For Immediate Release: September 10, 2007
ROCK and a HEART PLACE DEBUTS ON HOME VIDEO OCTOBER 16, 2007
Stirring Documentary of a Small Idea that Grew to an Inspirational Movement
New Jersey-based PASSION RIVER PRODUCTIONS announced today their plans to distribute ROCK AND A HEART PLACE, the award-winning documentary by Nancy Sabino and Michael Sodano.
WINNER BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY: GARDEN STATE FILM FESTIVAL OFFICIAL SELECTION: RED BANK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Each Christmas, 400 volunteers band together to give the greatest gift: joy to their corner of the world.
BACKSTORY: One Christmas in the early 1990's, Jersey Shore musician Tim McLoone was volunteering at a local soup kitchen. While dishing out food, it occurred to him " . . . .this is so quiet, so boring. What they need here is some music." In an effort to bring more than food to the homeless, elderly, disabled or generally overlooked parts of the population, Holiday Express was formed. With the song Nobody Ought to be Alone at Christmas as their mantra, the non-profit organization has grown into a 400+ volunteer army who mobilize practically every waking hour between Thanksgiving and Christmas to create free, festive musical holiday parties for the forgotten.
PRODUCERS' STATEMENT: "Growing up in the 70's, music has always played a role in our lives, so the opportunity to tell a story about musicians and the impact they have on others was really a draw," say Michael Sodano and Nancy Sabino. "With Holiday Express, music is the language that connects the people in this story. These volunteers effortlessly dance, hug, smile and sing their way into the lives of many who have so little. We wanted to show what they see and how they do it."
ROCK AND A HEART PLACE has a filmic, plot-driven feel. Following the events of 9/11, the film captures the drama created by lack of funding, scheduling difficulties, and loss of their operations warehouse as Christmas approaches and Holiday Express struggles to perform 50 shows in 30 days. The film was honored as Best Documentary at the Garden State Film Festival.
Scores of schools, corporations, youth groups and community associations have begun embracing and showing ROCK AND A HEART PLACE as a tool to motivate and inspire their own volunteer movements. The DVD includes a bonus - a 35 minute special edition of the feature film is included for use in schools, seminars, discussion groups and any organization promoting volunteerism. A study guide is available for download from the web site.
Since 1998, Passion River Films has been devoted to marketing, distributing, and representing unique independent films, foreign movies, documentaries, and special interest titles. Their award winning and festival favorite features have made it onto shelves of notable online and retail outlets such as Netflix, Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, and Blockbuster Video; as well as public and academic libraries nationwide. For more information, please visit www.PassionRiver.com and www.RockandaHeartPlace.com.
Contact: Michael Lee
Company: IDS PR
Ph: 732-429-1399
Email: mlee@idslive.com
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