L.A. Non-Profit Assists Women Leaving Prison; Boasts 80% Re-entry Success Rate
Women In Film PSA for A New Way of Life
Features Original Rap by Empire Star BRE-Z
L.A. Non-Profit Assists Women Leaving Prison; Boasts 80% Re-entry Success Rate
LOS ANGELES — Oct. 18, 2016 — For Immediate Release — The charitable PSA program of the Los Angeles chapter of Women In Film (WIF), the premier organization promoting increased roles for women within the entertainment industry, is excited to unveil the “Up and Out” PSA for A New Way of Life. The Los Angeles-based charity provides support to formerly incarcerated women for successful community re-entry, empowering them to be advocates for personal change—and boasts an 80 percent success rate. (download press release
HERE)
The PSA features an original rap written especially for the production by BRE-Z, the actress and hip hop artist who portrays Freda Gatz in the wildly popular television show Empire (FOX), and parallels the show’s current storyline in which BRE-Z’s character is poised to emerge from time served.
Said BRE-Z, “Emerging from prison is a role I left behind when I went home from the set ... I've never been incarcerated, but I have a very close friend – who I've looked up to since I was younger – who is currently serving time in a federal facility. Through phone and video visits with her, I feel every bit of her pain and understand how her choices affected her and her loved ones. I know the vast majority of these women have not had the opportunities I have enjoyed. I just pray I can be an inspiration for those who've been here before me and those who will come after me. We all have choices in life. The decision is ours.”
View the “Up and Out” PSA
HERE.
Commented Susan Barton, founder and director of A New Way of Life, “We are so grateful that this group of outstanding women came together to help support the women in our program and give them the basic tools they need to turn their lives around. We hope this PSA brings greater awareness to women leaving incarceration to let them know that there is hope and there is help. They can find a new way of life.”
Added Tessa Bell, WIF PSA production program chair, “In addition to supporting our community by providing a professionally produced marketing tool to worthy causes that would not otherwise be able to afford such assets, the WIF PSA program mentors up-and-coming female talent and provides them with an access point into the industry and an opportunity to learn about film production and practice their skills. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
BRE-Z's rap was composed and produced by songwriter/performer Chase Bell. The “Up and Out” production PSA team included executive producer Shay Moore, producer Corinne Jayaweera, associate producers Lisa Logan and April Barnes, director Mariya Pyter, writer Dianne Lansing, director of photography Bruce L. Finn, PSA manager Melissa Verdugo and social media manager Jessica Dowdeswell.
Women In Film Los Angeles’ all-volunteer public service ad production program creates three to four professionally produced PSAs each year – from concept through production, editing and distribution (at a value estimated at up to $125,000) – for Los Angeles-area, women-child-centric charities and at no cost to the organization.
The program develops women’s professional and creative filmmaking skills while providing a valuable marketing tool to non-profits, which often cannot afford to produce their own. Through a year-long process, select creative teams are given professional hands-on experience in writing, directing and producing. Each production crew ranges from 26-63 volunteers and WIF constituents and is made up of 65 percent women, providing an opportunity to build their work experience and be mentored by experienced people from the entertainment industry. The PSAs are shot in HD using industry standard cameras and lighting equipment donated by companies that value empowering creative women. The spots are distributed through television/cable stations, the Internet and utilized for other promotional opportunities.
The program is funded by the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs and with generous in-kind donations of equipment from Claremont Camera Film & Digital and Panavision.
About A New Way of Life: A New Way of Life advances multi-dimensional solutions to the effects of incarceration, providing housing and support to formerly incarcerated women for successful community re-entry, family reunification and individual healing. The non-profit also works to restore the civil rights of formerly incarcerated people and to empower, organize and mobilize them as advocates for social change and personal transformation.
About Women In Film: Women In Film is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women, encouraging creative projects by women, and expanding and enhancing portrayals of women in all forms of global media. Given that women comprise 50 percent of the population, WIF’s ultimate goal is to see the same gender parity reflected on and off screen. Founded in 1973, WIF focuses on advocacy and education—provides scholarships, grants, and film finishing funds—and works to preserve the legacies of all women working in the entertainment community.
View the “Up and Out” PSA
A New Way of Life: Re-entry Project (60 seconds) view
HERE.
A New Way of Life: Re-entry Project (30 seconds) view
HERE.
Download the “Up and Out” PSA
A New Way of Life: Re-entry Project (60 seconds)
https://vimeo.com/187290339
Password: ANWOL60
A New Way of Life: Re-entry Project (30 seconds)
https://vimeo.com/187291360
Password: ANWOL30_1
Photos available upon request.
PHOTO IDs:
BRE-Z Raps for Charity #1
Hip hop artist and Empire star BRE-Z is joined in the studio by composer/producer/musician Chase Bell to record the original rap, “Up and Out,” for a PSA for A New Way of Life, a Los Angeles-based charity providing support to formerly incarcerated women for successful community re-entry.
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Join the conversation …
A New Way of Life Re-entry Project
Visit us online: http://www.anewwayoflife.org
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/ANewWayofLifeReentryProject
Follow us: https://twitter.com/anewwayoflife1
Women In Film PSA Production Program
Visit us online: https://womeninfilm.org/psa
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/WIFLA
Follow us: https://twitter.com/wif_losangeles
Contacts:
Social Change PR & Marketing – 323-660-5800
Vicki Greenleaf – 323-573-5111 (cell) – Vicki@SocialChangePR.com
Dorrit Ragosine – 213-509-7748 (cell) – Dorrit@SocialChangePR.com
