Dare Not Walk Alone Now on DVD
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WHAT: An award-winning feature-length documentary about civil rights in America. Written, produced, and directed by Jeremy Dean.
WHERE: Your favorite video retailer or Netflix.
WHEN: November 11, 2008.
PRESS RELEASE
Powerful Civil Rights Film Now On DVD
Brooklyn, New York, November 11, 2008 -- Dare Not Walk Alone, a feature-length documentary about little-known events in America's civil rights struggle, is now available on DVD at Walmart and other stores. The film clearly illustrates what President-elect Obama has called "the gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time." While documenting Dr. King's heroic campaign to end segregation, the film also paints a disturbing portrait of lingering inequality, some 40 years later, in one community where that campaign was waged.
The Dare Not Walk Alone trailer can be seen at the film's web site: http://darenotwalkalone.com.
Created by Brooklyn-based artist and director, Jeremy Dean, Dare Not Walk Alone has been hailed by critics as "a powerhouse of a picture" and "important filmmaking." However, making the film was an uphill battle according to executive producer Stephen Cobb.
"The director insisted the film go beyond documenting the bravery and brilliance of Dr. King's victorious strategy of non-violence to explore the aftermath of that victory," said Cobb. "But a lot of people thought this approach was too radical for a mainstream audience."
Yet this is one small budget independent documentary that beat the odds and achieved DVD distribution through major stores like Walmart, Target, FYE, Movies Unlimited, and Amazon.com. The film's distributor is Indican Pictures.
"When Indican told us Walmart ordered DVDs," says Dean, "We were thrilled, but also stunned. That's almost impossible when you're an indie project with no star backing."
Although the DVD is not on the shelves in every Walmart yet, the retail giant is shipping from Walmart.com, according to Cobb.
"Our hats are off to both Walmart and Indican," said Cobb. "We're delighted with Indican because they have moved us closer to our goal of giving everyone in America a chance to see this film."
The DVD features interviews with Ambassador Andrew Young and the late James Brock, owner of the motel in St. Augustine, Florida, where Dr. King was arrested. There is also an interview with Dean who is currently on a campus tour, most recently appearing at Notre Dame University's WorldView Film Series.
About Dare Not Walk Alone
Featuring rare archival footage, the film also contains recent interviews with participants in the campaign to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The project began in 2003 when director Dean was still in his twenties. After post-production work at Atlanta-based Crawford Communications, the final cut debuted in 2007 and was quickly signed for distribution by Indican Pictures. Theatrical screenings in New York, Los Angeles, and Portland garnered praise from critics:
"Powerful slice of roiling American history."
Los Angeles Times
"Has great potential to do real good in the world."
Boxoffice.com
"Minutely attuned to disparities of class and race...a triumph of outrage and empathy."
Willamette Week
"Deserves to be seen"
New York Times
"Packs a punch."
Village Voice
Contact:
Jeremy Dean, writer and director
Stephen Cobb, executive producer
email: info@dnwa.info
Web Site: http://darenotwalkalone.com
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This movie both reflects and illuminates what Barack Obama is talking about today, the injustice, the anger, the legacy of defeat, but also the new signs of fresh hope, an historic opportunity for dialogue that we must not pass up.
"A TRIUMPH OF OUTRAGE AND EMPATHY"
-- Aaron Mesh, Willamette Week
Set to a soundtrack that flows from gospel to hip hop, the film places the heroic sacrifices of the past in the context of present day struggles in a community that epitomizes what Barack Obama has called "the gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time."
Dare Not Walk Alone mixes rare news footage from 1964 with present day testimony to document the untold story of a war of wills and ideals waged in the Florida where, in the words of Dr. King "the negroes of St. Augustine and their allies in the white community" determined to march the streets of the city "until the walls of segregation come crumbling down." In doing so they risked their lives and brought about the passage of the first civil rights act.
BRAVE FILMMAKING
-- San Jose Mercury News
A POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT FILM
-- Orlando Weekly
"A POWERHOUSE OF A PICTURE"
-- Aaron Mesh, Willamette Week
The most gritty version of civil rights history I've ever seen.
-- Peter Miller, Co-producer Ken Burns' Jazz
[For interviews, photos, media enquiries please email info@dnwa.info]
Perhaps it's not surprising that some of the earliest and best coverage of the film has come from America's Alternative Newsweeklies, starting with FolioWeekly in Jacksonville, Florida. Their first story on the film appeared in January of 2006, ahead of the very first public screening.
Click on the cover to read/download the article (Warning: it is a large, 3.5 megabyte, Adobe Acrobat .pdf file.)
FolioWeekly also did a follow-up interview with the film's director, Jeremy Dean, which you can read here. At the Deep Focus Film Festival in Columbus, Ohio, sponsored by the local alternative weekly Alive!, the Audience Award went to Dare Not Walk Alone which beat a strong field of more commercial contenders. More recently the film was reviewed in the Willamette Week which is Portland Oregon's Pulitzer-winning alternative weekly. There has also been coverage in Spero News Article, Celebrating Children, Thug Life Army, Provocate.org, Emanuel Levy's Film Reviews, B-Side, Majority Mag, and The Spartan Daily Review.You can read more quotes here.
Right from the start, Dare Not Walk Alone has been a grassroots effort, an "out-of-nowhere" movie with no big name sponsors or corporate backers that has finally made it to onto DVD in mainstream stores like Walmart.
And the film now has a serious chance to become a serious success story thanks to a whole bunch of 'ordinary people' getting involved (hey, we know you're not ordinary--but you know that's what the media is going to say).
Right now there are some great ways to help this film get the attention it deserves (apart from buying the DVD).
1. Put DNWA in your Netflix queue.
2. Rate and review the film at Amazon.com.
3. Rate and review the film at IMDB.
4. Rate and review the film at Rotten Tomatoes.
5. Write about the film on your blog.
6. Follow the film on Twitter.
7. Twitter your friends about the film.
THANKS!
The first night that the film played in St. Augustine, over 1200 people turned out to see it. After a strong response at college and high school screenings up and down Florida, the film was entered into a series of festivals across the country, often earning standing ovations.
After a strong showing at the big Cinequest festival in San José, the film was approached by numerous distributors. The film makers were encouraged by support from one of the most respected independent distributors, THINKFilm, which presented the movie at numerous festivals, where it continued to garner critical acclaim.
After winning the audience award at a film festival in Columbus, Ohio, the director and producers felt there was a growing appetite for a documentary that takes a fresh look at the sensitive issues surrounding race and equality in America. Deciding that the film had the potential to be shown in cinemas across America before going to DVD and television, the film makers sought a theatrical distribution deal.
Last Fall they signed with an independent distributor that passionately supports their goal: Indican Pictures. Talking about the deal, director Jeremy Dean said "We went with Indican because Shaun and Randy really 'get' what Dare Not Walk Alone is about and believe, as I do, that it's a film many Americans will want to see, particularly at this time, when open and honest dialogue about race in America is finally starting to happen."
According to executive producer Stephen Cobb, who helped several technology startups find market success before getting involved with the film, "In movies as in business, success is all about passion for the product. We felt that passion at Indican, which is developing an impressive track record for spotting talent and trends and signing films ahead of the curve."
These reviews appeared when Dare Not Walk Alone played in Los Angeles a few months ago. If you are a published film critic who writes DVD reviews you can request a screener by emailing: info at dnwa dot info.
Brent Simon, Los Angeles City Beat
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times
Eric Monder, Film Journal International
"An important tool for showing the bravery of those who struggled for equality during the civil rights movement ... [this film] goes far beyond past history and exposes issues that we face everyday in the continued struggle for equality, especially when it comes to the health and education of all our children."
--
Arne Duncan, CEO,
Chicago Public Schools
The following are from post-screening comment cards collected at festivals across the country:
"This is a powerful film! To be reminded of the prices so many paid, and also challenged by what is still to be done, has been an overwhelming experience."
"Absolutely incredible. Really surfaced a lot of issues that are in desperate need of consideration. Extremely thought provoking."
"Amazing, moving, and about time! Thank you!"
"This documentary is long overdue. Bravo!"
"Educational and amazing." "Excellent documentary!"
"Very powerful!" "Outstanding! Everyone needs to see this!"
"I am inspired and moved!!" "Heart wrenching"
"Very moving. I learned a lot and want to see it again."
"Thank you so much. You have opened my heart and my mind to this problem."
"This film will open lots of eyes and hearts--including mine--to this problem."
"Long overdue. Genius. Top notch and done with love. Life changing and much needed. Hats off to Jeremy Dean for conquering this tough issue."
"Awesome! Incredible. Thank you so much for devoting your life to shed light for others."
"So powerful and moving; an experience everyone should have."
"Great way for students, adults, to connect and learn."
"You hit a lot of essential points. The film will really raise awareness and I commend all who worked on the film and hope that there is more we can do as a community to change."