HOLLYWOOD, December 20 - Millions of movie fans will experience The Spirit of America, an uplifting message from the entertainment film industry during the holiday season. The three-minute trailer will be featured on more than 9,000 screens.

The Spirit of America, created by Oscar®-winning director Chuck Workman, consists of a rapid-fire series of scenes culled from more than 100 motion pictures that show the courage, diversity, patriotism and character of America as depicted in the movies.

The film was made possible by the commitment and help of studios, and others in the entertainment industry, with leadership provided by the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), and with support from Kodak and Technicolor Laboratories.

"We are proud that this patriotic message is being distributed on Kodak film," says Jack Teahan, global accounts manager and vice president of the Kodak Entertainment Imaging division. "It is also appropriate because every clip featured in the trailer came from a classic movie produced on Kodak film. That's not surprising because the chances are very high that anytime you go to a cinema you are going to be watching a motion picture produced on Kodak film."

Teahan points out that the film projected just on United States cinema screens this year is the equivalent of about six and a half billion snapshots.

"The idea for creating and distributing this patriotic trailer was a response to the events of September 11," says Emmy Award-winning producer Michael R. Rhodes. "We wanted to find a way to pay tribute to the indomitable American spirit and find a way to make people feel good again."

Teahan concludes, "Movies capture the enthusiasm, energy and patriotism of our country in a way no other medium can. We think audiences will cheer as they see The Spirit of America and share that spirit through all the scenes from those great films."
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/news/spirit.shtml

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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According to NATO the original cut of the film was around five minutes but it was edited to 3:30 at the request of some chains. I think the length is OK but it feels rushed in places.

AMC is not running "Spirit of America" -- nor is the stadium theater near my home.

I had to put up with that "America the Beautiful" in front of Waking Life at the UA Union Square. That so-called "policy" snipe did get me thinking: 9/11 was an excuse for militarism abroad and repression at home. If Waking Life weren't as compelling as it turned out to be, I would have left the theater with a sour stomach.

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I agree with Brad, though. Whatever plays before a feature shouldn't more provocative than the film itself. Ten minutes into the feature, you don't want your audience still thinking back about the spot they saw about 9/11 or dying refugees in Bangladesh.

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