'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

Top Christian Singer Kari Jobe Joins With Exciting Film 'Not Today' to Fight Human Trafficking

"Not Today' Launches in Theaters Nationwide April 12

"Not today is definitely a movie that you have to see." Kari Jobe

NotTodaytheMovie.com

YORBA LINDA, Calif. – Feb. 27, 2013 – Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning Christian recording artist Kari Jobe—along with an impressive list of global partners—is lending her support to the exciting new film NOT TODAY in the fight against human trafficking.

Gripping, entertaining and ultimately redemptive, NOT TODAY helps audiences put a human face on the worldwide problem of modern slavery and exploitation.

“We all have to play a role and do our part to fight against the plague that affects 27 million people and growing,” Jobe said. “It’s so incredibly dark, and I feel a responsibility to do what I can. Most of these victims are girls like me, and I can’t imagine what life would be like in that place.”

Produced by Friends Media, NOT TODAY features rising star Cody Longo (Hollywood Heights, Fame, Make It or Break It) as 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. In the struggle 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).

With a 2013 Grammy nomination for her hit CD Where I Find You, Jobe recently recorded the song What Love Can Do, produced by multiple Dove Award winner and Grammy nominee Ed Cash. The song and accompanying video offer Jobe’s personal support for NOT TODAY. No newcomer to the fight against human trafficking, Jobe is performing now with Chris Tomlin’s Burning Light’s Tour, which also features Louie Giglio, whose 2013 Passion conference focused on the subject as well.

SEE AND HEAR KARI JOBE SING ‘WHAT LOVE CAN DO’

Along with Jobe, an impressive array of ministry partners have pledged to promote the film.

"Our Christian faith compels us to lift our hands up with conviction and stretch our hands across with compassion,” said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference Hispanic Evangelical Association. “NOT TODAY moves us to reconcile sanctification with service, faith with action and righteousness with justice. Whether it's creating a firewall against a caste system that does not recognize the image of God in every human being or lifting a clarion call against human trafficking, NOT TODAY is more than a movie. NOT TODAY stands as a clarion call to do justice in the name of Jesus."

Global partners like NHCLC advance the film’s important message through their worldwide networks of supporters. Additional NOT TODAY partners include:

Dalit Freedom Network
Operation Mobilization India
Operation Mobilization USA
International Justice Mission
IMB (International Mission Board)
Focus On The Family
Salvation Army Vision Network
YWAM (Youth With A Mission International)
NOT TODAY production company Friends Media is a ministry arm of Friends Church of Yorba Linda, Calif. 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