FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SCREEN DEBUT OF ‘SPEEDSUIT’ GIVES ANTI-BULLYING MESSAGE NEW VOICE

January 23, 2012, New York, NY – On Friday February 3, 2012 the Thessalonia Worship Center will host a private screening for ‘Speedsuit,’ a new independent film with a fresh take on teen bullying. 

An estimated 30% of American youth today report either being bullied or engaging in bullying. Meanwhile the lasting psychological and emotional effects of bullying continue to make headlines nationwide. Allen Weaver, writer/director of ‘Speedsuit,’ addresses this worrisome trend with a film tailor-made for a young modern audience.

Curtis Powers, the film’s bullied protagonist, is an African-American teen who escapes a relentless high school tormentor using advanced technology of his own design. Weaver hopes that ‘Speedsuit’ which he adapted from his 2009 young adult novel ‘Speedsuit Powers,’ will not only draw audiences with its S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) appeal, but spark a long overdue conversation about how best to support teens facing fear and alienation.

“I had my share of school bullies,” Weaver says. “But my toughest bully was inside me.” Having experienced these issues himself, Weaver is committed to helping young people in need. “What matters is that we each do our part to help provide solutions,” Weaver says.  “So our youth can live lives focused on pursuing their dreams and making a positive impact on society.”

The February 3^rd screening will be followed by a discussion with Weaver and the cast of the film. It is the first in a series of private weekend screenings of ‘Speedsuit’ scheduled during Black History Month.

For more information about private screenings and panel discussions for Speedsuit Powers, contact Allen Weaver at 646-523-9210 or email info@speedsuitpowers.com.

Schedule of February Events

Screening - Friday February 3, 2012: Thessalonia Worship Center, Bronx NY (8:30pm)

Screening - Friday February 10, 2012: Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle, NY (7:30pm)

Bullying Solutions Discussion - Saturday February 11, 2012: The Voracious Reader, Larchmont NY (2:00pm)

Screening – Saturday February 18, 2012: Agape Sabbath Day Church, Brooklyn, NY (7:00pm)

Screening - Sunday February 26, 2012: Fellowship Covenant Church, Bronx NY  (3:00pm)

Here is one version of the official movie poster for “Speedsuit” - the screenplay adaptation of my Speedsuit Powers novel (which deals with school bullying).  As you can see, “Speedsuit” is a film with primarily African American characters set in an urban environment. We have several Private Screenings set for Black History Month. After that, we submit to film festivals. This continues to be an amazing adventure - filled with obstacles and victories - as we press to turn a book into a film.  Check out our Movie Production Tab to see more about the filming process.

People have been asking - so here is the very 1st sample trailer for the movie. I say “sample” because the footage and audio are not the final edited version. This gives people a taste of what we are seeking to do. Post-Production doesn’t officially start until September, so there’s still plenty of work to be done. But, consider the video below a kind of… 1st draft. As we make our way through “Post” and draw closer to our February 2012 Screening dates, we will release a new preview trailer. Enjoy!

We are in an exciting time! More and more people are hearing about Speedsuit Powers and reading it. The kind of feedback we are receiving is both awesome and humbling. Parents are loving the story and giving the book to their kids. Kids are doing book reports on Speedsuit Powers in school. Some youth are even acting out the parts with their friends and siblings. Others are having entire conversations about whether Speedsuit Powers should be an animated series first - and then a live action movie. Readers want to experience the story in an immersive audio/visual way.

And now here we are… in pre-production for Speedsuit Powers: The Movie. Yes, that’s right, we are preparing to shoot the story as an independent film. In 2012 - you will be able to experience the story in a whole new way!

Become a part of the solution to the bullying epidemic that is sweeping through our communities. Read Speedsuit Powers. Purchase copies to “gift” to young people you know. Engage in discourse with others about the story and solutions. And get ready for the film.

As I said… we are in an exciting time!

Thanks for your support.

-Allen Paul Weaver III-

Last night - on May 9, 2011, I had the opportunity to experience actors perform words that I had written. It was both humbling and exciting.  We had an amazing first casting call! Ten actors auditioned for principal roles for our upcoming Speedsuit Powers film. By the end of the night, my Casting Director, Casting Consultant and I had narrowed down our picks.

We varied up the scenes to see their versatility: light comedy mixed with some heavy drama. A couple of the actors did cold readings, having been asked by us to read for a character they did not expect. After giving them a few minutes to look over lines they had never seen before, they gave a performance as if they had studied the lines for a few days! A couple of the dramatic scenes moved us to tears…

Names and pictures can’t be given at this time - but if this group of actors is any indication - open call auditions on May 24th are going to be amazing! Which actors will make the lineup? The running is going to be tight - and you won’t be disappointed when you see them on screen. We should be able to unveil them by the beginning of June.

Stay tuned!