How do you get a social-media-saturated public to “like” a hard sell? You pitch America’s Favorite Pastime, of course.
The team behind an upcoming baseball film aims to score a home run in more ways than one thanks to its new joint-venture with the Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) organization.
“SAVE’s mission resonated deeply with our film and we are so incredibly grateful to partner with SAVE to bring awareness and true stories to life,” said Albert Dabah, the filmmaker behind “Extra Innings,” a feature release now in pre-production.
The Extra Innings Awareness Campaign launch on May 9 in Manhattan will feature a moderated discussion with Dabah, an exclusive screening of behind-the-scenes content, and guest speaker Dr. Dan Reidenberg, executive director of SAVE.
The free event is open to the public from 5:30-9 p.m. at SLA307, 307 W. 30th St. in Manhattan. Drinks and light food will be served at the reception. To reserve tickets, email [email protected].
BTW, if you think this life-or-death issue doesn’t impact you — hit the bench:
A new National Center for Health Statistics study released in April reported a 24 percent jump in suicides since 1999, with the pace ratcheting up among males and females ages 10-74 after 2006.
“The talent behind the production of this true story will help the audience better understand the realities of suicide and mental health, hopefully leading to better care and treatment to avoid tragedies like this for other families,” said Dr. Reidenberg, the U.S. representative to the International Association of Suicide Prevention.
Dabah, founder of Simba Productions, will executive produce his own script, which is based on a “personal story of family loss, mental illness and a love for the game of baseball.”
“Extra Innings” is a coming-of-age story set in the 1960s within a Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. The young protagonist, David, is obsessed with playing baseball — much to his father’s dismay. When tragedy strikes, David struggles with the pursuit of his dream and devotion to his religion and family.
Dabah and film fest wunderkind Jamison M. LoCascio will co-direct with veteran cinematographer Ken Kelsch (indie cinema auteur Abel Ferrara’s go-to-guy) behind the camera. Emmy-winner Judy Henderson (Showtime’s “Homeland”) is currently casting lead roles. Check out ExtraInningsMovie.com for updates.
“Independent films are often a labor of love, pieces of art which are fueled by the passion and determination of a dedicated group in an attempt to tell a deeply personal and original story,” Dabah said. “’Extra Innings’ embodies this as it moves into its development phase, and this is where your help really counts.”
ABOUT SAVE: The mission of SAVE is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide. SAVE’s prevention and education programs are design to: increase knowledge about depression, other brains illnesses and the need for assessment and treatment as suicide prevention, increase knowledge about symptoms of depression and the warning signs of suicidal thinking and behavior and to increase understanding and the use of intervention sills that can help avoid the tragedy of suicide. To join the fight, visit SAVE.org
