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
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
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:
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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.
Paramount Pictures Corporation
Ashley Bodul, 323-956-7823
ashley_bodul@paramount.com
Source: Paramount Pictures Corporation
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