UPCOMING FILM RELEASE, 23 BLAST GIVES BACK TO CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS IN OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
TRUE LIFE STORY OF TRAVIS FREEMAN, AMERICA’S FIRST BLIND FOOTBALL PLAYER, TO RELEASE IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE OCTOBER 24
FILM DELIVERS POWERFUL MESSAGE OF INSPIRATION ABOUT HOPE, FAITH AND PERSEVERANCE
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. (October 17, 2014) – Based on the real-life story of a champion, Travis Freeman, who lost his sight overnight through a seemingly tragic occurrence and played football for Corbin High School, the highly-anticipated film, 23 Blast and its producers are supporting charities nationwide which support overcoming any obstacles life brings. Coinciding with “World Blindness Awareness Month” in October, the producers are giving back to numerous charities through the film’s national release on October 24, including The Travis Freeman Foundation.
23 Blast will release through Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Inc. in association with Toy Gun Films. www.23blast.com.
The Dylan Baker Film highlights how Freeman took the high road, how it made a difference in his own life and the lives around him, and will surely encourage and uplift audiences. It masterfully depicts a story of hope triumphing over despair, of courage and faith overcoming fear and of victory prevailing over adversity.
Filled with its strong message of encouragement, influential leaders are also finding the film a powerful message, inspired by the way Freeman overcame the odds to reach his goal. Tony Dungy, former professional American football player and first African American National Football League head coach is one of the film’s strong supporters.
“23 Blast is a powerful movie about football and perseverance, based on the true story of Travis Freeman. If you’re looking for an inspiring movie that the whole family can enjoy, go see this film!” Dungy says.
“We all have disabilities that we have to overcome. In my mind, a disability is merely an obstacle that we have to conquer, says Travis Freeman. “For some it’s cancer; for others it’s the loss of a job and still for others it might be the death of a loved one. For me it was the loss of my sight. In all of these situations we cannot allow the circumstances to dictate what we think about God; instead, we must allow God to dictate what we think about our circumstances.”
23 Blast features Freeman, a typical teenager growing up in a small town in Kentucky, who is a local hero on and off the field. In the prime of his youth, he is unexpectedly stricken with an infection that destroys his optic nerve. He becomes blind overnight. Under the influence of parents who love him, a physical therapist who challenges him, a coach who inspires him, and a best friend who he cannot bear to leave behind, Freeman shows us what true bravery is by competing on the gridiron, helping his Corbin High School team advance to the state playoffs. 23 Blast follows Freeman and Jerry Baker, his closest friend, from the time they meet on the football field as kids through high school. Baker’s attraction to the dark side of teenage temptations, beer and drugs, threatens to pull the friends apart. It is only on the football field where they truly connect.
The film stars Dylan Baker, Stephen Lang, Alexa Vega, Mark Hapka, Max Adler, Bram Hoover, Kim Zimmer, Becky Ann Baker, Timothy Busfield, and Fred D. Thompson, and is written by Bram Hoover and Toni Hoover, directed/produced by Dylan Baker (Spider-Man 2 & 3, 13 Days) and produced by Gary Donatelli and Toni Hoover. Executive producers for the movie include Daniel Snyder, Misook Doolittle and Brent Ryan Green.
“God has given me an amazing platform to share my story, and to ultimately point people to the greater story of the Gospel. In 1994, when I stepped foot on the football field as America’s first blind football player, I was just living my life. I was just doing what most boys in the town of Corbin, Kentucky want to do. It wasn’t anything special; I was at home on the field. I never had any thoughts of a movie, a book, or starting The Travis Freeman Foundation (www.TravisFreeman.org) to raise funds and awareness about blindness. I just wanted to play. God then used my desire to overcome the odds and play football to establish a platform for me that is greater than anything I could have ever imagined,” Freeman says.
The film’s release will also include a descriptive audio channel, which allows visually impaired to enjoy the movie in theaters.
For more information about 23 Blast, please visit:
Website: www.23blast.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/23Blast
Instagram: www.instagram.com/23blast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/23Blast
About Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Inc.
Launched in January 2009, Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Inc. is the destination for productions that offer hope to audiences looking for inspiration in entertainment. It is committed to releasing films and television programming that are inspiring and redemptive. For more information, please visit www.oceanave.tv.
About Toy Gun Films
Toy Gun Films is an independent film production company run by Director/Producer Brent Ryan Green. For more information, please visit www.toygunfilms.com.