[January 16, 2015] |
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275,000 Students Receive Free Tickets to Academy Award®-Nominated "SELMA"
An additional 12 locations have joined the growing movement led 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 (News - Alert) 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:
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Dr. Meria Carstarphen, Superintendent, 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
civil rights and justice lifelong pursuits."
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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."
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Sylvia Brown, Board Member, Johns 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.
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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."
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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.
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Faye Alexander Nelson, President, DTE Energy Foundation; Tonya Allen,
President & CEO, The Skillman Foundation; Lisa Dancsok, Vice
President, Quicken Loans; Mariam C. Noland, Pesident, Community
Foundation for Southeast Michigan; Vivian R. Pickard, President,
General Motors (News - Alert) 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.
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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 civic
engagement and demonstrates how anything can be accomplished through
creativity and collective effort," said Martin Chase.
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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."
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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."
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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.
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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.
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Rev. Starsky Wilson, President & CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, in
St. Louis
"It is important that students are aware of this
moment in history and make connections between the struggles of
earlier generations and the challenges facing today's youth," said
Rev. Starsky. "We are grateful to the Ford Foundation and other
funders for joining us in this effort. We hope that this film will
encourage civic engagement among young people and demonstrate to them
that systemic change is possible through cooperative, intentional, and
well-planned efforts."
These African-American 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 (News - Alert) 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 (News - Alert)), 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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