Rio Rancho: Poetry Film at the Library

Hello,

I am sending you a press release for an event at the Rio Rancho Public
Library on Wednesday, April 30th. I have copied and pasted my press
release, as well as the one from the film company, below. Please place
this event information in your publication in the community/arts/film
calendar section, or announce it when promoting local events on the
radio.

Thank you,
Deimosa Webber-Bey, Teen Librarian
Rio Rancho Public Library
755 Loma Colorado Dr NE
891-5013 x3031

***

LOMA COLORADO PUBLIC LIBRARY
755 Loma Colorado Rd NE
Rio Rancho, NM 87108
Phone (505) 891-5013, ext 3032
Fax (505) 892-4782

Press Release
Contact: Deimosa Webber-Bey
Phone: (505) 891-5013, ext 3031

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2008

COMMITTING POETRY IN TIMES OF WAR

To commemorate National Poetry Month, the Rio Rancho Public Library
will be screening the documentary film Committing Poetry in Times of War
on Wednesday, April 30, at 7pm in the Loma Colorado Main Library
auditorium at 755 Loma Colorado Drive NE. This film, which documents
local history, won the 2007 Best Human Rights Film Award at the Taos
Mountain Festival, was a winner of the New Mexico State Film Office's
New Vision Award, and won the 2007 Telluride Talking Gourd Poetry
Festival's Tellus Award as Poetry Film of the Year. On screen
performances by Adan Baca, Socorro Romo, Demetria Martinez, Tony
Santiago, Erin Ambrose, Jazz, The Ruffians, Carlos Contreras, Priscilla
Baca y Candelaria, Manuel Gonzales, Danny Solis, Kenn Rodriguez, and
student members of the disbanded Rio Rancho Ram Slam Poetry Team. The
film screening will be followed by a brief Q&A session with Bill Nevins,
the former Rio Rancho High School teacher featured, and live
performances by poets from the disbanded Rio Rancho High School Poetry
Slam team, as well as other local poets who are featured in the film.

***
Ubuntuworks LLC
Producers of Committing Poetry in Times of War
Eric Sirotkin
Executive Producer

P.O. Box 848
Ashland, OR 97520
541-359-3596
www.ubuntuworks.com
eric@ubuntuworks.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AWARD WINNING FILM IN UNIQUE NATIONAL GRASSROOTS DISTRIBUTION

The award winning Independent Film Committing Poetry in Times of War, a
Dogone Picture, also the 2007 Poetry Film of the Year, is being
distributed across the U.S. and around the world. The producers of this
film are conducting workshops that often feature live slam poets, as
well as lecturing in dozens of High School and College classrooms. The
screening comes on the heels of the film's acceptance into film
festivals in Canada, Europe and South Africa, and its receipt of the
Best Human Rights Award at the Taos Mountain Film Festival.

Committing Poetry is a poetic glance at events that came to define the
struggle of a nation at war abroad and with its people. When the bombs
began to fall on Iraq, fearful administrators removed seven New Mexico
teachers for refusing to quell the questions, thoughts, debates, and
artwork of students. Meanwhile, hundreds of peaceful protestors
demonstrating nearby were brutally assaulted by police, again aiming to
silence American voices.

Demonstrators were continuously corralled into "Free Speech Zones" away
from traffic and public view. If even a small group of protestors
ventured out of these so-called "free-speech" zones onto their own
sidewalks city police officers held them at gunpoint. Within one week,
constitutional guarantees crumbled, and the repercussions from silencing
of our youth and suppressing civil liberties continue to this day.

Yet, out of this fire arose a diverse creative community of artisans,
poets, & musicians whose courageous words would not be silenced. They
came together in a series of unifying events, beginning in New Mexico,
and growing to cross this great country, defying the fear-tactics and
divisiveness of the times. This movement was called Poetic Justice. It
not only supported Bill Nevins in his legal battle against the Rio
Rancho School Administration, but also stood as a beacon of freedom of
speech. The voices of Poetic Justice, and the film itself, serve as a
testament to our creative spirit and an affirmation of the power of
creative minds and words - serving as a path toward transformation and
hope in troubling times.

Committing Poetry in Times of War features a host of poets and
musicians captured from 2003 to 2005 in Poetic Justice events, that the
media has described as " providing great insights into the human dilemma
and our human potential." Music by Black 47, Zachary Richard, Jenny
Bird, & Sobernt, one story said, "enhances the diverse original
score,

weaving a lush musical bed as the story unfolds through a visceral
poem." Ashland Daily Tidings September 7, 2007. It was a winner of the
New Mexico State Film Office's New Vision Award and the Telluride
Talking Gourd Poetry Festival's Tellus Award as Poetry Film of the
Year.

The aim of the production company is to assist organizing screenings
wherein students, activists, poets, teachers and writers come together
at events to look at the power of their creativity and the importance of
a new direction for America.

We invite you to review the film, run a story on its unique approach,
and to announce it's showing in your art calendars and announcements.
Please visit our website at www.committingpoetry.com for updated
information and to download a press packet.
Thank You.

Eric Sirotkin
Executive Producer
Committing Poetry in Times of War
Ubuntuworks LLC
eric@committingpoetry.com

Mara Jackson
Distribution Coordinator
Ubuntuworks LLC
mara@ubuntuworks.com
http://www.committingpoetry.com