Tomorrow is a big day for The Nobelity Project, the national theatrical launch of our film One Peace at a Time at Austin’s Arbor Cinema. This isn’t the end of the road I’ve been traveling for three years on this film. If we sell enough tickets in the next week, we’ll get a longer run in Austin, and the number of other cities we reach will grow. So this is a big step. And we can’t take it alone.
We have a lot of things going for us: A movie that thousands of people have already seen and come away saying it was inspiring to the max; film fest awards, and a national promotion partnership with Bono’s amazing advocacy group ONE.org, and a great trailer with music by Ben Harper
The film is jam-packed with ideas and solutions that are truly life-changing. It has thousands of beautiful kids that I filmed with in 20 countries on 5 continents. And the wisdom and insights of Muhammad Yunus, Desmond Tutu, Helene Gayle and the great Willie Nelson as you’ve never seen him before.
A week before Barack Obama and Steve Chu go to Copenhagen to make America’s first pledge to cut carbon emissions, we’re releasing a film in which Steve Chu – many months before he was named Secretary of Energy – discusses what he’d do if he were the “Energy King”.
Shortly before Barack Obama receives a Nobel Peace Prize, that was more than a little controversial, we’re releasing a film in which I propose – from the steps of the Nobel Museum in Oslo – that it’s time that the children of the world receive the Peace Prize. Who suffers the most under the bombs? Who offers more reason to put an end to this madness?
One Peace at a Time has a U.S. Congressman – the great Lloyd Doggett – talking frankly about the staggering sums America spends on defense, and how citizens can really make themselves heard on Capitol Hill. And it has a killer soundtrack with music by Cat Stevens, Ben Harper, Bob Dylan, The Band, Bob Schneider, Jack Johnson, Eric Johnson and many more.
We’re also opening in Austin where our last film, Nobelity, was seen in theaters by considerably more than ten thousand people (and that’s a lot of tickets for a doc). We also have a fantastic group of non-profit promotion partners who are working to help turn out a crowd each evening.
And we have what should be the ultimate draw for any movie about something real, vital and relevant to all our lives. That final factor is that mainstream America, educated America, politically active America and a whole lot of other segments all complain that there’s nothing at theaters they want to see. “Too many vampire/action/horror/bloody or just plain stupid movies and nothing for us.”
But when good movies do come along that ARE for you – most people who would love them don’t choose to go. We all lead such busy lives. Plus most of those crappy studio movies have staggering advertising budgets and fabulous looking movie stars. A totally independent film can’t compete on that level at all, which is why our ad budget is zero.
Which is why I’m writing this blog.
So here’s the pitch. If it was possible for the world as a whole – that’s you, me and everyone else – to provide basic rights to every child, in every country, on every continent. If the billion people who don’t have clean water could have it. If every child could have basic healthcare, could receive an education, could maturate into a world that offered true opportunity. If the world could be more peaceful, more productive, and much more sustainable than the track we’re on now… If all that was more than a pipe dream, wouldn’t you want to know?
If you’re in Austin, you have one week to see One Peace at a Time. Tickets to the Friday night opening parties at Manuel’s Arboretum Restaurant and the movie at The Arbor are on sale at www.nobelity.org. $50 for great food, great music with Kat Edmonson, and a great film about great possibilities.
The RainWater Court at Mahiga Hope High
And what do we do with the money we make from this fabulous event? We put every dime of it into building Mahiga Hope High School in Kenya.
If you want to see any of the 20 other screenings in the next week, tickets are for sale at the Arbor Cinema Box Office and Regal’s Online Ticket Link. I’ll be there to host the evening screenings and talk about the issues after the film.
If you’re a teacher, we’ll buy you a ticket to any matinee (thanks to The Dell Foundation and Bank of America for making this possible). This Saturday and Sunday those matinees are at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30. Just send an email to: Meli...@nobelity.org and tell her which screening, then bring your teacher i.d. to the theater.
If you’re not in Austin, send us an email, i...@nobelity.org, and say you want to see One Peace at a Time in your city. Or you can go to www.unityandpeace.org and book your own screening.
And wherever you live, we could use your help building Mahiga Hope High School. Watch the 1000 Voices for Hope video, fall in love with these kids and our dream to give them a real shot in life, then join the choir by making a donation. Reach out. Get involved. Get Smart. Change the world. What else is there?
Turk Pipkin The Nobelity project www.nobelity.org
All week! Show your movie ticket stub at Manuel’s Restaurant and they’ll donate 5% of your tab to help Build Mahiga Hope High School.
Here’s a quick rundown of each evening’s co-sponsors:
Friday, Dec 4 – Austin Film Society (Congressman Lloyd Doggett is our special guest for the 5:30 p.m. reception at Manuel’s)
Sat, Dec 5 – The ONE Campaign
Sun, Dec 6 – Austin’s interfaith alliance, AAIM
Mon, Dec 7 – Meals on Wheels
Tues, Dec 8 – Kiva.org and Results.org
Wed, Dec 9 – Charity Bash (9 p.m. party following the 7 p.m. screening)
