[AERNet] "The Ultimate Gift" Premieres for Blind & Visually Impaired Community in NYC

[Judi Piscitello]

PRweb.com (Press Release)
Tuesday, February 27, 2007

"The Ultimate Gift" Premieres for Blind & Visually Impaired Community
in NYC

Jim Stovall, the author of the best-selling novel, "The Ultimate Gift,"
will offer a showing of the movie based on his book at the famed Empire
Theatre in New York City for an audience of blind and visually impaired
persons on March 6. 

It's a rare and truly fantastic occasion for all of us.   

Charlotte, NC (PRWeb) February 27, 2007 -- On March 6, one of the
nation's best-known champions for the visually impaired, Jim Stovall,
will be in New York City to partner with organizations that aid the
blind in presenting a first-ever event for this unique audience.

Stovall, the author of the best-selling novel, "The Ultimate Gift,"
will offer a showing of the movie based on his book at the famed Empire
Theatre in New York City for an audience of blind and visually impaired
persons in that vicinity. The event is being called the Narrative
Premier of "The Ultimate Gift" and, according to Stovall, is the first
time this audience has been invited to view a movie prior to its release
to the general public, which is slated for March 9.

For this event, the movie will feature a narrative tract designed to
run without interrupting the original dialogue or sound effects by
inserting description only where there is a pause in audio. Minimal
description is inserted so as to be helpful without distracting the
audience from the flow of the program. This feature, currently available
for scores of television and movie presentations, was introduced by
Narrative Television Network, which was co-founded by Stovall. The
American Life Channel (cable), a long-time supporter of "accessibility"
for the blind, is partnering with Stovall in promoting the event.

Also at the center of activity around this event are a number of key
organizations: the American Foundation for the Blind; Lighthouse; the
American Council for the Blind; the Computer Center for Visually
Impaired People at Baruch College (Cuny); and VISIONS Services for the
Blind and Visually Impaired. As NYC's only community center specifically
for the blind and visually impaired, VISIONS is getting word out to the
3500, mostly lower income, people it serves. "Our folks couldn't be more
excited about attending a screening and the opportunity to dialogue
'face to face' with other people about ways to make life more
meaningful," says VISIONS Executive Director Nancy Miller. "It's a rare
and truly fantastic occasion for all of us."

Stovall has been actively involved in many of the decidedly "novel"
events surrounding the pre-release of "The Ultimate Gift" starring
Oscar-nominee 10-year old Abigail Breslin together with veterans of the
stage and screen James Garner, Lee Meriwether, Brian Dennehy and rising
star Drew Fuller.

The film tells the story of a young man, Jason, (Drew Fuller) who stand
to inherit an unimaginable fortune if only he agrees to accept 12 tasks
- or "gifts" - from his recently deceased grandfather (Garner). The
challenge results in a journey of discovery in which Jason receives a
crash course on life that reveals the relationship between wealth and
happiness.

The movie has spawned a movement, of sorts, that encourages discussion
around a number of life values, with an emphasis on the "gift" of
giving. The movie is making headlines across the country with its
screenings to benefit charitable organizations, with a reported $25
million in donations to efforts ranging from literacy and youth
initiatives to the building of hospitals. The $10-million independent
film was underwritten by the Stanford Financial Group, a Houston-based
wealth management company, and has drawn nods of approval from such
well-respected persons as Steve Forbes, Paul Harvey and Robert
Schuller.

As to why this movie and why this audience, Stovall is clear: "As a
blind person myself, it was imperative that I include those like me in
this movie and this message. The ability to enjoy and discuss a first
run movie with others is a real cultural thing. The inability to do that
brings further separation between the visually impaired and others. This
was an ideal opportunity to invite the constituency we've built through
narrative TV to be part of this nationwide movement."

About the Movie

The nationwide release of the movie, "The Ultimate Gift" will be marked
by a premiere event at Phillips Place Cinema in Charlotte on March 7.
The film was produced by Rick Eldridge, President of Charlotte's Film
Foundry and is the first of a steady stream of films coming out the of
the recently announced Independent Producers Alliance (IPA).
Headquartered at the Film Foundry, IPA is an effort to help filmmakers
fund and distribute their products in the most efficient and effective
manner, according to Eldridge. "The Ultimate Gift" is one of four IPA
films expected out this year.

About the Narrative Television Network (http://www.narrativetv.com/)
Since 1988, NTN has been a leader in making television programming and
movies accessible to our nation's 13 million blind and visually impaired
people and their families. NTN uses a technique in which the voice of a
narrator is added to the existing programming sound track without
interfering with any of the original audio or video. Over the years, NTN
has received top honors from the American Council of the Blind, as well
as the American Foundation for the Blind, for its pioneering work.
Currently NTN provides accessible programming for a number of broadcast
and cable networks.

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