ATB News Letter – Vanderbilt University & The Ranch
4 weeks ago, I received a call from Monnie at The Ranch Eating Disorder Facility in Nashville, TN, saying they wanted to host a screening at Vanderbilt University on February 27th.
I told her I’d be in San Francisco that day, but she could get a Public Performance License to screen the film and that’s what she did.
The Ranch has sponsored 3 prior screenings in Nashville to a crowd of some 1,000 people. Nashville is an awesome city.
Students from Vanderbilt arriving at the screening.
4 students pose for the camera.
Monnie said hundreds of people showed up. I wish the screening was held on another day, so I could have been there.
Oooops. I forgot to introduce you to Monnie. That’s her in the white blouse. She rocks!
This is Monnie’s daughter Erin. Erin is so awesome that I can’t describe her with words.
I hung out with Erin a little when I stayed at Monnie’s house for the Nashville screening. One of the highlights of the year for me. Erin still keeps in touch.
The last time that I saw Erin she was a basketball star. Now she’s playing baseball.
I think Erin has seen “America the Beautiful,” 2 or 3 times and she’s writing her school paper based on the subject matter in the film.
The paper is an english project that is a persuasive speech on the topic “The Media has a negative influence on young women today.”
At 13 years old, Erin has become one of the films biggest supporters.
Yesterday, I asked Monnie what was the sweetest thing that Erin has done for her lately.
Her repsonse:
“The latest sweet thing – I’d have to say her ‘thanking’ me for letting her have friends spend the night, and showing gratitude toward me by saying ‘thank you’ more often for things I do for her and showing gratitude by helping me. Her gratitude is very sweet. Also, she was recently awarded ‘witness of the week’ at school for offering unsolicited help to a teacher. She is sweet to help others and to learn from her mistakes.
So let’s see; Erin is Sweet, Thoughtful, Considerate, Charming, Intelligent, Athletic, Supportive – Let me stop and just say you absolutely rock Erin!
This is the cheerleading team at Erin’s school. Erin’s at the top with the blue paw on her uniform.
Her school has a unique concept. They took away the competition between the girls by letting anyone that wanted to be a cheerleader be a cheerleader. At Erin’s school, everyone is popular and celebrated. Awesome! Cheerleaders of all shapes and sizes.
- DVD UPDATE (THE FINAL WORD)
- UPCOMING SCREENINGS (UPDATED)
- LA CAST OF CHARACTERS
- TESTIMONIALS
- LOS ANGELES’ CAST OF CHARACTERS
I went to Los Angeles last week to lay around and soak up some sun. It didn’t quite work out that way. Before I knew it, I had a couple of meetings about the film. In hindsight and retrospect, I’m glad it happened this way, because I met some cool gentlemen!
This is Gary. Gary is responsible for you being able to rent the film on Netflix later on this year.
Gary is such an old school gentleman. While we were at lunch he said, “Let’s not text and talk on our phones. We’re here to enjoy each other’s company.”
That was refreshing. Modern day electronics (Phones, Ipods, etc.) makes people think it’s acceptable to be rude and lack interpersonal interaction.
This is Michael (to my right) and Nolan (to my left). They are responsible for the “major distribution” that will bring the film to cable, VOD, PPV, Hotels, Airplanes, etc.
Fellows, how long do you think it will be before my clientele figures out who the “major distributor” is? I have some pretty smart people reading this newsletter.
It’s his birthday -
While I was in Los Angeles, I found out that it was Michael Beach’s birthday.
You remember Michael Beach. He’s the actor that starred in the movies “Waiting to Exhale & Soul Food,” as well as the TV shows “ER & Third Watch.”
He’s also the Executive Producer of “America the Beautiful.” When I was in dire need and in danger of the film coming to a halt because of a lack of financing, I went to Michael and told him what I was trying to do and he wrote a big check, helping to make “America the Beautiful,” a reality today.
Michael said he supported what I was doing because he has 3 daughters.
FYI – One of the things that I’m proudest of is how all of these men came together to support a woman’s issue. Aside from $10,000 all of the money from “America the Beautiful,” came from men. Men supporting women. That rocks!
I called Michael and told him I’d treat him to any restaurant that he wanted to eat at for his birthday.
One day someone is going to turn my lights out for extending an open invitation like that.
Michael’s response – “Cool. We can go to IHOP (as in the International House of Pancakes).”
When I picked him up, he said he’d changed his mind. He wanted to go shopping for his daughter instead.
I said, “you want to shop for your daughter on your birthday?”
He responded, “Yeah. She has to shoot a short for school this weekend and I’d like to get her a nicer camera. You do movies and stuff, so you can help me pick one out.”
Fries Electronics in Burbank it was.
I think Mike gets happy when he sees shiny things.
We both liked this camera. It was our second choiceand the one he got her.
We hooked it up to his computer to make sure everything worked fine. His daughter officially has a new camera to shoot her school projects with.
What an awesome dad. Mike rocks!
- TESTIMONIALS
Darryl,
I can’t wait to get a copy of this film and watch it. Keep doing what your doing – you are truly an inspiration!XXXXX XXX
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Hi Darryl,
We met you the night you spoke to the parents of Prospect Sierra Elementary & Middle School. XXXX was the child in the front seat with whom you took a picture. I cannot tell you how much you and your movie have changed my perspective and attitude towards the fashion industry. Intellectually, I knew…we all do. It just takes someone (you!) to tell the story in such a compelling way that it shakes us up and forces us to pay attention. XXXX is only five, and I have time to do my best to teach her that she is a beautiful human being no matter what standards are thrown down by Karl Lagerfield, Ralph Lauren and Anna Wintour.
This is her lovely five year old daughter picking pumpkins.
Thank you so much for your movie. I can’t wait for the purchase link, as it’s going to be my Christmas present for those friends who have children. Oh, and keep up the detailed updates…I love hearing about your adventures!
CONGRATS on all of those wonderful things the man at Motion Picture Association had to SAY! See how God opens doors no matter what is thrown in your path! You are unstoppable and yes this message is going to get out no matter what. Keep up the good work. I’m going to run to an internet cafe tomorrow and Wednesday in anticipation of finding the link to the DVD.
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Thank you so much for taking such a special interest in Erin and other girls. You are helping them feel special and building their self esteem for appropriate behaviors.
You are changing lives with your work Darryl. I
appreciate you!
Thank you!
Monnie
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Oh Darryl where is the DVD release link?????????????? I went to Monte Nido and graduated from there over 13 years ago and was one of the first few to go through there when they opened and I am now happily recovered. I have been waiting to see this wonderful DVD in it’s original form since when it came to my area. However I was sick and couldn’t make it. I am presently working hard to put my Lymphoma to rest as I did my eating disorder. Please I need to see the original version. You have done such a wonderful job in promoting how America needs to view everyone. Wouldn’t it be awesome if everyone only saw beauty in everyone? Thanks so much for all your dedicated work. You are amazing. I would love to meet you some day.
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Dear Darrel,
Once agin I find myself in awe of what you have done and
continue to do for women, girls and indeed the whole freaking world by your commitment and your work.
You’re the best and you just keep getting better! Thanks for your work, your commitment and sharing yourself with the world.
Love,
XXXX XXXX
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This message is for Darryl Roberts.
I was at the lighting at linden oaks the night you spoke with my friend, a struggling survivor of bulimia. We both decided that we must go see this movie and I’m so happy to see that it is coming out soon. I want to personally thank you for making this movie because this topic needs to be made public.
I kid you not every persuasive speech i do in school is about how the media causes low self esteem and eating disorders. We need to stop and change this and I love that you are taking the first steps. So thank you again.
Sincerely,
XXXX XXXX
- DVD UPDATE (THE FINAL WORD)
Here’s the latest word and I’ve been promised that there won’t be any deviation to this schedule.
This Thursday, which is November 5th, you will receive an email with the link to buy the film.
Also there will be a link for universities and organizations to purchase a Public Performance License to have a one time screening of the film.
The film will be shipped out to you a few days after placing the order.
The only caveat is that I’m not receiving the entire shipment initially, so when they’re gone, they’re gone until I get the second shipment.
I’m hoping things will be okay.
Monnie from The Ranch is taking the first 50. Monnie what are you going to do with 50 DVD’s?
Once again the website is super secure.
The PG-13 Rated Version of the film will be ready in a couple of weeks. I’ve been getting hundreds of inquiries from High Schools and Middle Schools. I will let you know as soon as the PG-13 version is ready.
So you will receive the link to buy the DVD first thing Thursday morning. (I promise). It will be in your inbox when you get up for coffee.
I’ve gotten several emails from people that are planning “America the Beautiful,” house parties when they get the DVD. Anyone that’s planning to have one, let me know the date. I plan on crashing a few of them. Then I’ll have pictures of me eating pizza in your homes.
Thanks for your support. This has been quite the ride!
Darryl Roberts
- UPCOMING SCREENINGS (UPDATED)
We have a few screenings left between now and Eating Disorders Week of 2010. I’ll post additional dates as they become available:
Novemeber 9th – University of Georgia
Novemeber 11th – University of Richmond (NC)
December 2nd – Boca Raton, FL
December 3rd – Coral Gables, FL
December 5th – Vienna, Austria (Not Confirmed)
January 2010 – Peabody Museum – Salam, MA
January 23rd, 2010 – Half Moon Bay, CA
February 18th, 2010 – Champaign-Urbana, IL
February 19th, 2010 – Indiana University (NC)
February 22nd, 2010 – Evanston, IL
February 24th, 2010 – Hoffman Estates, IL
February 25th, 2010 – New Paltz, NY
March 3rd, 2010 – Normal, IL
October 2010 – Chicago, IL (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Meeting)
Darryl Roberts
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