anni
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Post by anni on Apr 29, 2014 11:13:11 GMT -8
This should be huge. We want everyone to have plenty of time, clear your calendar and join us for what should be an enlightening evening from start to finish. I'm thinking Jeanne has more facts about the folks joining us from far and wide. Here's the poster:
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Post by Jeanne on Apr 29, 2014 16:55:59 GMT -8
You beat me to the punch, anni. I just logged on to post this and there it is. Thanks to you and your facebook sharing, we were able to connect with HIghest Common Denominator, a movie production company that has been making documentaries inside Angola prison in Louisiana for several years. "The Farm" won an award at Sundance when it was shown there. This one follows a drama club within the prison that spends two years preparing a production of the story of Jesus.
Edmond and I had a chance to see it and we agree that it is very powerful. So we have been drumming up partners to present with. Besides RAPP and MPV, we have Progressive Christians Uniting and Learning Works!, a charter school in Pasadena that gathers kids from the streets and motivates them to graduate. The director of that school, Mikala Rahn is going to set up a discussion after the film.
I hope you all can come and invite others, too.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on May 11, 2014 23:00:09 GMT -8
What a wonderful trailer. The film's production company has a website devoted to "Cast the First Stone," which promotes the screening at Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church on every page. Place your cursor on the May 23 box and see our event poster pop up: castthefirststone-themovie.com/ |
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Post by Jeanne on May 14, 2014 5:45:26 GMT -8
The screening will be here before we know it. It's hard to say exactly how many will be there, but I think it will be very well attended. 100 comes to mind...If anyone would like to help out by bringing some snacks, we'd be grateful.
We will open the doors at 7, so people can mingle before the 7:30 start. After the film, there will be a panel downstairs along with coffee and refreshments.There will be three people on the panel. Rev.Timothy Murphy, director of Progressive Christians Uniting is a brilliant, young voice for social justice. David Deniger is the executive producer of the film. He has made many documentaries and believes in using the power of media to bring out the best in people, hence the name Highest Common Denominator Media. Brian Biery is a local community organizer Flintridge Center which is working to make opportunities for low income residents of Altadena and north Pasadena.
The movie is a very inspiring account of how some people are making the most of life sentences in prison. We want to go a little beyond that and question the systems that are leading to mass incarceration.
Hope to see you there.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on May 19, 2014 23:00:19 GMT -8
Thank you for that post, Jeanne. Now here is the excellent e-mail that you sent out, with links to the sites of the other sponsors: Read and Practice Peacemaking, also known as RAPP, a reading and activism group from Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church, will be presenting a powerful, yet to be released film on Friday, May 23rd at 7:30 PM in the church's Sanctuary at 2700 Montrose Ave. in Montrose, CA 91020.www.cvumc.org/#/welcomeCast The First Stone is produced by Highest Common Denominator, award winning documentary makers. It shows a drama club in a high security prison in Louisiana as they prepare and perform a play on the life of Jesus.castthefirststone-themovie.com/We think that you will be moved, touched and inspired by the story and the transformation that it brings about in the actors. We hope that you will want to learn more about our justice system and our brothers and sisters who are directly effected by it. So after the filming, Progressive Christians Uniting will be participating in a discussion. www.progressivechristiansuniting.org/PCU/Progressive_Christians_Uniting.htmlAlso contributing will be the Learning Works Charter School in Pasadena, dedicated to educating and graduating students who have not thrived in mainstream schools.www.publicworksinc.org/lw/Another sponsor is Montrose Peace Vigil, standing for peace and doing whatever they can to help make peace happen.
We hope that you will come see the movie. Meet some neighbors near and afar. See how some downtrodden outcasts find healing, dignity and community against all odds. Discover where you fit in with them in the Beloved Community. |
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anni
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Post by anni on May 21, 2014 13:55:00 GMT -8
I'm not sure what to bring for after snack...I'm thinking something savory??? Cheeses with assorted crackers? My favorite TJ dried orange slices, too?
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Post by Jeanne on May 22, 2014 5:46:06 GMT -8
I'm not sure what to bring for after snack...I'm thinking something savory??? Cheeses with assorted crackers? My favorite TJ dried orange slices, too? That would be lovely, anni. We're looking for finger food, things they can pop on a plate and then sit down and eat during the panel discussion. I have budgeted only 8 minutes for the transition from upstairs to downstairs table and into seats with snacks. |
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Post by Brian on May 25, 2014 23:30:57 GMT -8
 Prisoner Bobby Wallace portrayed Jesus in the documentary, "Cast the First Stone."Friday evening’s screening at Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church was the California premiere of “Cast the First Stone.” Executive producer David Deniger came from Dallas to introduce the film and participate in the panel discussion afterwards. At least four dozen people in the audience heard him explain what keeps drawing him back to Angola Prison in Louisiana to make documentaries, and soon we saw for ourselves. I was struck by the stellar qualities of all of the individuals interviewed on camera, the director and the other inmates playing the central characters. And not only by their talent, but also by the clarity of their awareness and vision. Most of them were serving life sentences, some for decades already. With inmates from the Louisiana Correctional Institution for Women, they rehearsed the Passion Play for two years, each prisoner finding his or her own redemption in the production and the messages from the Gospel. Many are Muslims. I'm no Christian, but now I'd love to see the two-hour cut Deniger said he could make of just the play itself. Donations were collected to help the production company, Highest Common Denominator, fund a film studio at Angola. Much was said at the panel discussion that will result in further action for the many local Californians released from prison and, I hope, more posts here. Please mark your calendar for Friday, June 13, and watch this message board for a new thread about the fifth monthly RAPP movie night. |
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Post by anni on Jun 1, 2014 14:28:22 GMT -8
Greetings Friends,
RAPP (Read And Practice Peacemaking) thanks everyone who came to see "Cast The First Stone" on May 23rd at Crescenta Valley UMC. HCD Media was pleased with the turnout and grateful for the contributions to their fund to equip a film studio inside Angola Prison. Thanks to Rev. Timothy Murphy and Brian Biery for sharing their knowledge and perspectives clearly during the panel discussion. Several people have mentioned to me that they now know more about injustice in our justice system and reintegration issues than they did before.
Peace,
Jeanne Lavieri
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