Camp Fire Tales: A Benefit for Paradise

When:
January 5, 2019 @ 7:00 pm
2019-01-05T19:00:00-08:00
2019-01-05T19:30:00-08:00
Where:
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts
512 Washington St SE Olympia
WA 98501
Cost:
10.00
Contact:

Exclusive Screening of Local Filmmakers’ SOMETHING HORRIBLE to Benefit Teachers Devastated by the California Camp Fire.

Join This One-Time Exclusive Screening of SOMETHING HORRIBLE, a chilling psychological thriller.

Olympia native filmmakers, Jeremy Kriss and Kelly O’Neil, bring home their Doom & Gloom Productions’ independent film SOMETHING HORRIBLE for this exclusive screening, to benefit the Teacher’s Association of Paradise, in support of victims of the recent Camp Fire in California.

SOMETHING HORRIBLE is about a successful screenwriter suffering from severe social phobia, who rents an old, dark house in which to complete his masterpiece, but finds that his personal demons may have other ideas.

Raised in Olympia and graduates of Timberline High School and WWU, Jeremy and Kelly relocated to Chico, California, in 2014, along with their now-13-year-old daughter. Kelly served as the Assistant Principal for Paradise High School, where she and Jeremy quickly settled in and became an integral part of the Paradise community.

In November, the City of Paradise was devastated by the deadly Camp Fire that leveled the community. Of the 189 colleagues of Kelly’s working in the Paradise public schools, 60% were left homeless. Dedicated to maintaining a proper education for their students, teachers have had to manage the unthinkable by creating make-shift classrooms. Many are teaching in vacant spaces in the local mall, while others are utilizing rooms donated in buildings by the airport. The one school left standing of the nine in Paradise now accommodates preschool through high school students.

According to Rachel Frank, President of the Butte County Teachers’ Association, “Many of the teachers (from Paradise), who lost their homes in the fires, are living an hour to an hour and a half away, with friends and family. These devoted educators still show up to teach every day. In fact, less than 10% of the staff have taken a single day of leave. Many help transport their students to and from these vacant spaces turned into temporary classrooms, as well as supplement supplies and ensure their students have meals to eat — all out of pocket.”

In the wake of the destruction, Jeremy Kriss was determined to find a way to help. A close friend suggested a hometown screening of the film to benefit the teachers’ association, and the ball started rolling.

“I am just one guy who asked himself, ‘what can I do?’ I believe that heroes are simply everyday people in extraordinary situations. I know (that most) people, outside of our community, just don’t know what’s happening here and if I can help educate them – I know they will want to help. People WANT to help others. Fortunately, I am able to provide an opportunity. It is what I do as an educator,” Jeremy said.

All of the proceeds from the exclusive screening of SOMETHING HORRIBLE will go directly to the Teachers Association of Paradise, where the funds will be distributed to Union Members. These donations will be used to cover any and all costs including classroom supplies, food, and gas money – all so Paradise educators can continue to teach as they work to rebuild their community.

A special thank you to event sponsor T-Mobile.

To view the trailer and video clips, visit:  https://youtu.be/q2OeeHxIroo

Tickets $10 will be sold through the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Ticket price includes the $3 facility fee.

Doors open at 6:00 pm
Seating begins at 6:30 pm
Screening starts at 7:00 pm

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