SPECIAL ONE-NIGHT ONLY SNEAK PREVIEW MOVIE SCREENING WITH DIRECTOR STEPHEN GYLLENHAAL

Grassrooting Productions invites you to a sneak preview screening of the upcoming drama GRASSROOTS followed by a panel discussion with Director Stephen Gyllenhaal, co-producer Kathleen Man Gyllenhaal and representatives from Los Angeles-based student groups.

Tuesday, October 25, 7:00PM

American Film Institute
Mark Goodson Screening Room
2021 North Western Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323-856-7600
Limited free parking on campus

Download PDF flyer here.

GRASSROOTS
 
Genre: Drama
Cast: Jason Biggs, Joel David Moore, Lauren Ambrose, Cedric the Entertainer, Cobie Smulders, Christopher McDonald, Tom Arnold, Emily Bergl, DC Pierson
Directed by: Stephen Gyllenhaal
Written by: Justin Rhodes & Stephen Gyllenhaal
Based on the book ‘Zioncheck for President’ by Phil Campbell
Producers: Michael Huffington, Peggy Rajski, Matthew R. Brady, Peggy Case
Executive Producers: Brent Stiefel, Gary Allen Tucci and Jane Charles
Co-Producers: Robin Gurland and Kathleen Man Gyllenhaal
 
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Hollywood-starred film coming to the American Film Institute for a one-night only special screening and panel discussion, as part of nationwide college tour.

With unemployment rates at depressing highs and with nearly everyone disillusioned about the dysfunctional politics of Washington, the word “hope” has taken on new meanings: From the electrical energy of the Obama campaign, to dispirited despair... All within a few years.

And yet, within the current negative national outlook, there is a burgeoning breath of fresh air. Grassroots movements across the United States – the Occupy movement and the Tea Party alike – prove that Americans still have it in them to make change. This sense of optimism finds expression in Stephen Gyllenhaal’s new film, ‘Grassroots’.

Former Republican Congressman Michael Huffington and liberal Hollywood director Stephen Gyllenhaal have long been engaged in the world of social change and media.  Huffington joined Matthew Brady, Peggy Rajski and Peggy Case to produce ‘Grassroots,’ a highly entertaining film about local politics in Seattle, Washington. Gyllenhaal believes so much in this eccentric, youthful and sublimely hopeful film that he’s personally presenting sneak previews across the country this fall, hoping that the film will serve as a lightning rod for anyone who has given up on national politics.

“So much of our political discourse, from the local to the national, has been pessimistic, so pessimistic it’s almost poisonous. If we give in to that, we’re lost,” Gyllenhaal said. “‘Grassroots’ has an engaging message about regular people getting involved in politics on their own terms, and a message that is becoming ever more salient as we witness the successes of groups of organized people across the United States. This film – and these national movements – tell a story that personally inspires me.”

‘Grassroots’ stars Jason Biggs, Joel David Moore, Lauren Ambrose, Cedric the Entertainer, Cobie Smulders, among others. It is based on the memoir ‘Zioncheck for President’ by Phil Campbell. Campbell is a disillusioned, fired journalist who agrees to manage the city council campaign of his friend Grant Cogswell. Cogswell is a short-tempered, unemployed music critic – an oddball outsider with a predilection for wearing polar bear suits, a deep love for Seattle, and an obsession with the Seattle Monorail.

Before having festival and theatrical premieres, Gyllenhaal and the ‘Grassroots’ team are hoping to take the film directly to regular people throughout the United States by offering sneak previews at college campuses and community venues.

“This fall and winter, we’ll be going to towns all over America – especially to college campuses.” Gyllenhaal said. “I want ‘Grassroots’ to help remind people that government only works when we all participate. We are long overdue for a national conversation about how we can get government working again, and we are happy to show the film at a time when the national discourse is so focused on engagement.”

Gyllenhaal continued. “This movie is also about young people finding it within themselves to take some real risks. It’s a ‘political coming of age story,’ if there is such a thing, and we can think of no better place than the American Film Institute to have our sneak preview screening in Los Angeles. Students and young people in Los Angeles, after all, are at the forefront of current media, film and political movements.”

The college tour is being supplemented by educational materials – available on grassrootsthefilm.com – that provide the tools and basic education necessary to help people start campaigns of their own. 

‘Grassroots’ is an MRB Productions film, in association with Two Tall Boots and Lanai Productions. Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal, it was produced by Michael Huffington, Peggy Rajski, Matthew R. Brady and Peggy Case. Executive producers are Brent Stiefel, Gary Allen Tucci and Jane Charles. ‘Grassroots’ was co-produced by Robin Gurland and Kathleen Man Gyllenhaal.

For more information about the film, the tour and how you can get involved, please visit Grassrootsthefilm.com, or follow us on Twitter @grassrootsfilm or facebook at facebook.com/grassrootsthefilm.