Coming Soon!

After 4 years of independent research, combing through 40 years of history, media and dusty boxes in Up With People warehouses, interviewing hundreds of helpful and thoughtful alumni, we have finally woven together a complex quilt of the Up With People experience set within a political, social and pop culture landscape over the past 4 decades. As a first time producer/director, the journey has been like riding the biggest roller coaster of my life. There were great days when I could say: "Look Mom! No hands!" but most of the time I held on tight during the thrill of the ride and experienced every emotion one can imagine. And the ride is not over! We are on our way to our World Premiere in SLAMdance, January 17, 2009 in Park City, Utah. This will be our first screening followed by another on Inauguration Day January 20th. Because this is a critical time in the history of our nation and the world, it is a good time to reflect upon and measure the actions of our past. There are good intentions and good hearts everywhere. We believe SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS includes the candid and sometimes haunting reflections of individual choices in seeking to make the world a better place. But it also allows us the opportunity to appreciate and intelligently measure the idealism of youth and the collective hope for the future that we all share. We can't wait to share the dialogue with you!