Upcoming Screenings
- SMILE opens at Harkins Theaters in Phoenix, February 17-24
- SMILE screens in Michael Moore's Dangerous Docs at Traverse City Film Festival, July 30
- Harkins Theaters Presents SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS, Tucson, AZ July 27-31, 2010!
- Tribeca Cinemas Presents: Doc Series, NYC, May 24, 2010
- Salem Film Festival, Salem MA, February 27, 2010
- Sedona Film Festival, February 25 & 27, 2010
- Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, February 20, 2010
- Rocky Mountain Women's Film Fest, Colorado Springs, Nov 6-8
- FirstGlance Film Festival, Philadelphia, October 24
- Temecula Int'l Film & Music Festival, Sept 10 & 11
- DOCUWEEKS, IFC Center, NYC, Aug 7-13
- DOCUWEEKS, ArcLight Hollywood, LA, July 31-Aug 6
- NEWFEST Film Festival, June 5
- Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, April 3
- Florida Film Festival, March 28 & April 2
- Slamdance Film Festival, January 17 & 20
Recent Press and Praise
- Variety: Storey victory over IRS reassures community!
- Hollywood Reporter: Lawyer rescues doc film industry!
- IDA News on IRS Win
- NY Times notes "sigh of relief" for doc filmmakers
- Deadline reports on victory over IRS for documentaries
- Storey Speaks on IRS Case at IDA's DOC U Event
- Forbes Breaks Story on Knocking Down the IRS
- Filmmaker Magazine on WHY DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING CANNOT BE A HOBBY
- New Times reports "it's sugary but pretty damn effective"
- Arizona Republic calls SMILE "a complex tale"
- Review from the Traverse City Film Festival
- Philadelphia Lawyer critically reviews "fascinating historical phenomenon"
- Madison proclaims SMILE "very relevant today"!
- New Review in Failure Magazine
- Cinema Without Borders gives us 5 stars!
- Hey U Guys UK review: "If you get a chance to catch this one, be sure to check it out."
- Hugh Hart's Industry Buzz on the "globe-hopping chorus"
- Dish Miss calls it "well-made...funny, fascinating, and very very entertaining!"
- NY Post tells how Glenn Close was Up With People
- LA Times singles out fast-paced doc!
- la2day's "Top Pick of the Week"
- Documentary.org interview with Director Lee Storey
- Rotten Tomatoes gives us an A-!"
- Conspiracy theories...often turn out to be true.
- Movie Dearest says "Up Yours, People!"
- LA Weekly cheers "Up With Docuweeks"
- Gordon and the Whale calls it "very funny, very strange, very affecting"
- Movie Geeks finds it "entertaining and enlightening"
- Village Voice proclaims "a withering critique"
- indieWIRE notes we are qualifying for an Oscar!
- pullquote's Can't Stop the Music Pt 2
- Highly rated review says keep an eye out for this one!
- Indie Week calls it especially interesting!
- Orlando Sentinel pokes a reluctant Glenn Close, by golly!
- Orlando Weekly trumpets 4 star review with 'deft wit'
- We're a hoot!
- From the San Franciso Bay Guardian
- Variety reviews our film!
- We've been blogged!
- L.A. Times gives us a nod
- The Salt Lake Tribune discusses films about music
- indieWIRE names us one of Five Films To Watch at Slamdance
- This just in from Variety's THE CIRCUIT
- Hollywood Reporter: Lawyer rescues doc film industry
Jul 11, 2010
Michael Moore's Film Festival in Traverse City, July 30
MILLIKEN AUDITORIUM
Friday, July 30 at 12:30pm
1701 E. Front St
Traverse City, MI
Click here for details and tickets:
traverse.bside.com/2010/films/smiletilithurtstheupwithpeoplestory_traverse2010
Jul 5, 2010
SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS to screen on Mackinac Island where Up With People began!
We are pleased to announce a unique opportunity to experience the history of Up With People on Mackinac Island, MI, August 1-2, 2010.
Few people know that Up With People began on Mackinac Island, MI. The Up With People sing-out cast sprang from hootenanny shows conducted by Moral ReArmament (MRA) beginning with a summer youth conference in 1964. The head of MRA at the time was a man named Peter Howard. J. Blanton Belk also helped organize the youth conferences. When Peter Howard died unexpectedly in 1965, Mr. Belk took over as head of MRA in the United States and continued to fashion MRA's Up With People/sing-out program. The Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island was among the impressive properties formerly owned by Moral ReArmament. There, industrious MRA volunteers built additions to the property that still includes the great hall, a theater and state-of-the-art film studio. Mackinac College was also built on site and was operated for MRA/Up With People youth and others until 1970. Click here for background, photos and exhibits.
In the “Tower” at Mission Point Resort, there is an historical museum in which you can view a photographic history of the key leaders in Moral ReArmament, including those who started, developed and maintained Up With People through the decades. The museum’s timeline ends without a full transition to Up With People, although you can see photos of the youth conference with attendees like President Gerald R. Ford. You’ll even see a young J. Blanton Belk performing in MRA plays. Painted murals include the familiar faces of the singing trio, the Colwell Brothers.
Among other themes, SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS documents the MRA mission to change hearts and minds, and then the transition of the Up With People program. The film includes historical and current day footage of the island property and the honest personal reflections of John & Patty Sayre. John Sayre, an Olympic gold medalist, along with his rowing partner Rusty Wailes, had prominent roles in inspiring the youth during these summer conferences and beyond. These summer youth conferences on Mackinac Island are among the unique and fascinating history of Up With People, and the Mission Point Resort and the Tower Museum are worthy of a visit. You won’t be disappointed.
To bookend screenings of SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS at Michael Moore’s film festival in Traverse City (July 27-August 1), the Mission Point Resort is hosting a public screening on Mackinac Island on Sunday, August 1 at 7pm. SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS will screen at the very theater where MRA and Up With People/sing-out performances were held, and where part of SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS was filmed. To celebrate this collaborative event, Mission Point Resort is generously offering a “get-away” package that includes:
* Two night stay (double occupancy), taxes (Sunday/Monday nights)
* Luggage transportation fee from the ferry
* Breakfast each morning for two
* Tower Museum admission tickets
* SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS admission tickets (Q&A with the Director to follow)
* Popcorn and a non-alcoholic drink during the movie
To promote the film, clips of never-before-seen archival footage that may appear in the Director’s cut will be screened at 3pm on August 1. A casual reception with the Director will begin at 5:30pm, just prior to the screening of SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS at 7pm. The Q&A will follow the show.
The total package cost is $394. For more details or to book, contact Nikki at (248) 291-8871 or ncharbonneau@missionpoint.com.
Of course, tickets to see SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS on August 1 @ 7pm or to the Tower Museum can be purchased separately, and there is no cost to attend the 5:30pm reception prior to the screening.
If you're interested in the Up With People, Moral ReArmament or the history of Mackinac Island in any way, this is the event to attend!!!
HARKINS THEATER TUCSON SHOWTIMES July 27-31
Greetings!
If you live in Tucson, Arizona or plan to attend the 45th reunion of Up With People, you can now see SMILE ‘TIL IT HURTS screening at the local Harkins Theaters from July 27-July 31. It’s less than 20 minutes from the Starr Pass Resort going south on I-19 to Irvington. Harkins Theaters has arranged multiple showtimes to allow Up With People alumni more opportunities to attend. The film is jam-packed with archival footage, historical facts, and personal stories from a variety of perspectives. After the evening shows, please join us for a lively Q&A with the director/cast. Your views are welcomed!
SHOWTIMES:
Tuesday, July 27 @ 7pm (Q&A with the director/cast to follow)
Wednesday, July 28 @ 7pm (Q&A with the director/cast to follow)
Thursday, July 29 @ 11am & 2pm
Friday, July 30 @ 11am & 2pm
Saturday, July 31 @ 11am & 2pm
Tickets can be purchased online or at the door: (cut and paste the link in your browser)
http://www.harkinstheatres.com/movieDetails.aspx?movieId=71263
DIRECTIONS (or on google maps):
HARKINS TUCSON SPECTRUM 18
5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz
Tucson, AZ 85706
520-889-5588
Stay tuned for more news and we hope to see you there!