The Aegis Awards, one of the oldest and most respected video/film production contests in the United States has honored 'Maple Ave' body image awareness episode, 'More Than This' with its Drama Finalist Award in its most recent competition. The Aegis Awards are known for being the only competition that features true peer judging by fellow producers, directors, cameramen, editors, and other professionals who work in the video/film industry every day. To purchase the 'More Than This' DVD for your school or organization, please click here for more info.!

'More Than This' Wins Platinum Remi Award at 43rd WorldFest-Houston Int'l Fest!!

MAPLE AVE series honored for 5th year at prestigious WorldFest-Houston Film Festival

WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, one of the oldest and largest film and video competitions in the world awarded 'Maple Ave' body image awareness episode (touching on eating disorders & steroid abuse), 'More Than This' a prestigious Platinum Remi Award. This latest honor marks the fifth year WorldFest has chosen to recognize the award-winning teen drama series; in 2006, the bullying/Columbine-themed 'Ghosts in the Hall' won a Gold Remi, in 2007, the self-injury/domestic violence drama 'The Hurting' won a coveted Special Jury Award and, in 2008, the suicide awareness episode, 'P.S. I Miss You' was honored with a Silver Remi Award and in 2009 the cyberbullying awareness episode, 'Hating Tami won a Special Jury Award. "Fiercely Independent" WorldFest is one of the oldest film festivals in the world. Past WorldFest honorees have also included Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, The Cohen Brothers, Ang Lee, David Lynch, Spike Lee, Bryan De Palma & Oliver Stone, among many others. To purchase the 'More Than This' DVD for your school or organization, please click here for more info.!

New Substance Abuse Dramas for Teens & Parents

Preview the new films, 'Lindsay Says' & 'Between The Lines' created for notMYkid

Preview clips from the substance abuse awareness dramas, 'Lindsay Says'and 'Between The Lines' created for nationally recognized AZ-based organization, notMYkid. Both films tell the story of a 'good kid' who unwittingly gets caught up in the ugly spiral of substance abuse; 'Lindsay Says' is told from the teen's POV while 'Between The Lines' is told from the parent's. For more information, please contact notMYkid @ 602-652-0163 today!

'More Than This' DVD Released!

Living in the shadow of his older brother's past athletic glories, Donnie turns to steroid abuse to help him 'measure up' on the basketball court. Not long after, he finds his life slowly spinning out of control as his girlfriend, Angela tries in vain to help him kick his addiction. In the meantime, Angela is also struggling to convince her friends, Dara and Lucy, that, contrary to what they've read on the internet, anorexia and bulimia are not 'lifestyle choices' but, instead, serious medical disorders. Angela should know; she too once struggled with bulimia but now finds herself reluctant to share this potentially helpful fact with her two misguided friends. Donnie's Coach, Jack, is also struggling with intervening in what he suspects may be Donnie's steroid problem. However, once Jack's sister, Joy reminds him of her son's tragic loss to drugs, he is forced to reconsider his position. Focusing on body image issues via steroid abuse and eating disorders, 'More Than This' also strongly emphasizes the importance of doing right by others ~ even when it's personally difficult. (Click above picture to view the trailer). Click here for DVD purchase info.!

'Hating Tami' Wins Special Jury Award at 42nd WorldFest-Houston Int'l Fest!!

MAPLE AVE series honored for 4th year at prestigious WorldFest-Houston Film Festival

(Pictured above, from L to R;  Leah Pressman as 'Tami' & Devon Jordan as 'Angela' in a climactic scene from the cyber-bullying drama, 'Hating Tami'.)

WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, one of the oldest and largest film and video competitions in the world awarded 'Maple Ave' cyber-bullying awareness episode, 'Hating Tami' a prestigious Special Jury Award at its April 25th 42nd Awards Gala in Houston, TX. This latest honor marks the fourth year WorldFest has chosen to recognize the award-winning teen drama series; in 2006, the bullying/Columbine-themed 'Ghosts in the Hall' won a Gold Remi, in 2007, the self-injury/domestic violence drama 'The Hurting' won a coveted Special Jury Award and, in 2008, the suicide awareness episode, 'P.S. I Miss You' was honored with a Silver Remi Award. "Fiercely Independent" WorldFest is one of the oldest film festivals in the world. Past WorldFest honorees have also included Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, The Cohen Brothers, Ang Lee, David Lynch, Spike Lee, Bryan De Palma & Oliver Stone, among many others.

To purchase the 'Hating Tami' DVD for your school or organization, please click here for more info.!

OutreachArts Continues Suicide Prevention Campaign

In '08 the company worked with MA's Education Development Ctr. & CO's Carson J. Spencer Foundation and Regis University on two very different suicide awareness films

OutreachArts continued its ongoing participation in nationwide suicide prevention efforts with two very different projects in 2008. One project, created for MA-based Education Development Center, Inc., (EDC)., focused on suicide prevention in juvenile correctional facilities. OutreachArts was asked by the EDC to create a short documentary featuring the insights of several juvenile justice state agency directors to help compliment a set of ground-breaking, new suicide prevention training materials for directors nationwide. Due to the fact that no such materials had previously existed, either within the fields of suicide prevention or  juvenile justice, OutreachArts helped fill a significant 'training gap', while continuing its long tradition of reaching out to at-risk populations about suicide prevention. The second suicide awareness initiative the company began this year was for CO's Carson J Spencer Foundation and Regis University. The project, entitled 'Long Way Home', focuses on the issue of college-age suicide and its impact on students and their parents. Though suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, many might be shocked to discover that it ranks an alarming second place among 20 to 24 year olds. In fact, according to a 2006 American College Health Association Survey, 93% of students reported feeling "overwhelmed" at some point in the last year, with 48% admitting that they were so depressed at times that they found it difficult to function. "Everywhere you turn there is pressure to be perfect. Perfect grades, perfect body, perfect friends, join this, get involved with that. Keep your parents happy, keep your professors happy, keep your coaches happy," a student shares in a recent *BACCHUS Network publication *(BACCHUS is the largest student health organization in the world). Moved by such alarming information, OutreachArts set to work with Sally Spencer-Thomas, the Executive Director of the Carson J Spencer Foundation, on developing a short drama that focused on the issue of college-age suicide. To aid in script development, Spencer-Thomas invited OutreachArts Writer-Filmmaker, Richard Wilson to attend the Spencer Foundation's first "Bridging the Divide: Suicide Awareness and Prevention Summit" last May which brought together some of the best minds and most passionate advocates in the field of suicide prevention. While at the conference, Wilson filmed related interviews with students, parents and educators for the documentary component of the new film. Though slated for completion in 2009, the documentary portion of the film was recently completed and uploaded to YouTube (click above 'Long Way Home' clip to view). "Parents play a critical role in promoting their students' mental health during the often stressful transition from high school to college," Spencer-Thomas recently commented, " When students have a pre-existing mental health condition, this transition sometimes exacerbates what was before a well managed disorder. Regis University, the Carson J Spencer Foundation, and the BACCHUS Network have partnered with OutreachArts and funding from SAMHSA to create a brief documentary on the perspectives of suicide from students and their parents.  We hope that this film can increase dialogue among families who are coping with these issues."  Spencer-Thomas goes on to offer that additional resources for families, students and other campus stake-holders can be found at www.PeoplePreventSuicide.org. For more information on the 'Long Way Home' project, please contact us today @ info@outreacharts.com or 856-719-8380.

'Hating Tami' in the News!

'Hating Tami': New Film Explores Female Bullies

New MAPLE AVE Drama Addresses Relational Aggression Among Teen Girls

Exclusion, malicious gossiping, name-calling, withholding affection and friendship; these are the hallmarks of female relational aggression, and in our Internet/Technology age, sadly, such insidious bullying only appears to be growing. With recent studies showing that Cyber-Bullying has more devastating, long-term effects on its victims than traditional bullying, it's clear that relational aggression is rapidly expanding - particularly among young girls. In fact, a recent American Educational Research Association study shows that female bullies actually prefer the use of text messaging harassment versus face-to-face bullying 2 to 1. Armed with such alarming statistics and hours of related teen interviews, OutreachArts' Writer-Filmmaker, Richard Wilson of Berlin, NJ began developing 'Hating Tami' (pictured above), the fifth installment in his award-winning teen-family drama series, 'Maple Ave'. (The critically acclaimed television/video series focuses on the everyday issues/struggles of teens and their parents. Since 2003, the Emmy Nominated, Telly, Omni & Remi Award-Winning series has reached millions of North America viewers via PBS, The Independent Film Channel/IFC and the classroom.) The film also features the acting talents of Olivia Fitzmaurice-Shean, 17, "I feel honored to be part of a project that is tackling the important issue of bullying, specifically involving teenage girls. My character, Ann, is a strong girl, who doesn't depend on the others' opinions when it comes to her self-esteem," explains Olivia, "She believes in herself and isn't afraid to stand up for her friends, especially Tami. I hope that other girls can learn from Ann's strength, and not be worried about standing up to bullies in their own lives." For Amanda Dickinson, 19, who plays one of the bullies, 'Lucy', the project hits very close to home, "I suffered from being bullied when I was younger and deal with issues still to this day. I believe that bullying leads to personal problems at the moment it is happening and also down the road. There should be more actions taken to stop bullying in schools and work environments." "This project has been a real eye-opener for me," Wilson recently commented, "In many ways, it's the most challenging script I've ever written, in that I'm engaging the female perspective on a much deeper level. There are just so many more layers to explore than in 'Ghosts in the Hall' (the series' award-winning, male bullying-themed episode) - and that's really saying something!" In the film, Angela and her friends take every opportunity to make Tami's life miserable, even going so far as to pose as a boy interested in Tami on a social networking site. As the story unfolds, we are also introduced to Tami and Angela's respective parents, ultimately providing clues to their behavior and various life stressors. While Tami's hyper-competitive parents continually pressure their 'A' student daughter to be the best at everything, Angela's single Mom appears more interested in being her daughter's best friend than her parent. All the while, sympathetic teacher, Ms. Hutchinson has been attempting to reach out to Tami but finds her reluctant to open up. In a dramatic turn of events, Angela's cruel prank is uncovered - but is it too late...?

For more information about 'Hating Tami', please contact us today @ info@outreacharts.com or 856-719-8380.

 

College Suicide Awareness Drama To Reach Students & Parents

OutreachArts working with CO's Carson J. Spencer Foundation on all-new suicide awareness film approach

(Pictured above, a scene from the OutreachArts-created suicide awareness film series, 'Never Enough', part of ColumbiaCare's acclaimed RESPONSE program. The new Spencer Foundation film, tentatively titled, 'Long Way Home' will explore similar themes in a college setting. )

Though suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, many might be shocked to discover that it ranks an alarming second place among 20 to 24 year olds. In fact, according to a 2006 American College Health Association Survey, 93% of students reported feeling "overwhelmed" at some point in the last year, with 48% admitting that they were so depressed at times that they found it difficult to function. "Everywhere you turn there is pressure to be perfect. Perfect grades, perfect body, perfect friends, join this, get involved with that. Keep your parents happy, keep your professors happy, keep your coaches happy," a student shares in a recent *BACCHUS Network publication *(BACCHUS is the largest student health organization in the world). Moved by such alarming information, OutreachArts has set to work with Sally Spencer-Thomas, the Executive Director of the Carson J Spencer Foundation (a Colorado non-profit committed to preventing suicide), on developing a short drama that focuses on the issue of college-age suicide and its impact on students and their parents. (Ms. Spencer-Thomas also serves as the Director of Leadership Development at Regis University in Denver.) The finished drama, featuring a short documentary component, will be made available as both an iPod-ready series of six 3 minute webisodes and a full-length 20 minute DVD that will then be offered for college/classroom use and to local PBS affiliates for air. OutreachArts Writer-Filmmaker, Richard Wilson recently attended the Spencer Foundation's first "Bridging the Divide: Suicide Awareness and Prevention Summit" which brought together some of the best minds and most passionate advocates in the field of suicide prevention. Wilson's presence at the conference was two-fold; to film related interviews with students, parents and educators for the documentary component of the new college-suicide awareness film (tentatively titled 'Long Way Home') and to present the award winning suicide-themed 'Maple Ave' films 'P.S. I Miss You' and 'The Hurting'. Wilson happily reported the positive response to both films as 'incredibly gratifying' and the interview-segments he filmed, 'both heartbreaking and inspiring'. "The conference was absolutely incredible ~ what a truly wonderful collection of people and resources! Without a doubt, these unforgettable encounters will go a long way in informing our film...," Wilson said. Right now, the Spencer Foundation has approximately 1/3 of the funding needed to produce the film and, with OutreachArts, is currently in search of additional partners to make this much-needed project a reality before the end of 2008. So, if you're interested in finding out how your organization can become involved in the 'Long Way Home' project, please don't hesitate to contact us today @ info@outreacharts.com or 856-719-8380.

'P.S. I Miss You' Wins the Silver at Int'l Film Fest!

WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, one of the oldest and largest film and video competitions in the world, recently wrapped its' 41st film festival in Houston, TX with OutreachArts own 'Maple Ave' suicide awareness episode, 'P.S. I Miss You' winning the festival's prestigious Silver Remi Award (in the 'Family Matters' category). Having given first honors to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Lynch, Ang Lee, Ridley Scott, The Coen Brothers, Brian De Palma and many more, this latest honor marks the third year WorldFest has chosen to recognize OutreachArts award-winning teen drama series. In 2006, the bullying/Columbine-themed 'Ghosts in the Hall' won a Gold Remi Award and in 2007, the self-injury/domestic violence-themed 'The Hurting' won a coveted Special Jury Award. In late 2007, P.S. I Miss You was also honored with an Omni Intermedia Award, which recognizes outstanding entries in Film, Television, and Interactive productions. Alongside 'The Hurting', the film is also currently listed as one the Top 10 Dramas on The Independent Film Channel/IFC's Media Lab website. (Click here to view a special clip from the film on IFC's Media Lab site.) Over the last year, the film has even begun reaching an international audience with its inclusion in places as far away as the National Taiwan University Library. "With the film continuing to grow a really wonderful, diverse audience, it's a thrill to be honored by WorldFest in this way," the film's Writer-Director, Richard T. Wilson recently said, "Out of their 4,500 entries only 10-15 percent are winners, so this award really means alot to the whole 'Maple Ave' family!"

To purchase a DVD copy of 'P.S. I Miss You' for your school or organization, please click here.

Female Bullying Drama Workshop & Film Hit Home

With almost 30% of youth in the United States currently estimated to be involved in bullying either as a bully, a target, or both, OutreachArts latest initiative with The Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ, Inc.would seem very timely indeed. No stranger to anti-bullying initiatives (see the award winning 'Ghosts in the Hall'), OutreachArts was asked by the Girl Scouts' Outreach Specialist, Rona Whitehead to put together a bullying-themed drama workshop and a companion documentary for the girls at the Youth Empowerment System (YES) treatment facility located in Camden County, NJ. The YES Facility is a community-based treatment program offering a safe haven to troubled Camden County youth, ages 11-17. (The facility offers both short-term emergency shelter care and long-term, residential treatment.) Also proudly known as Girl Scout Troop 30681, the YES girls were given professional insights into the respective crafts/disciplines of film and theatre by OutreachArts before splitting off into two groups to create their own bullying awareness dramas. "Naturally, we encouraged the two groups to pull heavily from their own experiences in writing their scripts," said OutreachArts' Richard Wilson (pictured above left), "What they came up with were two brutally honest, powerful pieces. In the process, I think we learned as much from them as they did from us..." Leading the workshop were Wilson and Marge Triplo (pictured above right), while Director of Photography, Lauren Celinski captured the proceedings on film. In summing up the project for the Girl Scouts, Rona Whitehead recently said, "The Girl Scouts of Troop 30681, located at the YES treatment facility, enjoyed the ability to write, direct and perform in their own productions on bullying. They had discussions on how and when bullying occurs and how severe the consequences may be for the target. They were delighted to watch their final production."

For more information on this & other programs, please contact us today at info@outreacharts.com or 856-719-8380.

'P.S. I Miss You' Wins Omni Award!

Media Corp. Inc., recently announced the winners of the Omni Intermedia Awards which recognize outstanding entries in Film, Television, and Interactive productions. One of the top Omni Awards went to OutreachArts for our acclaimed suicide awareness drama, 'P.S. I Miss You' (part of our award winning 'Maple Ave' film series). According to the Omni Awards, our production received recognition due to 'its clear demonstration of highest quality in production and content'. Primarily focused in the converging fields of Film, Video, TV, Internet, Interactive Media, Animation and Audio production, the Omni Awards exist to recognize outstanding media productions that engage, empower and enlighten. As a nationally known award competition, they have developed their reputation by only awarding only those who exemplify the highest standards of quality. Omni Intermedia Awards have been presented to companies such as Dreamworks SKG, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Learning Channel, Arthur Andersen, Eastman Kodak, Ford, MTV, VH1, Telemundo, Warner Brothers, PBS, U.S. Army, Canon USA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art. Jim Owens, Senior Administrator of the Omni Awards said, "This award recognizes the most outstanding works in the field of media production and rewards those companies who can capture the imagination and effectively communicate their message."

To purchase a DVD copy of 'P.S. I Miss You' for your school or organization, please click here.

MAPLE AVE Airs Nationally On IFC!

Viewers call THE HURTING 'superb', 'a great depiction of the pain and truth of injury'

This December The Independent Film Channel (IFC) shares a dramatic clip from the award-winning self-injury drama, 'The Hurting' with its more than 41 million viewers - and the film's writer-director, Richard T. Wilson, couldn't be happier. "First of all, this is just a dream come true for all of us involved in the film," says the 43 filmmaker and founder of OutreachArts,"not to mention an incredible opportunity to raise awareness about the issue of self-injury among a national audience." Some of that same audience helped win the film a national airing by voting for it via IFC's online component, Media Lab. Online viewers rated the three minute clip with as many as five stars, calling it "superb" and a "great depiction of the pain and truth of injury". The same clip also received similarly enthusiastic reponses from the YouTube and My Space communities, and this past Spring the full film was awarded a prestigious Special Jury Award at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. (One of the oldest and largest film & video competitions in the world, WorldFest has also given first honors to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Lynch, Ang Lee, Ridley Scott, The Coen Brothers, Brian De Palma and many more.) 'The Hurting' was also the center-piece of the recent PBS Arkansas Educational Television Network's self-injury documentary, 'Hidden Wounds: What you don't know about Cutting'. Aired as part of the station's annual Back-To-School week programming, the premiere was a 'rousing success' in the words of AETN Producer, Bruce Rodtnick. Rodtnick also added that the typical viewer response was essentially, 'it was disturbing, but needed'.

Self-Injury: A Grave & Growing Problem

For an estimated 2 to 3 million Americans, self-injury, or 'cutting' as it is more commonly known, is a grave and growing problem - especially among teens. Disturbed by this alarming trend and compelled to investigate further, Wilson went directly to the source in late 2005, meeting with teen cutters who then proceeded to take him on a journey that ultimately led to 'The Hurting'. The short drama is part of the critically-acclaimed 'Maple Ave' series which Wilson began over three years ago to 'help families better connect in an increasingly disconnected world'. Since 2003, the Emmy Nominated, Telly, Omni and Remi Award-Winning series has reached millions of viewers nationwide, via PBS and the classroom, with its' unique take on the everyday issues/struggles of teens and their parents. Wilson commented that the research for 'The Hurting' was 'especially painful'. "The abusive backgrounds that a lot of these kids come from are absolutely heartbreaking. Whether it's psychological, physical or both, the abuse that's regularly inflicted upon these kids, usually by a family member, just deadens them inside. By self-injuring, they suddenly feel alive again and, more importantly, in control...it's essentially a coping mechanism, albeit a very destructive one." Wilson recollects one girl telling him that she cut herself because her parents were "too high to care." Another student told him, "The physical pain numbs the emotional pain." Another said they cut, "to prove I'm real." Upon learning of his daughter's cutting, one father's reaction was, "How can you insult me like this? You didn't get it from me." These and other heartbreaking stories found their way in to the film's final story-line. In 'The Hurting' main character, Ashley Sanchez (played by Corazon Rodriguez, pictured above) resorts to 'cutting' to cope with an abusive father, who's regularly victimized her family as far back as she can remember. Like a growing number of teens nationwide, Ashley regularly cuts her arms and legs, substituting her overwhelming inner pain and rage with an external pain that she is seemingly better able to manage.

Future Plans

Currently, Wilson has plans for a fifth 'Maple Ave' installment (focusing on female bullying), which is set to shoot in 2008. However, he is also actively looking to partner with a larger production company to help develop another 'Maple Ave'-like series that would reach an even wider audience. Wilson envisions, "kids regularly downloading five minute episodes of this show to their cell phones, ultimately influencing the storylines with their direct input". If the current response to 'The Hurting' is any indication, this new Wilson-created show may be just around the corner...

IFC AIR DATES & TIMES FOR 'THE HURTING'

Wed 12/05/07 @ 8:20AM (EST)

Wed 12/12/07 @ 1:00PM (EST)

Wed 12/19/07 @ 5:40PM (EST)

Fri 12/21/07 @ 9:25AM (EST)

Tue 12/25/07 @ 7:10AM (EST)

Fri 12/28/07 @ 2:20AM (EST)

For additional times, please check your local IFC listings under 'Media Lab Results'.

To purchase a DVD copy of 'The Hurting' for your school or organization, please click here.

Acclaimed Suicide Awareness Series Completed!

With the recent release of the 'Never Enough': Parent Component film (pictured above far left), the acclaimed 'Never Enough' suicide awareness video series, created for Eugene, Oregon's Looking Glass Youth & Family Services by OutreachArts, is now officially complete. As its title suggests, this final installment focuses on what parents can do to better recognize and help a troubled teen who may be considering suicide. Earlier this year, OutreachArts was proud to announce that the Looking Glass Youth & Family Services' program RESPONSE (a comprehensive high school based youth suicide awareness program), featuring the 'Never Enough' film series, had been designated a best practice and is now listed in the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Best Practice Registry. (In order to be listed as a best practice, the program is reviewed by a panel of experts in the field of suicide prevention who determine whether the program adheres to set standards in the field.) Looking Glass Prevention Specialist and 'Never Enough' Executive Producer, Jill A. Hollingsworth recently commented, "It's such a pleasure to offer schools tools they actually look forward to using. The "Never Enough" film series developed for RESPONSE clearly reflects (writer-director) Richard Wilson's talent, revealing issues that are missed in other media productions addressing suicide prevention. At the series' core is an amazing cast capable of tackling a difficult topic. Well done! "

For more information about the RESPONSE program, please review the following fact sheet and visit the links below: http://www.sprc.org/featured_resources/bpr/PDF/RESPONSE_FactSheet.pdf

State of Oregon: http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph/ipe/ysp/response.shtml

Association of Suicidology (scroll down to 'Never Enough' for review of
student video): http://www.suicidology.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=25

*For more information on how OutreachArts can create a similar film series for your organization, please contact us at info@outreacharts.com or 856-719-8380.

New Problem Gambling Film A Big Hit!

'Damage Done' touches nerve among problem gamblers

'Damage Done' (pictured above), a film focusing on the unique set of challenges a problem gambler's family has to face daily, had its debut recently at a Nevada problem gambling treatment center ~ and found an extremely receptive audience. Naturally, the film's producer, the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, couldn't have been more pleased. "The gamblers in treatment loved it! They said it really helped them appreciate what their gambling had done to the family and helped them understand what was going on with their loved ones now that they are in treatment (fear, anger, resentment...!). This gives a whole new perspective to the value of the film for treatment purposes. It may become a vehicle for family therapy - to talk about the emotional healing that is needed," enthused the Council's Executive Director, Carol O'Hare. Upon hearing the news, the film's writer-director, OutreachArts' Richard Wilson commented, "This is what OutreachArts is all about ~ 'really wonderful news! We wish the Nevada Council continued success with the piece and are truly honored to have worked with them and their community."

If you'd like OutreachArts to *create something similar for your community, please contact us today at info@outreacharts.com or 856-719-8380.

'The Hurting' Featured In Acclaimed PBS Special!

AETN's self -injury special, 'Hidden Wounds' has successful debut

With the recent debut of PBS Arkansas Educational Television Network's self-injury documentary, 'Hidden Wounds: What you don't know about cutting', which prominently features OutreachArts' award-winning drama 'The Hurting' , the station's large viewing audience was made aware of a very serious problem affecting an estimated 2 to 3 million Americans. AETN Producer, Bruce Rodtnick called the premiere a 'rousing success' and said the typical viewer response was essentially, 'it was disturbing, but needed'. In the film, audiences learned that while the majority of people who self-injure are women between the ages of 13 and 30, "cutters" make up all age, gender, and economic groups. Aired as part of the station's annual Back-To-School week programming, 'Hidden Wounds' also features an array of healthcare professionals, psychiatrists/psychologists, counselors/school counselors providing insightful commentary. The film will soon be made available as a DVD (with added resources) to Arkansas educators throughout the state and added to the station's Professional Development Portal (www.ideas.aetn.org). OutreachArts', Writer-Filmmaker Richard Wilson commented, "We're always thrilled to work with our friends at PBS, and particularly proud to be part of this special project with AETN. We look forward to the film's continued success and any and all future collaborations..."

To purchase a DVD copy of 'The Hurting' for your school or organization, please click here.

Two Different Looks At Problem Gambling

New Films Explore Problem Gambler's Impact On Family & The Deadly Lure Of Internet Gambling

The National Council on Problem Gambling defines problem gambling as 'behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life; physical , social or vocational.' Together, OutreachArts' two latest problem gambling films ('Damage Done' & 'Better Deal'), dramatically illustrate these same disruptions from two very different points of view ...

'Damage Done'

Carol O'Hare, Executive Director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling thought it was time to shed light on how some of those same 'disruptions' impact the problem gambler's family. With this in mind, O'Hare and her team set to work with OutreachArts' Richard Wilson to create their second film together, 'Damage Done'. "Carol really wanted us to focus on the unique set of challenges a problem gambler's family has to face daily," Wilson commented recently, " So, a decision was made to focus more on the family instead of putting the gambler center stage this time out - in effect, isolating what the disease has wrought; the 'damage done'." The film, part of the Nevada Council's family outreach module, will address the impact of problem gambling on the family and will be made available to community agencies and mental health treatment programs throughout Nevada for use in client and community education. Upon viewing the finished film, O'Hare wrote Wilson the following - "I watched 'Damage Done' yesterday.....3 times. It is an amazing piece of work! At the end all I could think was, "He nailed it!" Your actors were awesome and the editing was brilliant. Most importantly, I felt the story every step of the way. I know this is going to reach people in a way we've never been able to with 'gambler films'. ...seeing our family issue come alive on this film was absolutely inspiring. I think 'Damage Done' will be a powerful resource to bring these families out of the shadow of the gambler and give them the respect (and hopefully the help) that they need and deserve. I would love to meet these actors someday and tell them personally how grateful I am for what they gave us in this film. Of course, I know even the best actors couldn't have done this without a Director who understood what the goal was. Thank you so much for investing yourself in this subject. I could see and hear so many of the things we discussed and little threads of the stories of the family members' that you talked to. Thanks for listening to us and really hearing what we were trying to say!" For more information on 'Damage Done', please contact The Nevada Council On Problem Gambling at (702) 369-9740 or via Email @ NevCouncil@aol.com.

'Better Deal'

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and The Council On Compulsive Gambling Of NJ chronicle their own problem gambling 'disruptions' - this time from the gambler's POV - in the new OutreachArts' internet gambling-themed film, 'Better Deal' . Often referred to as the 'crack cocaine' of gambling, internet gambling has skyrocketed in recent years, particularly among young people, even prompting the U.S. Congress to pass the prohibitive Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Since online games are generally played in isolation, a no-holds-barred atmosphere is quickly promoted where money can be spent (and lost) very rapidly. "Not only did we focus on the problem gambler in this one, both of the main characters in the film are struggling with an addiction to internet gambling. They also happen to be best friends," Wilson explained, "So when one of the two characters commits suicide as a direct result of his addiction, the impact on the remaining friend is obviously seismic, pushing him to ask for help in a way he might not have otherwise." 'Better Deal' also dramatically highlights the negative impact that problem gambling has on the character's family, friends and academic performance. Since its' successful premeire at a national conference on internet gambling earlier this year, The Division of Gaming Enforcement and The Council report that 'Better Deal' continues to receive 'praise' at the high schools and rehab centers where it's been shown. If you are a New Jersey teacher, student assistance counselor, or other school-based professional and would like more information about 'Better Deal', please contact the Council On Compulsive Gambling Of NJ's Education Coordinator, Terry Elman. You may contact Terry at (609) 588-5515 ext. 18 or Email him at terry@800gambler.org.

'Maple Ave' Awarded Prestigious Honor at Worldfest-Houston Int'l Film Festival!

'The Hurting' Receives Special Jury Award

WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, one of the oldest and largest film & video competitions in the world, recently wrapped its' 40th Anniversary film festival in Houston, TX and OutreachArts' own 'Maple Ave' series was among its' top Remi Award winners. Having given first honors to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Lynch, Ang Lee, Ridley Scott, The Coen Brothers, Brian De Palma and many more, WorldFest has honored 'Maple Ave' self-injury awareness installment 'The Hurting' with its' prestigious Special Jury Award (in the 'Family Matters' category). The Special Jury Awards (Grand Remi Nominees) are the highest awards for creative excellence in each major category. "'Maple Ave' has received a number of wonderful honors over the years (Emmy Nominations, Telly Award, etc.) but this, by far, is the biggest and the best!," enthused 'Maple Ave' creator, Richard Wilson, "We had a truly wonderful cast and crew in 'The Hurting' and I'm thrilled that their efforts are being recognized in such a major way."

Self-Injury: A Grave & Growing Problem

For an estimated 2 to 3 million Americans, self-injury, or 'cutting' as it is more commonly known, is a grave and growing problem - especially among teens. Disturbed by this alarming trend and compelled to investigate further, Wilson went directly to the source, meeting with teen cutters who then proceeded to take him on a journey that ultimately led to 'The Hurting'. The short drama, written and directed by Wilson, debuted on PBS last January and is part of the critically-acclaimed 'Maple Ave' series which the 43 year old filmmaker began over three years ago to 'help families better connect in an increasingly disconnected world'. Since 2003, the Emmy Nominated, Telly and Remi Award-Winning series has reached millions of viewers nationwide, via PBS and the classroom, with its' unique take on the everyday issues/struggles of teens and their parents. "I'm only reporting back on what kids are telling me - and, obviously, a lot of it isn't pretty," Wilson said. Recently, an especially powerful clip from 'The Hurting' was uploaded to the popular YouTube and blip.tv video-sharing sites with the hope that 'the clip will be shared and help provide a glimpse in to an often misunderstood disorder.' Wilson also commented that the research for 'The Hurting' was 'especially painful'. "The abusive backgrounds that a lot of these kids come from are absolutely heartbreaking. Whether it's psychological, physical or both, the abuse that's regularly inflicted upon these kids, usually by a family member, just deadens them inside. By self-injuring, they suddenly feel alive again and, more importantly, in control...it's essentially a coping mechanism, albeit a very destructive one." Wilson recollects one girl telling him that she cut herself because her parents were "too high to care." Another student told him, "The physical pain numbs the emotional pain." Another said they cut, "to prove I'm real." Upon learning of his daughter's cutting, one father's reaction was, "How can you insult me like this? You didn't get it from me." These and other heartbreaking stories found their way in to the film's final story-line. In 'The Hurting' main character, Ashley Sanchez (played by Corazon Rodriguez) resorts to 'cutting' to cope with an abusive father, who's regularly victimized her family as far back as she can remember. Like a growing number of teens nationwide, Ashley regularly cuts her arms and legs, substituting her overwhelming inner pain and rage with an external pain that she is seemingly better able to manage. This last illusion is finally dispelled in a heart-wrenching finale that finds a desperate Ashley reaching out to a sympathetic teacher for help.

'…a very, very powerful film.'

Buffalo, NY PBS affiliate WNED debuted 'The Hurting' back in January, along with the three other films that make up the acclaimed 'Maple Ave' series. The station's ThinkBright TV Program Manager, Goldie Gardner, called 'The Hurting', "a very, very powerful film. … another outstanding installment of 'Maple Ave'. ... I had no idea that this problem is so widespread...." Wilson is grateful for Gardner's and other PBS affiliates ongoing support of the series. "Naturally, our hope is raise as much awareness about the issue as possible and PBS and now YouTube and blip.tv are certainly helping us to do just that."

To purchase the DVD for your school or organization, please visit our Buy DVDs page today!

What PBS Is Saying About Our Award Winning TV Series, 'MAPLE AVE'...

 

"Other than the occasional 'After School Special', there are very few television programs that are devoted to the many challenges teens face in our fast-paced and often confusing world. So I was delighted to see that you are producing a series dealing with serious issues, such as depression and bullying that affect young adults. As I said when we spoke by phone, 'Jenny's Reasons' and 'Ghosts in the Hall', part of the MAPLE AVE series, were two of the finest shows for young people I've ever seen. They honestly address important issues from the teens' point of view without ever feeling contrived or preachy. Your shows are honest and compassionate and, above all, REAL! Kudos to your talented writers and actors! When I watched the preview, I believed in these people and cared about them. To me, that's one of the hallmarks of great programming. I can hardly wait to see the next episode of MAPLE AVE and I'm looking forward to GORDON TERRACE and CEDAR GROVE as well. Many thanks for allowing us to air 'Jenny's Reasons' and 'Ghosts in the Hall' on ThinkBright TV. I know our young viewers and their families will enjoy them as much as I did."

- Goldie Gardner, WNED ThinkBright, Program Manager, Buffalo, NY

To Read More PBS Quotes CLICK HERE.

For more information please contact us at (856)-719-8380 or mapleave@outreacharts.com.

'The Hurting' Airs Nationally On IFC (Courier-Post, 12/7/07)

'The Hurting' Debuts On PBS (Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/18/07)

Interview: OutreachArts' Richard T. Wilson (Courier-Post, 9/11/05)

'Jenny's Reasons'/Teen's Perspective (Courier-Post, 8/5/03)

Profile: OutreachArts' Richard T. Wilson (Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/27/03)