FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
A National Movie-Making Campaign to Stop the Spread of Methamphetamine
BAY CITY, WI - June 11, 2007 - A grassroots campaign is just beginning; one designed to stop methamphetamine with the help of local community youth, their talent and their love for the movies. 
Methamphetamine is systematically sweeping across the United States from west to east ravaging families and communities as it goes. It’s a devastating drug that crosses the line for recreational use and it has to be stopped. Taproot, Inc. believes it can; on the grassroots level, by promoting the creative talent of each community’s youth. Taproot is sponsoring a National “Meth-Movie” contest opportunity for all students.
According to Taproot CEO, Linda Flanders, “Communities can encourage their young people to use their talent and love of pop culture to jump in and make a short movie that is entertaining, but more importantly, educates everyone about the dangers of methamphetamine.” The final big national premiere is November 30th, the day all movie entries are shown in their own hometown for National Methamphetamine Awareness Day. Says Flanders, “Everyone involved learns while making the movie, then learns even more by watching their own creation.”
The rules of the movie making contest are simple: 1) Follow the researched script, 2) Film like a silent movie with action, gestures and expressions, 3) Add a narrator who tells the story, and 4) Showcase local music. Show the movie in town as part of National Methamphetamine Awareness Day on November 30th and send it in. Student filmmakers can win cash, Apple Computers, Final Cut professional editing software and a Panasonic DVX 100 camera. Communities can continue to use the movie in schools and community venues until everyone in town is educated. Says Flanders; “We want to offer an alternative to drugs and alcohol by engaging today’s youth in the excitement that movies and music offer; plus promote their creative skills with today’s digital technology.” Taproot’s Vice President, Dr. Dorothy Halla-Poe adds, “We also want to help young people learn to solve their own generation’s problems and become constructive activists in their own community.” Research for the movie script came from families and experts in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. The structure of the movie script is based on Dr. Stanley Greenspan’s work in early childhood development, Dr. Howard Gardner’s work on multiple intelligences and interests, Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais’ work with functional learning and Ron Davis’ work on learning difficulties from the Davis Dyslexia Institute. “If you want someone to learn something, have them create it,” says Davis.
Taproot, Inc. was founded in 1997 to promote the use of the media arts for learning. They research and design short movie, song and stage play scripts into production templates that can be replicated by any community. The “meth-movie” contest is open to all students, regardless of age. Movies are to be shown locally on November 30th and sent in by December 10, 2007. Prizes are awarded in February 2008.
Contact:
Dorothy Halla-Poe
Taproot, Inc.
Phone: 952-233-8826
Fax: 715-594-3787
taprootchaska@msn.com
www.themethedemic.com
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