An American Opera Benefit Screening for Michigan Animal Charities January 29, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ann Arbor, MI, December 22, 2008 - Man Smiling Moving Pictures in association with Cave Studio is pleased to announce the benefit premiere of AN AMERICAN OPERA at The Michigan Theater.

On the evening of January 29, 2009 TOM MCPHEE will present in person his multi-award winning documentary at the historic Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. Proceeds will benefit several local and national charities, including The Michigan Humane Society, Best Friends Animal Society, and a variety of senior service organizations located in Washtenaw County.

Ann Arbor based filmmaker McPhee is kicking off an extensive North American tour with AN AMERICAN OPERA at the Michigan Theater. Presented as ‘The Greatest Pet Rescue Ever!’, the film details the efforts of thousands of volunteers who attempted to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of house pets immediately following the epic disaster Hurricane Katrina.

“This is a very important film. “...a tribute, and an honest inquiry, into the human-animal relationship and how delicate that bond really is... AN AMERICAN OPERA takes us right into the middle of things and doesn’t let us look away...” Sarah Ledbetter, WKNO Radio. AN AMERICAN OPERA played 24 film festivals on 4 continents and won the GOLD REMI at the 40th Houston Worldfest, the GOLD CAMERA at the 40th US International Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA as well as three other awards before signing a 10 year worldwide distribution deal with Cinetic Media.

Patrons and press are invited to meet the films creator Tom McPhee when he hosts a special reception beginning at 7:00pm on January 29, 2009 in the majestic lobby of the Michigan Theater. Information about the charitable organizations being supported as well as McPhee’s current film project will be on display in the theater lobby throughout the event.

Appetizers and beverages will be provided by local sponsors for the party. A special VIP area of the reception will include cocktails and an autograph / photograph session with the filmmaker. General admission tickets are $10.00 and VIP tickets, which also include reserved seating and an autographed poster, are priced at $25.00.

Tom McPhee has been an innovator in the film, event, multimedia, and television industries for more than 15 years. Creating fertile ground for Kevin Smith’s successful college tour which can be found on DVD, Paul Feig’s fan-favorite TV show Freaks and Geeks launching the career of Seth Rogen, and producing independent films with the likes of seminal indie filmmaker, author, cult-figure and friend Bruce Campbell. McPhee is credited with the 1996 creation of Flixtour, widely hailed as the premiere college film tour and listing Tom as an ‘Innovator of Indie Cinema’ by MovieMaker Magazine in 1998. Media and music buffs might also recognize McPhee as creator of 2002’s Real Detroit Weekly – The Music Show.

Tom served on the Board of Directors of The Detroit Film Coalition (DFC) was the Executive Director of the 1998 Detroit and Windsor International Festival of Film, created the IIC (International Interactive Council) in 1991 and is a member of the IDA (International Documentary Association), IFP-New York (Independent Feature Project), IFP-Chicago and the ALA (American Library Association).

The filmmaker will host a short question and answer session immediately following the 8:00pm screening of AN AMERICAN OPERA. Select interviews of McPhee’s next major film project MY SENIOR YEAR will be presented in the theater during the opening reception beginning at 7:00pm. The producer is currently involved with several local senior service organizations as he continues to embark on a national filming expedition to complete this incredible endeavor interviewing 10,000 people over the age of 60. Local residents may remember McPhee’s presence at the 2008 Ann Arbor Art Fair, where he recorded interviews with hundreds of senior visitors. Local senior groups will be in attendance supporting the January 29 event.

“There are many people who refer to their pet dogs and cats as “the other children”, and with good reason. We give our pets names, we give them shelter, feed them, and as a result, the animals adore us as much as we adore them. They also give us responsibility, and for others, they keep us company. They are, in essence, a part of the family. When tragedy strikes, there are those who are separated from the family dog or cat, as human lives are more favored. However, during and after the events of Hurricane Katrina, the treatment of some of the left behind pets is called into question by filmmaker Tom McPhee in this heartbreaking documentary.” (excerpt from review by Darren Seeley, Film Guru)

Individuals and businesses interested in sponsoring this premiere event are welcomed to contact Tom McPhee at [email protected] or by phoning 313.510.1444.

Tickets may be purchased through ticketweb or by contacting the Michigan Theater box office directly.

What: AN AMERICAN OPERA benefit screening for local animal charities

Where: The historic MICHIGAN THEATER in Ann Arbor, MI

When: 7:00pm, Thursday, January 29, 2009

Who: TOM MCPHEE in person hosting the pre-screening reception

Official Website: http://www.anamericanopera.com