The Creative Coalition's Spotlight Initiative Explores America's Unhealthy Relationship with Food
The Creative Coalition announced that Barry Levinson, Academy Award-winning director of Wag the Dog and Rain Man, will explore America’s burgeoning obesity crisis in a new documentary. The film is part of The Spotlight Initiative, a series of independent films with messages that make a positive difference in the world.
“The evolution of the obesity crisis in America is a fascinating and compelling human story. It’s the hidden enemy within our borders that no one talks about,” said Mr. Levinson.
Robin Bronk, executive director of The Creative Coalition, added, “Obesity is a serious health crisis. The Spotlight Initiative uses the power of film to bring attention to social cause and that’s why we’re delighted to be working with a master storyteller like Barry Levinson to bring this important issue to light.”
Today, two out of three Americans are overweight or obese. And despite growing public attention to the issue, studies suggest that by 2030 nearly nine out of 10 Americans will be overweight.[i],[ii] The health risks of this crisis are well-documented and significant: Excess weight is associated with an increased risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, liver and gallbladder disease, and infertility, among other diseases and conditions.[iii]
The film project will be fully funded by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and its alli brand, with complete creative control given to Mr. Levinson, his filmmaking team, and The Creative Coalition.
“Obesity is a crisis for America,” said Rachel Ferdinando, vice president, alli, GSK Consumer Healthcare. “We are proud and pleased to partner with The Creative Coalition as a vehicle to bring attention to this critical issue.”
As part of this project, The Creative Coalition hosted a dialogue event yesterday in Park City during the film festival. Sponsored by GSKCH, the event examined the role the entertainment industry can play in changing America’s damaged relationship with food.
The Spotlight Initiative was launched in 2007 by The Creative Coalition to support programs that use the art of filmmaking to shed light on important social issues of today’s world. Since its inception, The Spotlight Initiative has explored issues such as women’s rights and empowerment, mental illness, advocacy of the arts, and environmental and climate change issues.
About The Creative Coalition
The Creative Coalition (www.thecreativecoalition.org) is the premiere 501c(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance. Headquartered in New York City, The Creative Coalition also has offices in Washington, DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
About alli
alli is the only FDA-approved weight-loss product available to overweight adults, 18 years or older, without a prescription. alli is a clinically-proven product with a comprehensive, individualized action plan. The alli program encourages modest, gradual weight loss, known by experts as the best way to lose weight. alli (60 mg orlistat capsules) is safe and effective when used as directed. Because of the way it works, alli can help make you conscious of the foods you eat, which helps you lose weight and learn how to make healthy choices for life. www.myalli.com
About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicoretteยฎ, NicoDermยฎ CQ and Commitยฎ as well as many medicine cabinet staples, including Aquafreshยฎ, Sensodyne,ยฎ Tumsยฎ and Breathe Rightยฎ.
About GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline โ one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies โ is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information visit: GSK.com.
[i] http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/overweight/overweight_adult.htm
[ii] http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v16/n10/abs/oby2008351a.html
[iii] http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/causes/health.html
The Creative Coalition Dennis St. Rose Contact via email 1-646-706-1662
“ฦvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of ฦvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? ฦvolutionย suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence,ย ฦvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating โin the blink of an eyeโ the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called โprogressโ may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscarยฎ... Read More