The Heart of the Game: Newsletter #14

Greetings to all new and old timers to The Heart of the Game newsletter! Glad you are along for this ride. Some of you have been on this train from its beginning eight years ago. It's been an incredible community project from the opening whistle and a testimony to the fact that life is a team sport. As always, my deepest thanks to you all.

Order Heart DVD Now!

The long-awaited The Heart of the Game DVD will be released in February and is now available to pre-order. It includes the film and over 90 minutes of never-before-seen extras. Be the first on your block to own it or to give as a gift. A portion of the proceeds from any DVD ordered from our website will go toward supporting empowerment programs for young women. To order your DVD now, go to: www.heartofthegame.org

Heart Nominated for Writer's Guild Award!

The prestigious Writer's Guild of America has nominated The Heart of the Game as one of its five nominees for Best Documentary Screenplay. The award ceremony is February 11th in Los Angeles.

Academy-not

Despite nearly unanimous critical acclaim from audiences and critics, including such huge plugs as "sure fire Oscar-worthy," the Academy Award documentary committee did not even pick Heart as one of the 15 films allowed to be voted on by the membership. It joins Hoop Dreams, Roger and Me, The Thin Blue Line, and Grizzly Man in the dubious honor of documentary committee snubbing. Who knows, maybe the idea of empowering young women, especially young black ones, is still a bit too revolutionary. But as Resler says: If you did your best, you won the game.

Heart Gives Back

Many people helped me from the goodness of their hearts to get The Heart of the Game out in the world. In recognition of this, The Heart of the Game has contributed over $12,000 to the following organizations: MA Center, Ludacris Foundation, Roosevelt Girls Basketball, Garfield Lady Bulldogs Basketball, and the Roosevelt High School Band. If you can help contribute to our campaign to empower young women, please send your tax deductible contribution made out to: 911 Media Arts and send c/o Heart of the Game to P.O. Box 31968 / Seattle, WA 98103.

Heart Up in the Air

I've received dozens of emails from folks who have seen The Heart of the Game on flights both in and out of the U.S. Great stories abound, best of which are the cheers that have erupted on flights from people watching the film causing other passengers to look around to see what the commotion was all about. Heart also opened recently theatrically in London where it was named "Film Pick of the Week" by a large London arts rag.

Resler's Book On Sale

Coach Bill Resler's book The Heart of the Team is now out and can be ordered at www.heartofthegame.org. And for those of you in the Seattle area, Resler is doing it again. His Roughriders are undefeated and ranked third in the state. He has put together another magical team. Come out to the new Roosevelt gym and see a film star and a wolfpack of girls in action.

Tell Us Your Story

We are compiling stories of how The Heart of the Game impacted you or someone you know. Please send us your story or reaction to the movie to: info@heartofthegame.org and put "Story" in the subject line.

Ward Available for Classrooms and Boardrooms

A lot of college professors, teachers, coaches, and business motivational leaders are using The Heart of the Game in group settings to inspire and teach life and decision-making skills. Director Ward Serrill is also available to talk to your group. Please contact info@heartofthegame.org for availability and cost. Please put "Speaker" in the subject line.

That's it for now. Remember . . . Look in their eyes!

Love Works.

— Ward
www.heartofthegame.org