Blank Street

Today's post is in support of my good friend, Ben Saunders.  He and Joey Schihl will be premiering the new documentary film, 'Blank Street', this coming Sunday at 2 PM at the historic Byrd Theater in Richmond, VA.

These two young men spent the better part of the summer of 2010 crisscrossing the Commonwealth of Virginia meeting all sorts of people and capturing their personal stories of hardship and struggle to make a life that is both meaningful and hopeful. 

Many of the areas Ben and Joey traveled to are places that economic despair hit years ago or places that people live everyday just trying to scratch out where their next meal is coming from.

It's the story of a man who lays his head nightly surrounded by cardboard in a gazebo and it's the story of a kind-hearted woman with countless problems of her own only wishing to bring simple joy daily to others.

Ben

If you're in the Richmond area this Sunday and want to see a story that hopes to, as the Blank Street Project webpage says, 'raise awareness of the issues that transcend borders, towns and streets' stop by for the FREE showing.  Come out see a great piece of work!  I've heard so much about this Virginia Interfaith Center sponsored project for over a year and have personally seen the excitement and hard work that these two young men have put into this presentation.

Joey

Their trek around the state in a 80's VW van named, 'Iris' was a worthwhile mission to capture and share the many stories that sadly for the most part would remain
unknown.  Thanks Ben and Joey and good luck Sunday!  It's my hope that Sunday is just the beginning for your efforts at conducting this type of mission work and that the stories you're sharing with others will make us think and more importantly act.


The Blank Street Project:
http://www.blankstreetproject.com/index2.php


Peace,
Ray

UPDATE!!! (March 5, 2011): Check out this news piece that ran last night on local TV news:
http://www.wtvr.com/videobeta/5985d257-eea4-4446-ad34-4091992be336/News/New-Documentary-Screens-In-Richmond

UPDATE #2- Congrats to Ben and Joey...the premier was a smashing success!  Well over 300 attended the free screening today, Sunday, March 6, 2011.