“FREEDOM RINGS:
A 6-WEEK JOURNEY THROUGH FREEDOM THEATRE”

(Co-producer: Wendy Scott-Penson)

Distributor: Cinema Guild, New York.
(949) 722-7720

To purchase or rent a VHS:

http://cinemaguild.com

In Philadelphia’s long-successful, rigorous theater school, 6- and 7-year-olds enrolled in the summer drama workshop name themselves the Rosa Parks Freedom Fighters and stage her act of defiance. Self-discipline and self-confidence grow with the exhortation to “take your place,” an ethos reflected in its graduates’ phenomenal rates of high school completion and college enrollment. The school’s founder, instructors, graduates and parents elaborate on the program’s unique formula for strengthening young minds.

Running time: 29 minutes

BROADCASTS BY MAJOR PBS AFFILIATES

FESTIVALS / AWARDS

Prized Pieces International Film and Video Competition,  National Black Programmers’ Consortium
   Special Merit

Birmingham International Educational Film Festival
   Finalist

Selected: American Film Institute National Video Festival, Athens (Ohio) International Film and Video Festival, Three Rivers Arts Festival (Pittsburgh), Western Psychological Association conference

REVIEWS

“Brings back the vital presence of the late John Allen, founder of Freedom Theatre, articulating his inspiring credo.”
   Philadelphia Daily News

“Exuberant … viewers will relish the dedication and enthusiasm of both students and teachers. “
   Booklist / Audiovisual Media

“Recommended for public, school and college and university libraries serving users from junior high age to adult. It will enhance collections that include theatre, education and African-American studies. The comments about the children’s progress and the scenes of their behavior would be of special interest to educators.”
   Video Rating Guide for Libraries

“Atten...shun!”

“Bus driver, there’s a nigger in my seat!”

“People do fulfill prophecies.”

“It’s almost as if you’re going to Yale or Harvard when you come here.”

“I don’t want you moving a muscle while I’m talking.”

“That’s your assignment: What does respect mean?”

“He’s more cooperative at home. I can count to 10 and he’s moving.”

“I’m gonna push this student, but how much?”

“I want to commend you. You’ve been working on your attitude.”

“And our Student of the Week is Amissa Miller!”

“Everybody bow. Feels good, doesn’t it?”

USES FOR “Freedom Rings”

Junior high / high school: self-esteem/character development, theatre arts

College/university: African-American studies, theatre arts, education, child development, psychology, urban studies

“They don’t know how good they can be. They must surprise themselves.”