Hooray!  Up With People will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in Orlando, Florida next month.  It's a fitting location for the gleeful singing group to meet at the happiest place on earth.  And just in time for the 50th Reunion, SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS:  The Up With People Story is now available On Demand at: http://tinyurl.com/ob46ql5   If you order now, you can get a discount by using the promo code:  REUNION.  That's something extra to sing about!

WHY DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING IS NOT A HOBBY

For those of you who are following the federal court tax case in Arizona against Lee Storey and the making of SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story, there is a good article on the subject in the recent Filmmaker Magazine. Simply stated, documentary film making is not a hobby. It's work, and even though the subject matter may also "educate and expose", the work is done with the intent to make a profit. All legal briefs have been filed and the parties are waiting on a decision by the court. You can lend your comments and tweet about it here: http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/news/2011/07/why-filmmaking-cannot-be-a-hobby/

SMILE opens in Phoenix on February 17-24!

ATTENTION ARIZONA FRIENDS AND FANS!!!

we are pleased to announce that

SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story

will open in the Valley of the Sun on

February 17 - 24, 2011

Harkins Shea 14 Theaters

7354 E. Shea Blvd.
(Scottsdale Rd and Shea Blvd; take the 101 to Shea, exit west to Scottsdale Rd)

WE ARE THRILLED TO BRING THE FIRST EVER DOCUMENTARY ABOUT "UP WITH PEOPLE" TO ARIZONA WHERE THE SINGING GROUP THRIVED FOR DECADES. JAM-PACKED WITH NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE, INCLUDING CLIPS OF THE YOUNG GLENN CLOSE, SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS WILL BE PRESENTED WITH JOY, A HOOT AND EXTRA GLEE! YOU CAN SING ALONG IF YOU LIKE, BUT BE PREPARED FOR SURPRISES, TWISTS AND UNSETTLING TURNS AS THE DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES THE ORGANIZATION'S TRUE ORIGINS AND WORLDWIDE MISSION.

NOTE: the Thursday night (Feb 17) and Friday night (Feb 18) shows will include a Q&A with the Director and special guests.

TO REQUEST OPENING NIGHT TICKETS,
email: hello@smiletilithurts.com

FOR ALL OTHER SHOW TIMES AND TICKETS, CLICK HERE

TO WATCH THE TRAILER: IT'S A HOOT!

Lee Storey, Director/Producer

Bari Pearlman, Producer

Jack Lechner, Executive Producer

Penelope Falk, Editor

Aimee Lyde, Assistant Editor

Ezra Bookstein, Director of Photography

For publicity contact:

Mickey Cottrell

inclusive pr

6646 Hollywood Blvd - Suite 205

Hollywood, CA 90028-6295

(323) 460-4111 - Tel

(323) 855-6538 - Cell
mickey@inclusivepr.com

We look forward to seeing you at the movies in the Valley of the Sun!

With many smiles,

Lee Storey
Director/Producer
SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS

lee@smiletilithurts.com

SMILE held over in Portland!

Woohoo! Happy Holidays from the SMILE TEAM!

Although our opening Q&A via Skype didn't turn out due to technical difficulties at the theater, SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story will be carried over for two more shows in Portland on Christmas Day and on December 26. Both shows are at 2pm. Tickets on sale now. Come for the entertainment. We hope to see you there!

SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS @
HOLLYWOOD THEATRE
December 25 and 26 @ 2pm
4122 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR
(503) 281-4215
www.hollywoodtheatre.org

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 45^th 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

Take Starr Pass road to I-19 south to Irvington. You can't miss Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 on the right.

Stay tuned for more news and we hope to see you there!

BIG SKY, SEDONA and SALEM film festivals!

After an amazing 2009, we are off to a great start in the New Year with three new screenings of the award-winning documentary, SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS! Please check it out at these amazing festivals. For tickets in MT, AZ and MA, follow the link in blue. We hope to see you there!

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - Missoula, MT
DIRECTOR PRESENT FOR Q&A
Saturday, February 20 @ 3:40 pm
http://bigsky.bside.com/2010

Sedona Film Festival---ARIZONA PREMIERE!!!
DIRECTOR PRESENT FOR Q&A
Thursday, February 25 @ 11:45 am
Saturday, February 27 @ 7:30 pm
http://www.sedonafilm.org

Salem Film Fest - Salem, MA
PRODUCER PRESENT FOR Q&A
Saturday, February 27 @ 9:00 pm
http://salemfilmfest.com

With smiles; keep singing!