Iron Lady” (2011), and her supporting performance in “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979). Streep’s previous Best Actress nominations were for “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” (1981), “Silkwood” (1983), “Out of Africa” (1985), “Ironweed” (1987), “A Cry in the Dark” (1988), “Postcards from the Edge” (1990), “The Bridges of Madison County” (1995), “One True Thing” (1998), “Music of the Heart” (1999), “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006), “Doubt” (2008), “Julie & Julia” (2009) and “August: Osage County” (2013). She also received Best Supporting Actress nominations for “The Deer Hunter” (1978) and “Adaptation” (2002).
Winfrey is nominated for Best Picture as one of the producers of “Selma.” She was previously nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role for “The Color Purple” (1985). She received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2011.
Witherspoon is nominated for Actress in a Leading Role for “Wild.” She previously won an Oscar in this category for the 2005 movie “Walk the Line.”
The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Friday, January 30, 2015
#SelmaForStudents Expands to Indianapolis and West Palm Beach
INDIANAPOLIS AND WEST PALM BEACH JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO BRING “SELMA” TO STUDENTS
MORE THAN 320,000 STUDENTS IN 34 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE U.S. WILL SEE ACADEMY AWARD® BEST PICTURE NOMINEE “SELMA” FOR FREE
ATLANTA, BOSTON, DETROIT, MIAMI, NEW YORK, NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, RALEIGH, DURHAM AND CHAPEL HILL, ST. LOUIS AND WASHINGTON D.C.ARE SOLD OUT
Indianapolis and West Palm Beach have joined the massive national campaign by African-American business leaders to raise funds for free student admission to the Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe-winning film “SELMA,” expanding the unprecedented movement to a total of 34 locations nationwide.
Following the lead of a team of African-American business leaders in New York and across the U.S., funds have been established in these cities that will allow students to see “SELMA” for free at participating theaters while supplies last.
The Selma for Students program has grown steadily since its launch in New York City on January 8th. To date, African-American business leaders across the U.S. have raised funds for free admission for middle and high school students to see “SELMA.” More than 320,000 students nationwide will experience the critically acclaimed film for free.
Due to the program’s popularity and the ongoing efforts of the organizers, student tickets in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Miami, New York, Northern New Jersey, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, St. Louis and Washington D.C. are sold out. Philadelphia expanded its program and added 3,000 more tickets to meet the overwhelming demand, while the business leaders in Northern New Jersey raised additional funds to send 1,000 students in Trenton, NJ to see the film.
The local business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new cities are:
· Derrick Burks, Indianapolis Office, Managing Partner, E&Y; Lacy Johnson Esq., Partner Ice Miller LLP; Kristin Mays-Corbitt, President, Mays Chemical Company, Inc; Alan Mills, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg; Woodrow A. Myers Jr., M.D., CEO, Corizon Correctional Healthcare; Sam Odle, Senior Policy Advisor, Bose Public Affairs, Retired CEO of Methodist and University Hospitals; Derica Rice, CFO, EVP of Global Services, Eli Lilly & Co; and John T. Thompson, CEO, Thompson Distribution Co. in Indianapolis
“Consistent with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s journey from Selma to Montgomery and across this country for freedom and justice for all, we are pleased to join the journey with so many leaders in the U.S. in providing an opportunity for Indianapolis students to be inspired by ‘Selma.’ This continues the legacy of the late William G. (Bill) Mays as a nationally recognized business leader and philanthropist,” said Thompson.
· Edrick Barnes, Sire Archon (President) Epsilon Lambda Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, and Euclid Walker, Managing Partner, Parkway Investment Management, in West Palm Beach
“The men of Sigma Pi Phi fraternity are excited to support our local community by providing students in West Palm Beach the opportunity to see ‘Selma.’ The fraternity hopes that viewing the movie will serve as an educational opportunity to foster a greater appreciation of the rights and privileges that were born from the sacrifices of the Civil Rights Movement,” said Barnes.
“The film ‘Selma’ has ignited a national movement of business leaders supporting our youth to see a film which can be used as a teaching tool about the civil rights movement,” said Walker. “We’ve been delighted to work with national leaders and Paramount to ensure that Palm Beach County's youth benefit from this experience!”
These business leaders are following the lead of those in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Central Florida/Orlando, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Charlotte, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Montgomery, Nashville, New Orleans, New York City, Northern New Jersey, Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, San Diego, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, St. Louis, Stockton, CA, Trenton, NJ, Washington D.C. and Westchester.
Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, which is distributing “SELMA,” is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S. For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets
Middle and high school students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last.
The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.
To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.
Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” is nominated for Academy Awards® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Song for “Glory” and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”
“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
--------------------
MORE THAN 320,000 STUDENTS IN 34 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE U.S. WILL SEE ACADEMY AWARD® BEST PICTURE NOMINEE “SELMA” FOR FREE
ATLANTA, BOSTON, DETROIT, MIAMI, NEW YORK, NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, RALEIGH, DURHAM AND CHAPEL HILL, ST. LOUIS AND WASHINGTON D.C.ARE SOLD OUT
Indianapolis and West Palm Beach have joined the massive national campaign by African-American business leaders to raise funds for free student admission to the Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe-winning film “SELMA,” expanding the unprecedented movement to a total of 34 locations nationwide.
Following the lead of a team of African-American business leaders in New York and across the U.S., funds have been established in these cities that will allow students to see “SELMA” for free at participating theaters while supplies last.
The Selma for Students program has grown steadily since its launch in New York City on January 8th. To date, African-American business leaders across the U.S. have raised funds for free admission for middle and high school students to see “SELMA.” More than 320,000 students nationwide will experience the critically acclaimed film for free.
Due to the program’s popularity and the ongoing efforts of the organizers, student tickets in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Miami, New York, Northern New Jersey, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, St. Louis and Washington D.C. are sold out. Philadelphia expanded its program and added 3,000 more tickets to meet the overwhelming demand, while the business leaders in Northern New Jersey raised additional funds to send 1,000 students in Trenton, NJ to see the film.
The local business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new cities are:
· Derrick Burks, Indianapolis Office, Managing Partner, E&Y; Lacy Johnson Esq., Partner Ice Miller LLP; Kristin Mays-Corbitt, President, Mays Chemical Company, Inc; Alan Mills, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg; Woodrow A. Myers Jr., M.D., CEO, Corizon Correctional Healthcare; Sam Odle, Senior Policy Advisor, Bose Public Affairs, Retired CEO of Methodist and University Hospitals; Derica Rice, CFO, EVP of Global Services, Eli Lilly & Co; and John T. Thompson, CEO, Thompson Distribution Co. in Indianapolis
“Consistent with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s journey from Selma to Montgomery and across this country for freedom and justice for all, we are pleased to join the journey with so many leaders in the U.S. in providing an opportunity for Indianapolis students to be inspired by ‘Selma.’ This continues the legacy of the late William G. (Bill) Mays as a nationally recognized business leader and philanthropist,” said Thompson.
· Edrick Barnes, Sire Archon (President) Epsilon Lambda Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, and Euclid Walker, Managing Partner, Parkway Investment Management, in West Palm Beach
“The men of Sigma Pi Phi fraternity are excited to support our local community by providing students in West Palm Beach the opportunity to see ‘Selma.’ The fraternity hopes that viewing the movie will serve as an educational opportunity to foster a greater appreciation of the rights and privileges that were born from the sacrifices of the Civil Rights Movement,” said Barnes.
“The film ‘Selma’ has ignited a national movement of business leaders supporting our youth to see a film which can be used as a teaching tool about the civil rights movement,” said Walker. “We’ve been delighted to work with national leaders and Paramount to ensure that Palm Beach County's youth benefit from this experience!”
These business leaders are following the lead of those in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Central Florida/Orlando, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Charlotte, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Montgomery, Nashville, New Orleans, New York City, Northern New Jersey, Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, San Diego, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, St. Louis, Stockton, CA, Trenton, NJ, Washington D.C. and Westchester.
Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, which is distributing “SELMA,” is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S. For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets
Middle and high school students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last.
The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.
To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.
Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” is nominated for Academy Awards® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Song for “Glory” and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”
“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
--------------------
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
"Selma," "Still Alice" Win "Best Movie" Awards from Women Film Critics Circle
Editor's Note: I forgot to post these a few weeks ago:
The Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC) is an association of women film critics, who are involved in print, radio, online and TV broadcast media. Founded in 2004, this group is the first women critics’ organization in the United States.
The 2014 Women Film Critics Circle Award winners were announced December 13, 2014.
Women Film Critics Circle Awards 2014:
BEST MOVIE ABOUT WOMEN
Still Alice
BEST MOVIE BY A WOMAN
Selma: Ava Duvernay
BEST WOMAN STORYTELLER [Screenwriting Award]
Ida: Rebecca Lenkiewicz [Co-screenwriter]
BEST ACTRESS
Julianne Moore: Still Alice
BEST ACTOR
Eddie Redmayne: The Theory Of Everything
BEST YOUNG ACTRESS
Mira Grosin: We Are The Best
BEST COMEDIC ACTRESS
Jenny Slate: Obvious Child
BEST FOREIGN FILM BY OR ABOUT WOMEN
Two Days, One Night
BEST FEMALE IMAGES IN A MOVIE
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
WORST FEMALE IMAGES IN A MOVIE
Horrible Bosses 2
BEST MALE IMAGES IN A MOVIE
Love Is Strange
WORST MALE IMAGES IN A MOVIE
Dumb And Dumber To
BEST DOCUMENTARY BY OR ABOUT WOMEN
Citizenfour
BEST SCREEN COUPLE
The Skeleton Twins
BEST THEATRICALLY UNRELEASED MOVIE BY OR ABOUT WOMEN
Girlhood
BEST EQUALITY OF THE SEXES
TIE: Life Itself, The Skeleton Twins
BEST ANIMATED FEMALE
Winnie: Boxtrolls
BEST FAMILY FILM
Big Hero 6
WOMEN'S WORK/BEST ENSEMBLE
The Homesman
*SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS*
COURAGE IN FILMMAKING:
LAURA POITRAS: For bringing the Edward Snowden NSA revelations to light in Citizenfour, and driven into exile in Germany for doing so.
*ADRIENNE SHELLY AWARD: A film that most passionately opposes violence against women:
Frontera
Private Violence
*JOSEPHINE BAKER AWARD: For best expressing the woman of color experience in America:
Anita: Speaking Truth To Power
*KAREN MORLEY AWARD: For best exemplifying a woman’s place in history or society, and a courageous search for identity:
Belle
ACTING AND ACTIVISM AWARD: Rosario Dawson
For her work with The Lower East Side Girls Club; the environmental group Global Cool; the ONE Campaign; Oxfam; Amnesty International; Voto Latino; V-Day, a global non-profit movement that raises funds for women's anti-violence groups; RESPECT! Campaign, a movement aimed at preventing domestic violence; and countless other organizations.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
Oprah Winfrey
COURAGE IN ACTING: [Taking on unconventional roles that radically redefine the images of women on screen]:
Julianne Moore: Still Alice
BEST FEMALE ACTION STAR:
Oprah Winfrey: Selma
THE INVISIBLE WOMAN AWARD: [Performance by a woman whose exceptional impact on the film dramatically, socially or historically, has been ignored]:
Felicity Jones: The Theory Of Everything
WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MALES ROLES IN MOVIES:
Jessica Chastain: Interstellar
MOMMIE DEAREST WORST SCREEN MOM OF THE YEAR AWARD:
*TIE
Charlotte Gainsbourg: Nymphomaniac
Uma Thurman: Nymphomaniac
JUST KIDDING AWARDS
*Best Female Images: Nymphomaniac
*Forty-Plus Female Empowerment Award: For the producers who give women over forty meaningful roles in movies on a regular basis, in an industry where forty is the new ninety-five - and as other than maniacs and witches.
*Merry Macho Award: Seth Rogen and James Franco: For advancing the cause of world peace with their presidential assassination comedy, The Interview. And who knows, while possibly mulling the Interview II sequel comedy, the assassination of US President Obama. And for further extending Hollywood as a wing of the US military and CIA, following leaked email revelations that the US State Department advocated Sony to use the film to help bring down the DPRK government.
BEST LINE IN A MOVIE:
Big Hero 6: 'Stop Whining. Woman Up!'
About the Special Mention Awards:
**ADRIENNE SHELLY AWARD: Adrienne Shelly was a promising actress and filmmaker who was brutally strangled in her apartment in 2006 at the age of forty by a construction worker in the building, after she complained about noise. Her killer tried to cover up his crime by hanging her from a shower rack in her bathroom, to make it look like a suicide. He later confessed that he was having a “bad day.” Shelly, who left behind a baby daughter, had just completed her film, Waitress, which she also starred in, and which was honored at Sundance after her death.
**JOSEPHINE BAKER AWARD: The daughter of a laundress and a musician, Baker overcame being born black, female and poor, and marriage at age fifteen, to become an internationally acclaimed legendary performer, starring in the films Princess Tam Tam, Moulin Rouge and Zou Zou. She also survived the race riots in East St. Louis, Illinois as a child, and later expatriated to France to escape US racism. After participating heroically in the underground French Resistance during WWII, Baker returned to the US where she was a crusader for racial equality. Her activism led to attacks against her by reporter Walter Winchell who denounced her as a communist, leading her to wage a battle against him. Baker was instrumental in ending segregation in many theaters and clubs, where she refused to perform unless integration was implemented.
**KAREN MORLEY AWARD: Karen Morley was a promising Hollywood star in the 1930s, in such films as Mata Hari and Our Daily Bread. She was driven out of Hollywood for her leftist political convictions by the Blacklist and for refusing to testify against other actors, while Robert Taylor and Sterling Hayden were informants against her. And also for daring to have a child and become a mother, unacceptable for female stars in those days. Morley maintained her militant political activism for the rest of her life, running for Lieutenant Governor on the American Labor Party ticket in 1954. She passed away in 2003, unrepentant to the end, at the age of 93.
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Saturday, January 24, 2015
#SelmaForStudents Rolls into Birmingham, San Diego, and Trenton
BIRMINGHAM, SAN DIEGO AND TRENTON, NJ, JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO BRING “SELMA” TO STUDENTS
MORE THAN 300,000 STUDENTS IN 32 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE U.S. WILL SEE ACADEMY AWARD® BEST PICTURE NOMINEE “SELMA” FOR FREE
BOSTON, DETROIT, NEW YORK AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY ARE SOLD OUT
Birmingham, San Diego and Trenton, NJ, have joined the massive national campaign by African-American business leaders to raise funds for free student admission to the Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe-winning film “SELMA,” expanding the unprecedented movement to a total of 32 locations nationwide.
Following the lead of a team of African-American business leaders in New York and across the U.S., funds have been established in these cities that will allow students to see “SELMA” for free at participating theaters while supplies last.
The Selma for Students program has grown steadily since its launch in New York City on January 8th. To date, African-American business leaders in 32 locations across the U.S. have raised funds for free admission for middle and high school students to see “SELMA.” More than 300,000 students nationwide will experience the critically acclaimed film for free.
Due to the program’s popularity and the ongoing efforts of the organizers, student tickets in Boston, Detroit, New York and Northern New Jersey are sold out. Philadelphia expanded its program and added 3,000 more tickets to meet the overwhelming demand, while the business leaders in Northern New Jersey raised additional funds to send 1,000 students in Trenton to see the film.
The local business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new cities are:
· Roy S. Johnson, Director of Sports, Alabama Media Group; Staci Brown Brooks, Manager of Special Projects, Alabama Media Group; and Terri Gardner in Birmingham
“Having only moved to Birmingham in recent months, it was a particular honor to work with and meet long-time Alabamians who were eager to support Selma for Students in recognition of this state's historic role in the civil rights movement. For us, this effort was truly close to home,” said Johnson.
· Lee Wills-Irvine, Senior Manager, Human Resources, Qualcomm, in San Diego
“Qualcomm recognizes the historical importance and current relevance of the movie ‘Selma.’ So we are excited to partner with companies like Sony Electronics, community based organizations like the San Diego African-America Museum of Fine Arts, and local Executive Leadership Council Members to provide this opportunity to students in San Diego,” said Wills-Irvine. “Thank you to the Qualcomm leadership team, local businesses and community leaders who have so generously supported such a meaningful movement.”
· David R. Jones, President and CEO, CastleOak Securities, L.P., in Trenton, NJ
These business leaders are following the lead of those in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Central Florida/Orlando, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Charlotte, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Montgomery, Nashville, New Orleans, New York City, Northern New Jersey, Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, St. Louis, Stockton, CA, Washington D.C. and Westchester.
Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, which is distributing “SELMA,” is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S. For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets
Middle and high school students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last. Tickets will be available in Trenton beginning Monday, January 26th.
The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.
To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.
Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” is nominated for Academy Awards® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Song for “Glory” and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”
“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
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Thursday, January 22, 2015
Charlotte and Houston Among New #SelmaForStudents Cities
CHARLOTTE, HOUSTON, STOCKTON, CA AND CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, IL ARE THE LATEST CITIES TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO BRING “SELMA” TO STUDENTS
MORE THAN 300,000 STUDENTS IN 29 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE U.S. WILL SEE ACADEMY AWARD® BEST PICTURE NOMINEE “SELMA” FOR FREE
PHILADELPHIA ADDS 3,000 MORE TICKETS TO MEET OVERWHELMING DEMAND
Charlotte, Houston, Stockton, CA and Champaign-Urbana, IL have joined the massive national campaign by African-American business leaders to raise funds for free student admission to the Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe-winning film “SELMA,” expanding the unprecedented movement to a total of 29 locations nationwide.
Following the lead of a team of African-American business leaders in New York and across the U.S., funds have been established in these cities that will allow students to see “SELMA” for free at participating theaters while supplies last. To date, more than 300,000 middle and high school students across the U.S. will experience the critically acclaimed film for free.
In Philadelphia, the overwhelming demand for tickets has led organizers to expand the program and add 3,000 more tickets.
“Watching the community rally around ‘Selma’ has been a beautiful experience and this is truly a movement we will build on for years,” said Ed Lewis, founder of Essence Magazine, a contributor to the New York City program.
The local business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new cities are:
· Dr. William Alleyne, President, Carolina Pulmonary Physicians, and Sybil Faulcon, Talent Acquisition/Professional (Gov't) Xerox Business Services, in Charlotte
“We are honored to be part of this unprecedented effort by members of the African-American business community to educate our nation’s children about this pivotal moment in American history,” said Dr. Alleyne.
· Anthony W. Hall, III, President, Rio Vista Partners, L.P., in Houston
“The movie ‘Selma’ offers a rich and vibrant opportunity to bring to life for young students in Houston the struggles and opportunities that Black people in America have been faced with historically,” said Hall. “It hopefully provides them context and, ideally, a sense of pride, recognition and purpose. The movie can connect them to an important time in the civil rights movement and perhaps serve as a framework for their own civic engagement, awareness and activism.”
· Dr. Robert Ross, President and Chief Executive Officer, The California Endowment, in Stockton, CA
“The California Endowment is thrilled to support the civic leadership of this program’s leaders to assure that young people from underserved communities can enjoy and learn from this landmark film,” said Ross.
· Byron Clark, Co-Chair, NEBC, and Aaron O. Ammons, President, NEBC, in Champaign-Urbana, IL
“The North End Breakfast Club is very happy to have the support of Paramount Pictures. As we continue to engage our community through the use of historically informative films such as ‘Selma,’ we know these films will have a profound impact on the thought process of the individuals who attend the viewings and post discussions,” said Ammons. “As President, and on behalf of the members of NEBC, I want to say thank you for your progressive thinking and courageous support for this initiative in Champaign, Illinois and across the Country.”
These business leaders are following the lead of those in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Central Florida/Orlando, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Montgomery, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York City, Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, St. Louis, Washington D.C. and Westchester.
Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, which is distributing “SELMA,” is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S. For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets
Middle and high school students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last. Tickets in Champaign-Urbana, IL will be available beginning January 31st at participating theaters.
The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.
To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.
Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” is nominated for Academy Awards® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Song for “Glory” and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”
“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
MORE THAN 300,000 STUDENTS IN 29 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE U.S. WILL SEE ACADEMY AWARD® BEST PICTURE NOMINEE “SELMA” FOR FREE
PHILADELPHIA ADDS 3,000 MORE TICKETS TO MEET OVERWHELMING DEMAND
Charlotte, Houston, Stockton, CA and Champaign-Urbana, IL have joined the massive national campaign by African-American business leaders to raise funds for free student admission to the Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe-winning film “SELMA,” expanding the unprecedented movement to a total of 29 locations nationwide.
Following the lead of a team of African-American business leaders in New York and across the U.S., funds have been established in these cities that will allow students to see “SELMA” for free at participating theaters while supplies last. To date, more than 300,000 middle and high school students across the U.S. will experience the critically acclaimed film for free.
In Philadelphia, the overwhelming demand for tickets has led organizers to expand the program and add 3,000 more tickets.
“Watching the community rally around ‘Selma’ has been a beautiful experience and this is truly a movement we will build on for years,” said Ed Lewis, founder of Essence Magazine, a contributor to the New York City program.
The local business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new cities are:
· Dr. William Alleyne, President, Carolina Pulmonary Physicians, and Sybil Faulcon, Talent Acquisition/Professional (Gov't) Xerox Business Services, in Charlotte
“We are honored to be part of this unprecedented effort by members of the African-American business community to educate our nation’s children about this pivotal moment in American history,” said Dr. Alleyne.
· Anthony W. Hall, III, President, Rio Vista Partners, L.P., in Houston
“The movie ‘Selma’ offers a rich and vibrant opportunity to bring to life for young students in Houston the struggles and opportunities that Black people in America have been faced with historically,” said Hall. “It hopefully provides them context and, ideally, a sense of pride, recognition and purpose. The movie can connect them to an important time in the civil rights movement and perhaps serve as a framework for their own civic engagement, awareness and activism.”
· Dr. Robert Ross, President and Chief Executive Officer, The California Endowment, in Stockton, CA
“The California Endowment is thrilled to support the civic leadership of this program’s leaders to assure that young people from underserved communities can enjoy and learn from this landmark film,” said Ross.
· Byron Clark, Co-Chair, NEBC, and Aaron O. Ammons, President, NEBC, in Champaign-Urbana, IL
“The North End Breakfast Club is very happy to have the support of Paramount Pictures. As we continue to engage our community through the use of historically informative films such as ‘Selma,’ we know these films will have a profound impact on the thought process of the individuals who attend the viewings and post discussions,” said Ammons. “As President, and on behalf of the members of NEBC, I want to say thank you for your progressive thinking and courageous support for this initiative in Champaign, Illinois and across the Country.”
These business leaders are following the lead of those in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Central Florida/Orlando, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Montgomery, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York City, Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, St. Louis, Washington D.C. and Westchester.
Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, which is distributing “SELMA,” is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S. For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets
Middle and high school students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last. Tickets in Champaign-Urbana, IL will be available beginning January 31st at participating theaters.
The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.
To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.
Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” is nominated for Academy Awards® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Song for “Glory” and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”
“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
"Selma," 275,000 Donated Tickets and Growing for #SelmaForStudents
275,000 STUDENTS RECEIVE FREE TICKETS TO ACADEMY AWARD®-NOMINATED “SELMA”
12 MORE CITIES JOIN THE MOVEMENT
“SELMA” IS NOMINATED FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD® FOR BEST PICTURE AND BEST ORIGINAL SONG FOR “GLORY” BY COMMON & JOHN LEGEND
An additional 12 locations have joined the growing movement lead by African-American business leaders to raise funds for students across the country to see the Academy Award®-nominated film “SELMA,” expanding the first-of-its-kind campaign to 25 locations nationwide.
Due to the generous contributions by so many of the country’s most prominent African-American business leaders, more than 275,000 middle and high school students across the U.S. will experience the critically acclaimed film for free at participating theaters while supplies last.
The new locations joining the movement are Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Central Florida/Orlando, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Montgomery, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and St. Louis.
“Paramount Pictures is extremely proud of this film, which is so clearly resonating with audiences young and old,” said Megan Colligan, President, Worldwide Distribution and Marketing, Paramount Pictures. “It’s a testament to the extraordinary talents of Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and the entire cast and crew that ‘SELMA’ is being celebrated by communities all over the country.”
The business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new locations are:
· Dr. Meria Carstarphen, Superintendents, Atlanta Public Schools; Dr. Michael Lomax, President & CEO, United Negro College Fund; Hala Moddelmog, President & CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, President, Morehouse College, in Atlanta
“This movie is an educational moment for more than 10,000 Atlanta Public Schools students who we are inviting to see this film. I am proud and humbled by the immediate outpouring of support from our Atlanta community who has joined this growing national movement,” said Meria J. Carstarphen, superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools and Selma, Alabama native. “Our Atlanta education partners believe in our students, and I am grateful for the opportunity they are providing our students to see one of the most pivotal moments in American history.”
“‘SELMA’ is such an important film for young people to see now in the wake of Ferguson, Cleveland and New York. The struggle for justice is a long one, and Selma is history that a new generation needs to know more fully,” said Lomax. “So, I felt it was imperative to join with others around the country who were raising funds so middle and high school students can see the film, learn their history and be inspired to make the civil rights and justice lifelong pursuits.”
· Robert F. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, in Austin
“It is of the utmost importance to expose our young people to the courage, compassion and integrity that is brought to life in the film ‘SELMA.’ It illuminates a period of American history that is very relevant today,” said Smith. “Dr. King has been a source of inspiration for me and for many people of all races and ethnicities. I consider this not just an opportunity, but a responsibility, to bring his message and his dream to the students of Austin.”
· Sylvia Brown, Board Member, John Hopkins Healthcare Advisory Board, in Baltimore
“Baltimore is proud to be a part of this wonderful effort. We hope that young audiences find inspiration and encouragement in the film and in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s story,” said Brown.
· Grant Hill, former NBA player; Harold Mills, Chief Executive Officer, ZeroChaos; Clarence Otis, retired Chairman & CEO, Darden Restaurants; and Ron Williams, former Chairman & CEO of Aetna in Central Florida/Orlando
“The story of Dr. King’s historic journey in Alabama is one that students all over the country should know intimately,” said Otis. “It’s an honor to provide the opportunity for students in Central Florida to see Ava DuVernay’s beautiful film.”
· Dr. Laurence C. Morse, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Fairview Capital Partners, Inc., in Connecticut
“I am privileged to have been able to join with an extraordinary group of concerned, civic- minded individuals in the State of Connecticut to provide an opportunity for a number of young people who might not otherwise have been able to do so, to see and experience this deeply moving, engaging film about a critically important period in our nation's recent history, and in the continuing evolution of our democracy,” said Morse.
· Faye Alexander Nelson, President, DTE Energy Foundation; Tonya Allen, President & CEO, The Skillman Foundation; Lisa Dancsok, Vice President, Quicken Loans; Mariam C. Noland, President, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan; Vivian R. Pickard, President, General Motors Foundation; Laura Trudeau, Managing Director, Detroit, Kresge Foundation; and Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation in Detroit
“Detroit students will have the opportunity to join with students across the country to view ‘SELMA’ thanks to the generosity of a group of national and local foundations and corporations. We are pleased to help coordinate the generous commitments of the DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Kresge Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, and Quicken Loans,” said Noland.
· T. Warren Jackson, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer, DIRECTV, and Debra Martin Chase, CEO, Martin Chase Productions, in Los Angeles
“It’s important that the civil rights struggle depicted in ‘SELMA’ reach as many young people as possible so that the enduring lessons of the civil rights movement can be harnessed to inspire them to transform their lives and communities. We appreciate the support of the California Endowment, and have enlisted the Constitutional Rights Foundation to work with the schools in creating a broader educational program to insure just that,” said Jackson.
“As a filmmaker, I recognize the transformative power of film; that’s why the overwhelming response to the ‘SELMA’ initiative here in Los Angeles and across the nation is so heartening. It’s a reminder of the importance of voting and civics engagement and demonstrates how anything can be accomplished through creativity and collective effort,” said Martin Chase.
· Gayle S. Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Electronic Vaulting Services, in Memphis
“On behalf of former Congressman Harold Ford, Jr., and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr., we are thrilled to provide 10,000 7th, 8th and 9th grade Memphis students the gift of this film and what history has to teach us,” said Rose. “We thank Paramount Pictures, Malco Theaters, and many generous donors who made this happen in a matter of days. This is a testament to the charitable nature of our people.”
· Ira D. Hall, resident of Miami Beach, FL, and Dr. Sherrlyn Scott, Supervisor, Department of Social Sciences Miami-Dade County Public Schools, in Miami
“Over 5,500 Miami Dade and Ft. Lauderdale students can now see for free ‘SELMA,’ the movie that so powerfully portrays the courage, tenacity, humanity and moral strength of Alabama citizens, combined with the extraordinary brilliance and moral conviction of key civil rights and national leaders. That unstoppable coalition jointly fought for and won the rights of African Americans to vote! It is wonderful that students today can feel and sense this history so strikingly brought to life in ‘SELMA,’” said Hall.
“We are thankful to our contributors in Miami who quickly organized to support such a worthy endeavor,” said Scott. “Their generosity will make a lasting impact on the students in our community.”
· Alden McDonald, President, Liberty Bank, and Neill Wright, First Tuskegee Bank President, in Montgomery
“This effort is an integral part of our corporate philosophy of linking our heritage to our vision of true equality for all the people we serve,” said McDonald.
“In as much as Montgomery is part of the journey we took as a people to gain voting rights in the 1960s, we have joined with other business leaders and concerned citizens to provide free access to the ‘SELMA’ film for local students. We believe that we continue to make the historical connections for this generation to ‘keep the dream’ of true equality alive and well,” said Wright.
· Dr. Eugene Flood, Jr., EVP and President of Diversified Financial Services, TIAA-CREF, in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill
“We are pleased to support this unprecedented program for North Carolina students to be able to see this remarkable film,” said Flood.
· Rev. Starsky Wilson, President & CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, in St. Louis
“It is important that St. Louis students are informed about this moment in history its connections to the challenges they face today,” said Rev. Wilson. “We are grateful for Darren Walker, the Ford Foundation and African American leaders joining us in this effort. We believe this experience will nurture civic engagement among young people and give them hope that systemic change is possible through cooperative, intentional, and well-planned efforts.”
These business leaders are following the lead of those in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, Washington D.C. and Westchester.
“This was an important opportunity to educate our children about the heroes of the civil rights movement and keep an important legacy intact. I am proud that our community seized the moment,” said Fletcher “Flash” Wiley, Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, who helped to organize the efforts in Boston.
The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.
Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, which is distributing “SELMA,” is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S. For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets
The students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last.
To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.
Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” is nominated for Academy Awards® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Song for “Glory” and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”
“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
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12 MORE CITIES JOIN THE MOVEMENT
“SELMA” IS NOMINATED FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD® FOR BEST PICTURE AND BEST ORIGINAL SONG FOR “GLORY” BY COMMON & JOHN LEGEND
An additional 12 locations have joined the growing movement lead by African-American business leaders to raise funds for students across the country to see the Academy Award®-nominated film “SELMA,” expanding the first-of-its-kind campaign to 25 locations nationwide.
Due to the generous contributions by so many of the country’s most prominent African-American business leaders, more than 275,000 middle and high school students across the U.S. will experience the critically acclaimed film for free at participating theaters while supplies last.
The new locations joining the movement are Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Central Florida/Orlando, Connecticut, Detroit, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Montgomery, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and St. Louis.
“Paramount Pictures is extremely proud of this film, which is so clearly resonating with audiences young and old,” said Megan Colligan, President, Worldwide Distribution and Marketing, Paramount Pictures. “It’s a testament to the extraordinary talents of Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and the entire cast and crew that ‘SELMA’ is being celebrated by communities all over the country.”
The business leaders who are leading the efforts in the new locations are:
· Dr. Meria Carstarphen, Superintendents, Atlanta Public Schools; Dr. Michael Lomax, President & CEO, United Negro College Fund; Hala Moddelmog, President & CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, President, Morehouse College, in Atlanta
“This movie is an educational moment for more than 10,000 Atlanta Public Schools students who we are inviting to see this film. I am proud and humbled by the immediate outpouring of support from our Atlanta community who has joined this growing national movement,” said Meria J. Carstarphen, superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools and Selma, Alabama native. “Our Atlanta education partners believe in our students, and I am grateful for the opportunity they are providing our students to see one of the most pivotal moments in American history.”
“‘SELMA’ is such an important film for young people to see now in the wake of Ferguson, Cleveland and New York. The struggle for justice is a long one, and Selma is history that a new generation needs to know more fully,” said Lomax. “So, I felt it was imperative to join with others around the country who were raising funds so middle and high school students can see the film, learn their history and be inspired to make the civil rights and justice lifelong pursuits.”
· Robert F. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, in Austin
“It is of the utmost importance to expose our young people to the courage, compassion and integrity that is brought to life in the film ‘SELMA.’ It illuminates a period of American history that is very relevant today,” said Smith. “Dr. King has been a source of inspiration for me and for many people of all races and ethnicities. I consider this not just an opportunity, but a responsibility, to bring his message and his dream to the students of Austin.”
· Sylvia Brown, Board Member, John Hopkins Healthcare Advisory Board, in Baltimore
“Baltimore is proud to be a part of this wonderful effort. We hope that young audiences find inspiration and encouragement in the film and in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s story,” said Brown.
· Grant Hill, former NBA player; Harold Mills, Chief Executive Officer, ZeroChaos; Clarence Otis, retired Chairman & CEO, Darden Restaurants; and Ron Williams, former Chairman & CEO of Aetna in Central Florida/Orlando
“The story of Dr. King’s historic journey in Alabama is one that students all over the country should know intimately,” said Otis. “It’s an honor to provide the opportunity for students in Central Florida to see Ava DuVernay’s beautiful film.”
· Dr. Laurence C. Morse, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Fairview Capital Partners, Inc., in Connecticut
“I am privileged to have been able to join with an extraordinary group of concerned, civic- minded individuals in the State of Connecticut to provide an opportunity for a number of young people who might not otherwise have been able to do so, to see and experience this deeply moving, engaging film about a critically important period in our nation's recent history, and in the continuing evolution of our democracy,” said Morse.
· Faye Alexander Nelson, President, DTE Energy Foundation; Tonya Allen, President & CEO, The Skillman Foundation; Lisa Dancsok, Vice President, Quicken Loans; Mariam C. Noland, President, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan; Vivian R. Pickard, President, General Motors Foundation; Laura Trudeau, Managing Director, Detroit, Kresge Foundation; and Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation in Detroit
“Detroit students will have the opportunity to join with students across the country to view ‘SELMA’ thanks to the generosity of a group of national and local foundations and corporations. We are pleased to help coordinate the generous commitments of the DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Kresge Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, and Quicken Loans,” said Noland.
· T. Warren Jackson, Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer, DIRECTV, and Debra Martin Chase, CEO, Martin Chase Productions, in Los Angeles
“It’s important that the civil rights struggle depicted in ‘SELMA’ reach as many young people as possible so that the enduring lessons of the civil rights movement can be harnessed to inspire them to transform their lives and communities. We appreciate the support of the California Endowment, and have enlisted the Constitutional Rights Foundation to work with the schools in creating a broader educational program to insure just that,” said Jackson.
“As a filmmaker, I recognize the transformative power of film; that’s why the overwhelming response to the ‘SELMA’ initiative here in Los Angeles and across the nation is so heartening. It’s a reminder of the importance of voting and civics engagement and demonstrates how anything can be accomplished through creativity and collective effort,” said Martin Chase.
· Gayle S. Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Electronic Vaulting Services, in Memphis
“On behalf of former Congressman Harold Ford, Jr., and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Jr., we are thrilled to provide 10,000 7th, 8th and 9th grade Memphis students the gift of this film and what history has to teach us,” said Rose. “We thank Paramount Pictures, Malco Theaters, and many generous donors who made this happen in a matter of days. This is a testament to the charitable nature of our people.”
· Ira D. Hall, resident of Miami Beach, FL, and Dr. Sherrlyn Scott, Supervisor, Department of Social Sciences Miami-Dade County Public Schools, in Miami
“Over 5,500 Miami Dade and Ft. Lauderdale students can now see for free ‘SELMA,’ the movie that so powerfully portrays the courage, tenacity, humanity and moral strength of Alabama citizens, combined with the extraordinary brilliance and moral conviction of key civil rights and national leaders. That unstoppable coalition jointly fought for and won the rights of African Americans to vote! It is wonderful that students today can feel and sense this history so strikingly brought to life in ‘SELMA,’” said Hall.
“We are thankful to our contributors in Miami who quickly organized to support such a worthy endeavor,” said Scott. “Their generosity will make a lasting impact on the students in our community.”
· Alden McDonald, President, Liberty Bank, and Neill Wright, First Tuskegee Bank President, in Montgomery
“This effort is an integral part of our corporate philosophy of linking our heritage to our vision of true equality for all the people we serve,” said McDonald.
“In as much as Montgomery is part of the journey we took as a people to gain voting rights in the 1960s, we have joined with other business leaders and concerned citizens to provide free access to the ‘SELMA’ film for local students. We believe that we continue to make the historical connections for this generation to ‘keep the dream’ of true equality alive and well,” said Wright.
· Dr. Eugene Flood, Jr., EVP and President of Diversified Financial Services, TIAA-CREF, in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill
“We are pleased to support this unprecedented program for North Carolina students to be able to see this remarkable film,” said Flood.
· Rev. Starsky Wilson, President & CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, in St. Louis
“It is important that St. Louis students are informed about this moment in history its connections to the challenges they face today,” said Rev. Wilson. “We are grateful for Darren Walker, the Ford Foundation and African American leaders joining us in this effort. We believe this experience will nurture civic engagement among young people and give them hope that systemic change is possible through cooperative, intentional, and well-planned efforts.”
These business leaders are following the lead of those in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sarasota, FL, Washington D.C. and Westchester.
“This was an important opportunity to educate our children about the heroes of the civil rights movement and keep an important legacy intact. I am proud that our community seized the moment,” said Fletcher “Flash” Wiley, Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, who helped to organize the efforts in Boston.
The nationwide efforts are inspired by the success of the program in New York City, in which 27 African-American business leaders created a fund for 27,000 of the city’s 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to see the film for free. Due to the overwhelming demand, the New York City effort sold out in the very first weekend and was expanded to 75,000 tickets.
Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, which is distributing “SELMA,” is coordinating the programs with participating theaters in the U.S. For a list of participating theaters in select cities offering free admission to students during this program and for information on group sales, visit www.SelmaMovie.com/studenttickets
The students who present a current student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater will receive free admission while tickets last.
To help get the word out about the program, tweet using the hashtag #SelmaForStudents.
Directed by DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., “SELMA” is nominated for Academy Awards® for Best Picture and Best Original Song for “Glory” by Common & John Legend. The film earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Song for “Glory” and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
Paramount Pictures, Pathé, and Harpo Films present “SELMA.” Produced by Christian Colson, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Oprah Winfrey, the film is executive produced by Brad Pitt, Cameron McCracken, Diarmuid McKeown, Nik Bower, Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes and Nan Morales. The film is written by Paul Webb. “SELMA” is directed by Ava DuVernay.
“SELMA” is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s “SELMA” tells the story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history. The film also stars Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, with Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey as “Annie Lee Cooper.”
“SELMA” is playing in theaters nationwide. To learn more about the film, go to http://www.selmamovie.com
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
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