Spike Lee's HBO doc "When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts" to premiere Aug. 16 in New Orleans
g-l...@satchmo.com
FOUR ACTS" TO HAVE WORLD PREMIERE AUG. 16 IN NEW ORLEANS BEFORE 10,000
PEOPLE
NEW ORLEANS, July 12, 2006 - HBO and Spike Lee have agreed to premiere
his epic documentary WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS for
the citizens of New Orleans one year after the Hurricane Katrina
disaster. On Wednesday, Aug. 16, Acts I and II will be presented free
of charge before a potential audience of 10,000 people at the New
Orleans Arena. The Arena is located next to the Louisiana Superdome,
which became known as a shelter for residents after the hurricane hit.
Director Lee will travel to New Orleans for the screening. "It is our
hope that WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE gives the diverse people of New Orleans
a platform for their voice," notes Lee.
WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS is an epic portrait of
New Orleans in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
The film recounts the heartbreaking personal stories of those who lived
to tell about the disaster and provides a detailed chronology of events
- from the tragic failure of the levees, to the massive evacuation
efforts, to the lack of action that followed. A chronicle of profound
loss, the film also focuses on the triumphant spirit of New Orleaneans
as the city rises from the depths of despair with the help of its rich
cultural legacy.
Lee and his team selected nearly 100 people from diverse backgrounds,
representing a wide range of opinions, to be featured in the film,
including Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, New Orleans Mayor Ray
Nagin, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Harry Belafonte, Wynton Marsalis, CNN's
Soledad O'Brien, Terence Blanchard, Rev. Al Sharpton, Wendell Pierce,
Sean Penn, Kanye West, local media and other New Orleans residents.
Tickets to the premiere will be made available through the Arena and
Ticketmaster, and will be distributed at the box office and via the
Internet. The premiere event will be supported by a major marketing and
grass-roots campaign, in conjunction with local community groups and
Cox Cable Communications, as well as a variety of partnerships, to
ensure that tickets are distributed to the general public of New
Orleans.
Acts I and II debut MONDAY, AUG. 21 (9:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), on HBO,
followed by Acts III and IV on TUESDAY, AUG. 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m.). All
four acts will be seen Tuesday, Aug. 29 (8:00 p.m.-midnight), the first
anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
See RockOnTV.com for additional air dates:
http://www.vh1.com/artists/rock_on_tv/sort.jhtml?type=series&motvId=rotv%3As122257&title=When+The+Levees+Broke%3A+A+Requiem+In+Four+Acts
WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS is Spike Lee's third
collaboration with HBO, following 1998's "4 Little Girls," which was
Oscar(r) nominated in the Documentary Feature category, and 2002's "Jim
Brown: All-American." Sam Pollard ("Eye on the Prize II: America at
the Racial Crossroads") produced and edited the film. Terence
Blanchard ("Inside Man"), who hails from New Orleans and frequently
collaborates with Lee, is composer of the music, as well as being
featured in the film.
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g-l...@satchmo.com
Orleans
As previously announced, the film will be presented free of charge for
the citizens of New Orleans on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the New Orleans
Arena. However, the screening will now include all four acts (not just
Acts I and II, as previously announced) and accommodations will now be
available for a potential audience of 12,000 people (not 10,000 people,
as previously announced).
WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS is Spike Lee's epic
portrait of New Orleans in the wake of the devastation caused by
Hurricane Katrina. The film recounts the heartbreaking personal
stories of those who lived to tell about the disaster and provides a
detailed chronology of events - from the tragic failure of the levees,
to the massive evacuation efforts, to the lack of action that followed.
A chronicle of profound loss, the film also focuses on the triumphant
spirit of New Orleaneans as the city rises from the depths of despair
with the help of its rich cultural legacy.
Acts I and II debut MONDAY, AUG. 21 (9:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), on HBO,