First-of-Its-Kind Effort Will Allow Nearly 500 P-Tech Students to See
the Film for Free
Selma for Students Tickets in Boston, Detroit, New York and Northern
New Jersey Are Sold Out
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Paramount Pictures today announced that Google will sponsor a screening
of the Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe-winning film "SELMA"
for students, teachers and administrators at Pathways in Technology
Early College High School (P-TECH) at BAM Rose Cinemas on Friday,
January 23rd.
The sponsorship marks the first time since the inception of the
nationwide Selma for Students program that a company has provided the
funds for an entire school to see the film. Nearly 500 students and
staff at the STEM high school in Brooklyn will experience the film due
to the contributions of Google and the support of software company Infor
and Paramount Pictures.
"As the Founding Principal of P-TECH and as a proud Morehouse College
graduate, I am thrilled that our most famous alum, Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. is at the center of the film ‘Selma,' and I commend P-TECH
teacher Zakiyyah Ali for her efforts in helping to make the ‘Selma'
experience a reality," said Rashid Ferrod Davis, Founding Principal
(P-TECH). "We are grateful for the generosity of Google, Paramount
Pictures and the others who are making it possible for our entire
student population, faculty and staff to see ‘Selma.' Our Brooklyn
students are pioneering a movement and the collective experience of
seeing the film will be powerful and empowering for all of us."
"It is imperative for me to keep alive the stories about how
African-Americans have dealt with struggle and resistance to injustice.
It is equally important for my students to see that activism is selfless
work. As our students live in an age of activism, ‘SELMA' and the
digital technology used to make the film provide them with a visual
blueprint on how generational cooperation works for the good of all
people. At one point in time, our pioneers could only record their
histories through griots with limited reach. Today, technology allows
these heroic stories to be told in ways in which the reach is nearly
endless," said P-TECH history teacher Zakiyyah Ali, whose desire to
bring "SELMA" to her students led to the partnership with Google.
Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) is a new type
of school (grades 9 through 14) that brings together the best elements
of high school, college (New York City College of Technology) and the
professional world (IBM). P-TECH enables students to begin their college
and professional lives more quickly and with more support than the
typical school-to-work pathway. Graduates of P-TECH have the opportunity
to earn an associate in applied science degree and leave the school with
the skills and knowledge they need in order to continue their studies or
step seamlessly into competitive jobs in the Information Technology (IT)
industry.
President Obama, Secretary Duncan and other dignitaries visited P-TECH
in Fall 2013 in praise of its curriculum and model, which has been
replicated. P-TECH offers college-level courses in math and science and
offers students a high school diploma and an Associate's Degree in
computer systems or electromechanical engineering.
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.
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.
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
Ashley Bodul, 323-956-7823
ashley_bodul@paramount.com
Source: Paramount Pictures
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