Cubs Fans and Chicago Admirers Offered Movie Credit Spot in “We Believe – Chicago and its Cubs” Documentary Film
CHICAGO-(Business Wire)-January 27, 2009 - Chicago Cubs fans and admirers of the city of Chicago from around the world are being offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to include their name or the name of a loved one in the closing credits of the theatrical release or the DVD of the upcoming documentary “We Believe – Chicago and its Cubs” to be released in the spring of 2009. The effort represents the first time that a film production has undertaken active viewer participation to support charities.
One-half of all proceeds collected will go to benefit Project 3000 (http://www.carverlab.org), a philanthropically supported grassroots effort to find all 3,000 people in the United States affected with the blinding eye disease Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and non-profit Little Cubs Field www.littlecubsfield.com, a highly accurate replica of the Wrigley Field Chicago landmark scaled down to a kid-sized park.
Only a limited number of spaces are available in the theatrical credits and they will be displayed alphabetically in the closing minutes of the documentary. There will also be an opportunity to include names in the credits in the DVD for a lesser price, which will offer a Director’s cut, additional footage and stories, never-seen-before archival footage and lots of behind the scenes action.
Emmy and Grammy nominee John Scheinfeld, a respected director-writer-producer of documentary films, is completing the film, which captures the unique relationship between a great city and its baseball team. This documentary is the first film authorized by the Chicago Cubs in over 30 years and has the support of both Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
To be included in the theatrical release documentary closing credits requires a $100 payment plus shipping & handling fee to “We Believe – Chicago and its Cubs.” A personalized Certificate of Authenticity and a “We Believe T-Shirt” will be provided with each credit ordered. To be included in the DVD release documentary closing credits requires a $50 payment plus shipping & handling fee to “We Believe – Chicago and its Cubs.” The personalized Certificate of Authenticity and a “We Believe T-Shirt” will also be provided with each credit ordered.
“The disappointing closing of the Cubs 2008 baseball season doesn’t spoil the documentary project,” said Chad Smith, producer of the film. “This is a love story about Chicago and its baseball team. With every love story there is bound to be some heartbreak,” Smith added.
Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee knows about heartbreak – and hope. When his daughter was initially misdiagnosed with LCA, Derrek and his wife, Christina, were told there was no cure. But the Lees then learned about groundbreaking LCA research taking place at the University of Iowa, and suddenly hope reappeared.
“We are so pleased and grateful that John and Chad have chosen to direct some of the proceeds of this film to the research efforts taking place at the University of Iowa,” Derrek Lee said. “I’m excited to be part of this project at every level – as a participant and, even more important, as a parent who knows how much it will mean to other families who are struggling with this devastating disease. I encourage Cub fans everywhere to join in this effort by adding their names to the film project and to the effort to cure LCA.”
Although it’s now been determined that Lee’s daughter does not have LCA, the Lees continue to be committed to helping identify the estimated 3000 individuals with the disease in order to offer them genetic testing, in hopes of finding a treatment and eventually a cure.
Edwin Stone, M.D., Ph.D., the University of Iowa professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences who heads the research program aimed at finding a cure for LCA and other blinding eye diseases, echoed Lee’s comments.
“Private support makes all the difference when it comes to conditions like LCA, which affect a relatively small portion of the population – but when it’s your child or friend or family member suffering from this disease, the statistics don’t matter. What matters is helping LCA patients regain their sight, and thanks to contributions from individuals and efforts like We Believe, we’re coming closer to that goal every day. On behalf of the University of Iowa and University of Iowa Foundation, I’d like to express my thanks to the filmmakers and to all the Cubs fans that are helping us make a difference,” said Dr. Stone.
“We are truly honored to have Little Cubs Field supported by way of the film credits effort,” said Denny Garkey, president of Little Cub Field, a non-profit corporation in Freeport, IL. The film credit support will enable thousands of kids to have a great time playing on this unique field,” Garkey added.
The documentary film is set against the 2008 baseball season – the 100th anniversary of the last Cubs World Series win and explores and reveals the character, spirit and soul of the Chicago and why its people have rooted for the Cubs so passionately and for so long. “Reserving a film credit makes an ideal holiday gift for someone who is always hard to surprise and a wonderful way to make charitable contributions as well,” Smith said.
Payments can be made by credit card (American Express, Visa, Master Card and Discover) by visiting www.webelievethemovie.com or by downloading the form on the website and mailing it with payment to: We Believe the Movie Films, LLC 101 W. Grand Avenue, Suite 322, Chicago, IL 60654-7172.
“Being included in the film closing credits is not just for die-hard Cubs fans, but for anyone who’s ever loved Chicago and their team,” Smith said.
A Chicago premiere of the documentary will take place in 2009. The documentary is planned to be released in six languages including English, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, German and Chinese. Plans are also under consideration to issue a limited edition collector’s DVD in mid-2009 in time for Father’s Day.
Scheinfeld’s most recent documentary, released in 2006, was “The U.S. vs. John Lennon.” Born in Highland Park, Illinois, Scheinfeld received an M.F.A. in Radio/Television /Film from Northwestern University. He brings a broad spectrum of experiences and interests to pop culture, music, historical and spiritual projects for broadcast, cable and theatrical exhibition.
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a rare blinding eye disease that affects one in 100,000 children. Project 3000 was launched when Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee and Boston Celtics CEO and co-owner Wyc Grousbeck sought a partnership with the University of Iowa to advance scientific understanding of the disease and work toward a cure. Located in Iowa City, the University of Iowa is a global leader in vision research and care, with particular strength in inherited eye diseases.
Project 3000 (http://www.carverlab.org) is a philanthropically supported grassroots effort to find all 3,000 people in the United States affected with LCA and to offer them a genetic test whether or not they have insurance coverage to pay for it. LCA is an inherited form of blindness.
Little Cubs Field, located in Freeport, Illinois is a highly accurate replica of the Wrigley Field Chicago landmark scaled down to a kid-sized park. The stadium was completed in 2008 and the first little league game was played there on April 28, 2008, with Dutchie Caray throwing out the first pitch. Visitors from 41 states and 16 countries have already traveled to see the distinctive replica of Wrigley Field. About 95 percent of the skilled labor required to build the field was donated by unions, including the bricklayers’, cement finishers’, carpenters’, electrical workers’ and iron workers’ unions. In addition, hundreds of volunteers from throughout the Freeport community contributed their time for other tasks, such as digging ditches, painting and hammering nails. Freeport is located midway between Chicago and Galena. For further information about Little Cubs Field please visit: www.littlecubsfield.com.
For further information about “We Believe – Chicago and its Cubs,” please visit: www.webelievethemovie.com.
The documentary “We Believe – Chicago and its Cubs” is being produced by We Believe the Movie Films, LLC.
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