IN AMERICA, A KID DROPS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL EVERY 9 SECONDS … IMAGINE IF THEY DIDN'T. This is the compelling question behind award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio's thought-provoking film project, TEN9EIGHT: Shoot for the Moon, which chronicles the inspirational stories of several teens from low-income communities (from Harlem to Compton and all points in between) as they compete in an annual business plan competition. By learning how to be entrepreneurs, many of these students can now forge futures and destinies they never thought possible.

Nominated as one of 5 finalists for the VH1 Do-Something Awards, the film was called "the most inspirational and heartwarming film you will ever see" by Tom Friedman (Sunday New York Times).

The film includes students such as:

Rodney Walker, age 19, Founder of Forever Life Music and Video Productions: Rodney was put into the foster care system at the age of 5 and ended up homeless on the streets of Chicago. Almost becoming a statistic like many of his brothers, Rodney was able to chart a new future - and is now studying business as a freshman at Morehouse College.

Amanda Loyola, age 16, Founder of Eco-Dog Biscuits: Amanda's father escaped from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, finding a job at Burger King in Brooklyn, New York. He inspired his daughter, Amanda, to think that anything might be possible in America. Amanda started her business, a vegetarian dog treat company, after her dog, Princess, died from cancer.

Rodney and Amanda are but two of several remarkably resilient kids featured in this film, all of whom are facing the most challenging of circumstances in the inner city - making their achievements all the more remarkable.

The finals of this competition convenes 35 young entrepreneurs in New York City, chosen from over 24,000 students from across the country, winnowed down through a series of city and statewide business plan competitions held throughout the year. The winner receives $10,000 to launch his or her business - but more importantly, these finalists have the opportunity to interact with high profile entrepreneurs, including the likes of Arthur Blank (founder, Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons); Tom Scott (co- founder, Nantucket Nectars); Ralph Schlosstein (co-founder, BlackRock); Wyc Grousbeck (owner of the Celtics); and Kay Koplovitz (founder of USA Network). Although there can be only one winner, each student is empowered with the promise of a future they never thought possible.

THE TEAM BEHIND THE FILM:

Writer/Director/ Producer
Mary Mazzio

Editor
Paul Gattuso

Director of Photography
Richard Klug

Composer
Alex Lasarenko

Still Photographer
Richard Schultz

Story Editor
Jay Manson

Line Producer
Lucy Benini

Additional Cinematography
Martin Albert
Bestor Cram
John Paulson
Ralph Renick

Additional Still Photography
Jin-Sup Lee

Assistant Camerapersons
Chris Dame
Brett Frey
Thomas Greco
Nick Huynh
Patrick Kelly
Mike Krebs
Damon Lemay

Sound Recordists
Don Barto
Steve Bores
Terry Campbell
Dwayne Dell
Paul Flinton
Curt Frisk
David Gaffney
Christopher Kellett
Mark Mandler
Eric Moorman
Alex Riordan
Gary Silver
Bob Sullivan
John Zecca

Gaffers
Jeffrey Confer
Bill Frye
Sean Gray
Sean Herlihy
Alan Maxwell
Ken Perham
Scott Perryman
Tomo Sasaki
Graham Willoughby

Grip
Eric Metcalf

Production Assistants
Krisztina Lee Botond
Katherine Broderick
Teresa Buscemi
Adriana Campos
John Cassidy
Khadene Foote
Dennis Gomez
Ysaia Guevara
Chris Heike
Patrick Hines
Jennifer Hughes
Christine Knowlton
Tim Kossa
Mike Krumholz
Corey Lincoln
Lewis Lozano
Fernando Madrigal
Daniel Marcus
Matthew Rozek
Kevin Schroeder
Patrick Stinson
James Willis

Interns
Erica Rose
Katherine Broderick
TJ Kent

Graphic Designer
The 47th

POST PRODUCTION

Colorist
Bruce Bolden

Online Editor
Tim Montgomery

Sound Engineer
Brian McKeever

Assistant Editor
Dan Bromfield

Teaching Guide
Professor Elizabeth Thornton, Babson College

Online Facility
Finish Editorial

Film Processing
Duart Film and Video

Film Dailies
Rob Bessette

Editorial
Paul's Place

Music Mix and Mastering
Warren Wolfson, David Little, and Tonal

Sound Mix Facility
The Soundtrack Group

Legal Services
Paul Hartnett, Esquire
Ellen Steifler, Esquire

Accounting Services
Dave Health and Melanson Heath

Music Clearances
Jeanne Fay

Footage Clearances
Cheryl Van Grunsven

Public Relations
Elizabeth Kirk

Translators
Poh Hui
Linda Gilbert

Transcription
Mulberry Studios

Voice Over Facility
Captive Sound

35mm Film-out Team
David Hays, Vanessa Galvez, Hugo Gordillo and eFILM
Steve Van Anda, Tim Kirkhuff and DELUXE Labs
Jim Young, Doug Johnson, Mike Reilly, and Chace Audio
Chris Page and NT Audio

Print Management
Marty Zeidman, Jennifer Wilkinson, and Slowhand Releasing
Nazi Azby, Denis Jones, and Deluxe Media Management

FEATURING
Ja'Mal Wills and Andre Wills
William Mack and Edna Mack
Laura Lee D'Anna, Principal - Patterson High School
Anné Montague, Purcell Montague
Beverly Montague, Sophia Coles
Alexander Niles, Anabel Niles, Jim Niles
Stephanie Niles, Milton Garcia, Jr.
Ernestina Garcia, Milton Garcia, Sr., Steve Colyer
Jessica Cervantes, Barbara Alvarez, and Jorge Cervantes
Rodney Walker, Ronald Walker, Vincent J. Walker
Michael McGrone, Joshua Mercer, Melanie Vaughn
Gabriel Echoles, Mary Walker, and Yolanda Walker
Shan Shan Huang, Feng He Mai
Juan Juan Huang, Jessica Angell
Robbie Martin and Jeanne Martin
Diane Carpenter, Linda Gilbert, Fred Pimental
Amanda Loyola, Cesar Loyola, Iona Loyola
Macalee Harlis, Jr., Macalee Harlis, Sr., Roxanne McConn
Charlie Harlis, Kevin Bass, Tony Porter
Tatyana Blackwell and Celeta McDowney
Mena Lofland
Jimmy Lynn
Melanie Treanor Coburn and the
Washington Redskins Cheerleading Organization
Howard Stubbs
Jasmine Lawrence, April Lawrence, Crystal Lawrence
Evelyn Espinoza, Jeffrey Sanchez, Jesus Villegas
Gabrielle Green, Huong Cheng
Naomi and Noemi Romero
Steve Mariotti, Phyllis Rawley, Gerald Richards

JUDGES
Kenneth Banks
Brian Bedol
Arthur Blank
William "Dougie" Douglass
Bruce Dunbar
David Fialkow
Wyc Grousbeck
Ray Hamel
Kay Koplovitz
David Pfeffer
Ralph Schlosstein
Tom Scott
Beth Westvold

ALSO FEATURING

Jerome Addison, Damion Alexander, Milan Alexander, Ippy Amatul-Wadud,
Mari Angel, Doris Bakana, Nancy Barboza, Zaccary Belliveau, Alisha Bender,
Bianca Bennett, Josh Bonnenburg, Sade Brown, Jonathan Bryson, Ashley Cabriales,
Jarod Caiaccia, Max Calhoun, Shaunequa Carter, Vivian Chau, Jesse Chianelli,
Sharleen Clark, Geneva Cornelius, Jeremy Cornell, Maria Cortez, Imani Cupe,
Correy Dammons, Christine Dawson, Vince De Fazio, Raven Donley, H. Garrett Dorn,
Ariana Drummond, David Duong, Samuel Espinosa, Glenn Evans, Megan Flohr,
Kristal Flores, Akeem Forbes, Myisha Ford, Matt Freedman, Richard Futrell,
Christian Garcia, Marvin Georges, Daniel Ginsberg, Lauren Golston, Mickel Golya,
David Gordon, Surya Green, Kelly Gronsky, Brett Hahalyak, Luichy Hernandez,
Robin Hernandez, Kaimara Herron-July, Nick Hilgert, Tyree Jenkins, Natalie Johnson,
Darionne Jones, Evan Kaufman, Stephanie Kear, Davion Kirk, Michael Kirshenbaum,
Thomas Krapp, Dionisio Lainez, Edith Leiva, Derrick Lyman, Darius Mathis,
Gregory Miller, Jaye Money, Adria Morris, Marco Nuñez, Ugo Ogamba, Esther Pianim,
William Potter, Briana Procacina, Amber Ravenel, Eva Resnick-Day, Bryan Riley, Rachel Rodgers, Jeff Rogosz, Shantae Romain, Claudia Sanchez, Michael Scott, Brian Sessions, Kailya Shuey, Jacob Silverman, Kayla Stadelman, Autumn Taylor, Ray Tebout,
Danina Thompson, Mandy Tice, Brandon Trecki, Marnise Tucker, Jeanette Udave,
DaMarra Underwood, Ashlei Warnock, Morvelin Washington, Dominic Williams, Delishia Yelverton

WASHINGTON REDSKINS CHEERLEADERS
Melanie Treanor Coburn
Tiffany Bacon
Anabel dela Cema
Maria Falkenstein
Toccara Hilliard
Khristena E. Jones
Eileen Lopez
Anna Smith
Dawn Washkewicz

SLAM POETS
Eric Foster
Rahfeal Gordon
SeKeithia Johnson
Edwin King

RAP ARTISTS
Jerry Barry, Christopher Graham,
LeRoy McIntosh, Sadeek Morrison

STEP UP DANCERS
Harry Jefferson
Lorena Aquino
Lissette Aquino
Jose Avila
Sandra Bonilla
Idele Castro
Aldho Enciso
Adrian Fortes
Jeffrey Gomez
Grace Jefferson
Stacey Miranda
Chris Nanetti
Samantha Signorelli
Jarrett Thomas
Edwin Tola

INAMORATOS DANCERS
Amirdh Austin
Ryan Johnson
Travon D. Smith
Treva Smith

CHURCH MUSICIANS
Shawn Coleman
Paul Glenn
Michael Little

HOT DOG STAND CUSTOMERS
Dennis Gomez
Denise Haygood
Corey Lincoln
Juan Nunez
Jobie Overton
Gloria Rodriguez
Jeanette Torres
Bryan Ware

DOG OWNERS/FOCUS GROUP
Cristina DeMoura
Paul Hinkston
Kathrynn Stamoulis
Kaitlynn Stamoulis


TEN9EIGHT NOMINATED FOR VH1-DoSomething Award
TEN9EIGHT was nominated as a finalist for VH1's Do Something Award, which will be broadcast on July 19th at 9pm (on Vh1) from the Palladium in Hollywood. The five finalists include TEN9EIGHT, Disney's OCEANS, The Cove, and Food Inc..

UPCOMING SCREENINGS and DATES
APRIL 27, 2010 - WASHINGTON DC: 7 PM screening at the Library of Congress. Special presentation of the film during the White House Summit - by the Department of Education and the Library of Congress. For Summit delegates.

APRIL 30, 2010 - MISSOURI: 9 AM screening at Bedell Hall - Southeast Missouri State University. RSVP to Sandra at 573-651-2929

MAY 19, 2010 - PHOENIX, AZ: 6:30 PM screening at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church (in the PRBC Sanctuary) - Free and open to the public.

JUNE 4, 2010 - SWEDEN: 7 PM screening at Visir Bio Theater - Leksand, Stockholm. Open to YES Summit participants.


TEN9EIGHT, opened in eight cities with AMC Theatres (NY, LA, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami, KC), and was broadcast SUPERBOWL SUNDAY on BET. The film will air continuously on BET and Centric for the next two years and Scholastic just released a companion book to the film this month. Russell Simmons and Larry Wilmore (Senior Black Correspondent for the Daily Show) opened the film in New York. Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Dennis Hightower; Gerry Lopez (CEO of AMC Theatres); and Chris Gardner (profiled in the "Pursuit of Happyness") opened the film in Washington DC at a special event at the Smithsonian.

The film opened during Global Entrepreneurship Week, screening at Wismar University (Germany); High Colleges of Technology (United Arab Emirates - shown across 17 campuses); Chapman University (CA); University of Miami (FL); Middle Tennessee State University; University of Rochester; York College (PA); as well as at events in White House, TN; Grand Rapids, MI; Bentonville (AR); and Lansing (MI).

The DVD is now available.