The John Cooper School will host a public viewing of the film Race to Nowhere (http://www.racetonowhere.com/ ) on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. You can purchase tickets online http://www.racetonowhere.com/screenings/john-cooper-school. ($10.00 plus processing fee) or at the door ($15.00). Below you will find a synopsis of the film.

Race to Nowhere: A concerned mother turned filmmaker aims her camera at the high-stakes, high-pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children’s lives, creating unhealthy, disengaged, unprepared and stressed-out youth. Featuring the heartbreaking stories of young people in all types of communities who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried that students aren’t developing the skills they need, and parents who are trying to do what’s best for their kids, Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic in our schools: cheating has become commonplace; students are disengaged; stress-related illness and depression are rampant; and many young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.

School reform has become an urgent national issue and 2010 is the year of the education film. Race to Nowhere is the only film that shows what is actually happening to our kids as a result of current policies and practices obsessed with testing, performance and competition rather than meaningful teaching and learning. Race to Nowhere finally gives voice to those on the front lines who are most affected by education policies – the students and teachers themselves. Race to Nowhere is the only film to spotlight the intersection of health and education. The film empowers everyone to get involved and take ownership of what’s happening in our schools and communities.

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The Woodlands is being scouted as a site for commercials for a national sporting goods store and a bank. It also will be the site for local productions, such as a short action drama film called “Delinquent Duty” by Roy Ford and a music video by R&B Artist AJ Alderete,

To date, the production have resulted in $86,600 spent in the community, said Connie DeGuerre of the chamber, who is heading the film commission.  While DeGuerre has been courting location scouts and getting the word out on the new industry, a web site would help link the community with the Houston and Texas Film Commissions. In the future, the site could identify new locations in the community, list Screen Actor Guild member or extras located in The Woodlands, and provide information on support services available here.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg of what we can be doing,” said Nick Wolda, president of The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau.  The bureau’s board of directors Wednesday approved $5,000 for the design and development of a Web site and some marketing materials for the film commission.

DeGuerre said that the moving image industry has brought more than $1.2 billion to Texas in the past 10 years and that a 30 second commercial could bring as much as $1 million to local coffers through the use of local businesses.  Blair said she would like to encourage partnerships with other agencies and cited another successful program between the convention bureau and the chamber. The chamber provides visitors centers at The Woodlands Mall and Market Street, which has touched more than 85,000 visitors from all 50 states and 79 countries in 2009.

“The visitors center took only a little funding from the CVB and a lot of staffing from the chamber,” Blair said. “It is a nice marriage and a good partnership.”

The Woodlands Area Film Commission is part of The South Montgomery County The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce. It is operated by Connie DeGuerre, Director of Information Centers. She can be reached at 281-367-5777.

Jamie Sims- Director
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Phone:  281-363-8128
Fax:      281-292-1655
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The South Montgomery County Woodlands Chamber of Commerce
1400 Woodloch Forest Drive, Suite 300
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Phone:  281-367-5777
Fax:      281-292-1655
www.WoodlandsChamber.org
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The Woodlands Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
2801 Technology Forest Blvd.
The Woodlands, Texas 77381
877-963-2447
www.thewoodlandscvb.com
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