‘UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION’ DALLAS RED-CARPET PREMIERE SEPT. 6
September 4, 2018
WHAT
UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION sets a special pre-release screening for Metroplex-area media, prior to the red-carpet premiere. The film tells the inspiring and powerful story of Louis “Louie” Zamperini’s post-World War II struggle to find peace and forgiveness after his ruthless treatment as a Japanese prisoner of war. It picks up where the hit movie UNBROKEN ends, following the second half of Laura Hillenbrand’s New York Times best-selling book, Unbroken.
WHEN/WHERE
Thursday, Sept. 6.
Highland Park Village Theatre
32 Highland Park Village
Dallas, Texas 75205
SCHEDULE
1:30 p.m. — Press Junket Interviews & Press Screening Begins
5:30 p.m. — Red Carpet Begins
7:00 p.m. — Red Carpet Ends
SYNOPSIS
When the war ended, his battle began. Based on Laura Hillenbrand’s best-selling book, UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION begins where the film UNBROKEN ends, bringing to life the rest of Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini’s powerful real-life story of forgiveness, redemption and amazing grace.
RED CARPET INTERVIEWEES
- Will Graham—Billy Graham’s real-life grandson who portrays him in the film
- Luke Zamperini—Executive Producer and son of Louis Zamperini
- Harold Cronk—director; previous work includes GOD’S NOT DEAD 1 & 2
- Matt Baer—Producer of both the original UNBROKEN and the current
- Ms. Heather Fuller and students—Granbury, Texas, teacher who has created a curriculum in Freshman Social Studies about the UNBROKEN story
- Gianna Simone—portrays Sylvia Zamperini
- Bill Reeves—Executive Producer & President, The WTA Group
- Dave Mechem—Executive Producer & VP of Distribution Services, The WTA Group
- Brian Mitchell—Chief Operating Officer, The WTA Group
- Michael Scott—President & CEO of Pure Flix
- Glenn Ross, Executive Producer, Universal 1440
- Local pastors supporting the film
NEWS HOOKS
THIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED, STAND-ALONE FILM IS THE REST OF THE STORY
From the New York Times best-seller came the 2014 international-hit film UNBROKEN, fascinating viewers with Louie Zamperini’s extraordinary story of endurance through a troubled childhood to the 1936 Olympics, followed by his enrollment in the Army where he was shot down in the Pacific and then severely brutalized as a Japanese prisoner of war. Still, many longed for the rest of the UNBROKENstory, where Zamperini the war hero, broken by PTSD, found faith at a Billy Graham Crusade and eventually forgave his World War II tormentors.
WHO’S THAT PLAYING BILLY GRAHAM?
The “actor” playing Billy Graham in UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION is Will Graham—Billy Graham’s grandson. Taking a short break from work with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Will gracefully stepped into the role of his grandfather during the famous L.A. Crusade, a pivotal period in Billy Graham’s trajectory and in Louis Zamperini’s life. Graham’s extended family in Dallas will be in attendance.
RESOUNDING SUPPORT FROM ‘UNBROKEN’ AUTHOR LAURA HILLENBRAND
Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken spent more than four years on The New York Times best-seller list in hardcover, 15 weeks at No.1. The paperback debuted at No.1 and stayed there 20-plus weeks. The young reader edition also was a Times best-seller.
“Exploring the extraordinary post-war journey of Olympian and WWII POW Louis Zamperini, UNBROKEN: PATH TO REDEMPTION is a lyrical, profoundly moving film, a story told with integrity, honesty and compelling beauty,” Hillenbrand said.
LOUIE’S LIFE IN THE CLASSROOM–INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
Attending the red-carpet event will be Grandbury, Texas, ninth-grade teacher Heather Fuller and students. Heather was so moved by Louie Zamperini’s story as recounted in the book Unbroken, she developed a social studies curriculum around it. Now used in 40 schools in Texas and going nationwide, students follow Louie’s life journey and learn geography, history, humanities and more. At one point, students put tape on the classroom floor in the outline of a life raft like the one Louie survived in. As they take turns sitting in it, they write a letter to Louie. Tales of their own struggles pour out, and they write of how inspired they are to keep going! Talk to Heather Fuller about this extraordinary program.
PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION
Universal 1440 Entertainment, The WTA Group, Pure Flix
FEATURING
Samuel Hunt (Chicago P.D.) – Louis “Louie” Zamperini
Merritt Patterson (The Royals) – Cynthia Zamperini
Bobby Campo (THE FINAL DESTINATION) – Pete Zamperini
Vanessa Bell Calloway (WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT) – Lila Burkholder
David Sakurai (Iron Fist) – Watanabe / ‘The Bird’
Gary Cole (TALLADEGA NIGHTS. THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY) – Dr. George Bailey
Will Graham as his grandfather Billy Graham
For interviews, contact: Michael Conrad, Michael@Lovell-Fairchild.com, 214-616-0320
For press material, visit www.Lovell-Fairchild.com
Press Release
Media Tip Sheet
Suggested Interview Questions
About The WTA Group
The WTA Group is a leader in faith-based film marketing and financing, home entertainment representation and consumer product licensing. Founded in 2009, WTA has led the faith audience marketing campaigns for talented filmmaking clients including Stephen and Alex Kendrick (WAR ROOM and No. 1 New York Times best-seller The Love Dare), Sony/AFFIRM Films (MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN), Pure Flix Entertainment (GOD’S NOT DEAD), Compass Cinema (IS GENESIS HISTORY?) and The Christian Broadcasting Network (IN OUR HANDS: THE BATTLE FOR JERUSALEM). The company’s author and writer roster includes Charlie Daniels (Country Music Hall of Fame Member, Grand Ole Opry Member), Dr. Michael L. Brown (radio host and best-selling author) and Randy Alcorn (New York Times best-selling author). For more information, visit www.thewtagroup.com
About Universal 1440 Entertainment, LLC:
The Universal 1440 Entertainment banner develops and produces live-action and animated productions directly for distribution in all media worldwide. Universal 1440 Entertainment is an entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE – www.uphe.com). UPHE is a unit of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG). UFEG produces, acquires, markets and distributes filmed entertainment worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television and other distribution platforms, as well as consumer products, interactive gaming and live entertainment. The global division includes Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Brand Development, Fandango, DreamWorks Animation Film and Television and Awesomeness. UFEG is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
About Pure Flix
Founded in 2005, and led by partners Michael Scott, David A.R. White, Elizabeth Travis and Alysoun Wolfe, Pure Flix is the leading independent faith and family studio in the world. Its recent releases include: The Case for Christ, God’s Not Dead, God’s Not Dead 2, Do You Believe?, Woodlawn, A Question of Faith, and Same Kind of Different as Me.
With offices in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Pure Flix has produced, acquired, marketed and distributed over 100 faith and family-friendly films. Aligned with their vision to influence the global culture for Christ through media, Pure Flix is the industry leader in creating high-quality inspirational feature film content. The studio’s official website is Pureflixstudio.com. The company also features a leading streaming video on demand service, with thousands of movies, originals, TV shows and more emphasizing faith, family and fun. For more information, go to Pureflix.com.