August 15, 2003
SPECIAL TELEVISION ALERT!
DON'T MISS "WEST 47th STREET"
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19 AT 10:00 P.M
NAMI and other advocates are preparing to tune-in Tuesday, August 19 to the highly acclaimed PBS television series, P.O.V. (Point of View) series, for the national premiere of the gripping documentary, "West 47th Street," which follows the progress of four members of Fountain
House in New York City.
See www.pbs.org/west47thstreet. The 10:00 PM EDT airtime is subject to change in some areas. Please check local listings.
Produced by Lichtenstein Creative Media (LCM) www.LCMedia.com, which won a NAMI Media Award in 2000 for the public radio series "The Infinite Mind," the film provides a cinema verite portrait of Fitzroy, Frances, Tex and Zeinab as they confront challenges of health issues, medication regimens, group homes, rehabilitation and work. With the film, Directors Bill Lichtenstein and June Peoples hope to change assumptions about people with mental illness, who too often are
feared or ignored.
LCM has donated more than $50,000 to NAMI affiliates and local mental health coalitions for public education organized around the film in communities nationwide. For example, NAMI Wisconsin has used West 47th Street to illustrate issues raised by the recent New Freedom Commission report and NAMI's "Shattered Lives" survey.
A free 30-page guide for public discussions based on the film is available through PBS. DVD copies of the film are available for purchase at a cost of $40-$50 for individuals; $90 for small non-profit community organizations; and $275 for institutions through the LCM store.
For additional information, please contact LCM Outreach Coordinator Michelle Materre at: Michelle@LCMedia.com.
