High Line Teen Picks August 9, 2012

HIGH LINE’S FIRST-EVER SET OF FREE MOVIE SCREENINGS CURATED BY LOCAL TEENS, PRESENTED BY FRIENDS OF THE HIGH LINE WITH SUPPORT FROM AT&T


THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 16

New York, NY (August 2, 2012) – Friends of the High Line is pleased to present High Line Teen Picks, the park’s first-ever free set of summer movie screenings curated exclusively by teens living near the High Line in West Chelsea, that feature underdog characters who overcome challenges and obstacles to realize their dreams, which will screen in the 14th Street Passage located on the High Line at West 14th Street. Real Steel and Freedom Writers, will be shown on Thursday, August 9th and Thursday, August 16th respectively, from 7-9 pm. Screenings are free and open to the public. Seating is limited. All films are rated PG-13.


“Have you ever thought about giving up, but then something changed your mind?” said Luz Delma Adon, age 17 and Winona Holderbaum, age 15. “We picked these movies because the High Line itself is a reinvention – built by people who didn’t give up.”
High Line Teen Picks, made possible with generous support from AT&T, is part of Friends of the High Line’s ongoing Community Engagement work. Teen Picks is a new initiative that responds to a neighborhood survey conducted by Friends of the High Line in the spring and summer of 2011.

The program was created after Friends of the High Line surveyed more than 800 residents living in the Robert Fulton Houses and Chelsea-Elliott Houses, the two New York City Housing Authority complexes closest to the High Line, to find out the type of programs local residents would be interested in attending at the park. The survey results showed interest from many adult residents in job training opportunities for local teens, and many teens themselves were interested in attending summer film screenings and other activities at the High Line.


Meeting weekly since May, the High Line Teen Film Committee has worked closely with the communications, food, operations, and programming staff at Friends of the High Line to plan and execute the movie series. During this time, teens have developed a theme for the series, screened numerous movies, created a marketing plan, drafted web and email communications, coordinated a photo shoot, participated in a graphic design critique, developed a neighborhood outreach plan, and planned for special food concessions to be available during the series.


High Line Teen Picks is part of a robust calendar of free and low-cost public programs offered by Friends of the High Line, aiming to build a vibrant and inclusive community around the High Line. High Line Programs are engaging and innovative opportunities for visitors of all ages, and emphasize the distinct qualities of the High Line. High Line Teen Picks is made possible thanks to support from AT&T. Friends of the High Line’s Community Engagement Activities are made possible by AT&T and the Nathan Cummings Foundation.


EVENT DETAILS
(The listings below were written with the High Line Teen Film Committee.)


THURSDAY, AUGUST 9
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Real Steel, PG-13


Starring Hugh Jackman, this action flick takes boxing to a whole new level. Set in the future, a dynamic father-son duo and their underdog robot fighter take on the world of professional robot boxing.


THURSDAY, AUGUST 16
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Freedom Writers, PG-13


Freedom Writers is a 2007 drama starring Hilary Swank. No one believed in these students until a young teacher sacrificed everything to bring them together, helping them succeed despite all odds.


To learn more information about High Line Teen Picks, please visit www.thehighline.org.


Media Contact
Kate Lindquist, Friends of the High Line
kate.lindquist@thehighline.org
(212) 206-9922