GREAT NEWS!

Wednesday, February 5, 2003, was a wonderful day for all of us in the Closer Walk family!

On that day, there was a Cover Story in the Life Section of USA Today, and the first major preview screening of the completed film at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.


100,000 + HITS IN 5 DAYS

Steve Sternberg’s story in the world’s widest circulation newspaper triggered an astonishing 100,000 + visits to acloserwalk.org from individuals and organizations in 42 countries around the world in less than a week!

Thanks especially to all who have left notes asking for copies of the film once it is ready for release. We have your e-mail addresses and will let you know as soon as we’re ready to start filling orders!

And very special thanks to all of who have left such moving and heartfelt comments in the "Request A Copy" section of the website. Keep them coming! A Closer Walk is the beginning of a global conversation about the way the world is, and this website is where you can talk about how you feel; what you want to do, and how you can help. Remember: A Closer Walk is not just a movie. It’s a movement, and your voice will be heeded and heard.



LA PREVIEW SCREENING BIG SUCCESS


The preview screening in Los Angeles, sponsored by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and General Motors, took place on the same day (Feb 5) that the USA Today article appeared, and it was a magical event.

The screening was held at the state-of-the-art 600-seat theatre at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and was attended by a wonderful cross-section of people from the worlds of entertainment, HIV/AIDS, politics, philanthropy, business, media, as well as family and friends.


The audience, which included A Closer Walk narrator Will Smith and his wife Jada, was remarkably attentive from curtain up to curtain down. You could have heard a pin drop during the screening, and the 35 mm print, featuring Richard D. Young’s remarkable cinematography, looked like a painting. The spontaneous standing ovation at the end was a wonderful tribute not only to the filmmakers, but to the evening as a whole, "full", as Robert Bilheimer said in his brief closing remarks, "of the promise of a new beginning."

Bright lights and camera crews from E! and KNBC Los Angeles added sparkle and excitement to the champagne and wine reception that followed. As Patty Evans of The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation said, "the evening was everything we hoped it would be, and more." All who attended would surely agree.

The next preview screening of A Closer Walk is in Washington, DC, on March 12, sponsored by the Global Health Council and General Motors.