'Not Today'--Entertainment Against Human Trafficking--Opens in 37 New Markets

'NOT TODAY'--ENTERTAINMENT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING--OPENS IN 37 NEW MOVIE MARKETS
Film Shakes and Stirs Audiences; Many Communities Request Screens
NotTodaytheMovie.com
YORBA LINDA, Calif. – April 30, 2013 – Can a movie entertain audiences into activism? And will active communities put a movie in local theaters? Yes and yes, says NOT TODAY—a drama on the fight against human trafficking—now adding 37 new openings in markets across the country, beginning May 3. Most of those new theaters represent “market pull”—communities pre-purchasing hundreds of tickets to open the film in local theaters—and the list is growing.

“People see NOT TODAY and they talk—and talk spreads,” Producer Brent Martz said. “This second wave of theatrical openings is a testament to word of mouth. We’re humbled and pleased.”

Even movie reviewers are moved by NOT TODAY, the first church-made film on an international issue. The Washington Post’s Sean O’Connell writes: “If NOT TODAY makes even the slightest difference for a helpless child caught in this vicious cycle, then it earns the right to play on as many theater screens as possible.”

“I just watched the movie in Fort Worth, Texas, and must say, it was extremely well made and definitely got the message across,” a fan writes on NOT TODAY’s Facebook wall. “I've read stories and statistics on trafficking over the last year, but seeing the story lived out and the hope that something can be done puts a whole new perspective on things. I've signed petitions and raised awareness among friends, but I want to do so much more now. Thank you all for not being afraid to speak the truth even when people would rather turn a deaf ear and blind eye.”

Local fans bring NOT TODAY to their communities with a 400-ticket commitment. Information on how to schedule local screenings is at NotTodaytheMovie.com.

Produced by Friends Media, an arm of Friends Church of Yorba Linda, Calif., NOT TODAY features Cody Longo (Hollywood Heights, Fame, Make It or Break It), John Schneider (OCTOBER BABY, Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard), Shari Rigby (OCTOBER BABY, The Bold and the Beautiful), Walid Amini (Veep, NCIS) and Cassie Scerbo (Make It or Break It, Hot in Cleveland).

SYNOPSIS: In NOT TODAY, Caden Welles (Longo) lives as large as any 20-year-old could dream. Then expectations of a never-ending party in India crash hard—but not as hard as his conscience when he refuses to help a starving man and his little girl. Attempting to right his wrong, Caden’s eyes are forced open to a world few Americans know exists: the thriving human-trafficking trade. Spurred by a true purpose, an unlikely friendship and the prayers of his mother and girlfriend, Caden leads an unlikely search for the girl.

NOT TODAY is a powerful reminder that change is possible if we’re willing to open our eyes . . . today.

NOT TODAY opens in these new markets beginning May 3:

May 3

Fort Wayne, Ind.

May 4

Temple, Texas

May 10

Pismo Beach, Calif.

May 17

Columbus, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Fayetteville, Ark.
Fort Meyers, Fla.
Tuscaloosa, Ala.

May 24
Beaumont, Texas
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Durango, Colo.
Eau Claire, Wis.
Fort Collins, Colo.
Waterloo, Iowa

May 31

Boise, Idaho
Carlsbad, N.M.
Charleston, S.C.
Charlotte, N.C.
Detroit, Mich.
Doylestown, Pa.
Florence, S.C.
Harrisburg, Pa.
Holland, Mich.
Lexington, Ky.
Little Rock, Ark.
Madison, Wis.
Rapid City, S.D.
St. Charles, Mo.

June 7

Appleton, Wis.
Bloomington, Ill.
Fayetteville, N.C.
Mason City, Iowa
Panama City, Fla.
Rockford, Ill.
Sioux Falls, S.D.

June 14
Greenville, N.C.
Wilmington, N.C.

Using education to lift lives and prospects of India’s “untouchable” Dalit people, Friends Church has committed $20 million to build 200 of 1,000 proposed schools for Dalit children in the coming decade. Friends already has funded more than 40 of the current 107 schools. The church’s profits from NOT TODAY go toward building schools and freeing children.

For more information, visit: NotTodaytheMovie.com

To bring NOT TODAY to local theaters: NotTodaytheMovie.com/theaters

RIDING ON EARLY PRAISE, ‘NOT TODAY’ HEADS FOR THEATERS APRIL 12

New Movie Entertains, Enlightens on the Plight of India’s ‘Untouchables;’ January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month

NotTodaytheMovie.com

YORBA LINDA, Calif. – Jan. 23, 2013 – On a wave of strong praise from advance screenings, NOT TODAY—the first church-made film around an international issue—hits theaters Friday, April 12. (See below for list of debut cities.) In NOT TODAY, a spoiled young American encounters trafficking of children among India’s “untouchables” and is forever changed.

“NOT TODAY is the first feature-length, faith-based film to tackle human trafficking, a global disease,” Producer Brent Martz said. “It’s entertainment, yes. But entertainment with world-changing purpose.”

NOT TODAY is produced by Friends Media, an arm of Friends Church of Yorba Linda, Calif., where Martz heads creative ministries. Rising star Cody Longo (Hollywood Heights, Fame, Make It or Break It) plays Caden, a spoiled, SoCal rich kid partying in India. On mean city streets, he’s oblivious to the so-called “untouchables” until a young girl sold into slavery draws him into the world of India’s outcast Dalits. Fighting to find her, Caden finds himself and his faith re-energized. Also featured in NOT TODAY: John Schneider (OCTOBER BABY, Smallville, The Dukes of Hazzard), Shari Rigby (OCTOBER BABY, The Bold and the Beautiful) and Cassie Scerbo (Make It or Break It, Hot in Cleveland).

Typical audience response to NOT TODAY, from the advance screening at the 2012 Urbana student missions conference in St. Louis:

“Gripping, informative movie that takes you into its world . . . makes you want to get involved to make a difference.”
"Everyone should see this film. You cannot walk away unchanged."
"Heartbreaking and eye-opening . . . I am inspired to make a change."
“Wow! Should have warned us to bring Kleenex."
NOT TODAY echoes in daily headlines:

Jan. 11 was International Human Trafficking Awareness Day
President Barack Obama recently declared January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the United States.
Louis Giglio, founder of the Passion movement, heavily focused the Passion 2013 conference on the battle against trafficking and the support of exploited people.
And stark statistics underscore growing concern around the globe:

An estimated 27 million people worldwide are in forced labor including sexual exploitation as a result of trafficking. SOURCE: U.N. Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
Profits from all trafficked forced labor: estimated $31.6 billion/year. SOURCE: U.N. Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
India’s Dalit population is among the world’s most vulnerable to the global industry in human abuse:

More than 1.2 million children in India are trapped in human trafficking as child prostitutes. SOURCE: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center India Conference
“For centuries Dalits, the ‘lowest of the low,’ have grown up believing they are less than animals,” said Matthew Cork, NOT TODAY executive producer and lead pastor of Friends Church. “Christianity tells them they are made in the image of God.”

Using education to lift Dalit lives and prospects, Friends Church has committed $20 million to build 200 of 1,000 proposed schools for Dalit children in the coming decade. Friends already has funded more than 40 of the current 107 schools. Profits from NOT TODAY go toward building schools and freeing children.

NOT TODAY premieres across the nation April 12 in these markets:

Los Angeles (Orange County), Calif.
Houston, Texas
San Diego, Calif.
Dallas, Texas
San Jose, Calif.
San Francisco, Calif.
Columbus, Ohio
Seattle, Wash.
Denver (Littleton), Colo.
Washington, D.C.
Nashville, Tenn.
Portland, Ore.
Sacramento, Calif.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Atlanta, Ga.
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Orlando, Fla.
Akron, Ohio
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
West Palm Beach/Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

For more information, visit: NotTodaytheMovie.com