• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

This is a Film About How One Remarkable Life Can Inspire Many Other Remarkable Lives. This is the Story of Joseph Dulin

Posted on: Monday, 1 December 2008, 11:38 CST

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts Educational Outreach Program presents a Big Bang Film Production ADVANCE SCREENING of "Bridging The Gap" with 2 screenings, Friday, December 5th at 10:30AM (For students) and 7PM for the general public in the historic, Music Hall.

There is no admission, yet patrons are encouraged to donate what they can.

Director/Producer/Editor Gary Bredow and Director/Producer/Editor, Per Franchell, aka Big Bang Films directed and produced a documentary in 2006 called "High Tech Soul: The creation of Techno music," a documentary on the evolution and growth of Techno music from Detroit which garnered a worldwide distribution deal and major press around the globe. Big Bang Films are holding an advance screening of their new documentary, "Bridging The Gap." Executive Produced by Kenneth Eisenberg "Bridging the Gap" is the story of a failing educational system and the life of an extremely unique man named Joseph Dulin, who has devoted his life to successfully educating kids whom under normal circumstances, would have fallen through the cracks of the urban educational system.

"Bridging The Gap" is an inspirational documentary film about an equally inspirational teacher who has raised the quality of life for hundreds of students in challenging situations whose future seemed as bleak as the dark and cold Michigan days.

St Martin De Porres Catholic High School was on the verge of bankruptcy after the Riots in 1967, as Dulin took on the unenviable task of transforming the faltering school into an educational success story by using his unique blend of charisma, discipline and unconditional love for his students, who amazingly achieved an 85% College enrollment in 1967 in a city where the dropout rate is currently at 79% (in 2006). Dulin was the first African American lay principal of a catholic school in the nation.

Outside of traveling for months as a Special Advisor directly to Al Gore during the 2000 election, Dulin has been featured in Time magazine, on The Phil Donahue and highlighted in countless areas of local and national press documenting his fight to educate, and be educated on equal terms, regardless of race or socioeconomic status.

Joseph Dulin is also the founder and Executive Director of NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day). NAAPID is a national call to action to get parents more involved in their children's education. NAAPID is celebrated annually on the second Monday in February. NAAPID has been celebrated in 47 states in the USA, Japan, Australia, Canada, The Bahamas and the Virgin Islands.

As a young man growing up in Evansville, Indiana, Dulin stood up to the racism and the resultant anomie that faced most young Black Americans of the 50's and 60's who lived near that line of demarcation known as the Mason-Dixon. But like a prizefighter who uses his brain instead of his fists, Dulin persevered. Whether it was the inequalities of the school system or the institutional racism of the Catholic Church, Dulin never backed down when it came to fighting for equal rights for African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. Before starting Roberto Clemente Student Development Center, Dulin applied his fearlessness and convictions to the Detroit Catholic Educational system by transforming St Martin De Porres into a model for not only all Black Catholic High School's- but all Catholic High Schools, irrespective of race.

Directors Gary Bredow and Per Franchell followed Principal Dulin over the course of three school years at Roberto Clemente School in Ann Arbor, where Dulin has been the principal for over 30 years. The result is a gripping exploration of the fine line between success and failure of students who live in a world that is punctuated by economic strife and violence. Dulin and his staff run the school more like a family, and deal with issues one student at a time with great detail and concern. Because of the unique practices that are an everyday occurrence at "Clemente," they have met the challenge with astounding success, despite the proverbial deck that is stacked against the kids and their families.

Appearing in the film are former students, including a State Representative and a Federal Judge, current students and their families- which Dulin feels is one of the most important variables in successfully matriculating students - family support. Others appearing in the film are, Professor Griff from rap group Public Enemy, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Senator Buzz Thomas, TIME Magazine's Nathan Thornburgh, Brian Stetcher from RAND Corporation and many more.

"Bridging The Gap" in an unflinching view of the realities of the American Urban educational experience and one man's diligent and successful response in navigating these students over the widening chasm of failure.

Schools interested in having students attend may contact: Joel Greene at joelgreene7@gmail.com

To view the film's Trailer, go here: www.bigbangfilms.com/joey.html

A limited amount of pre-screening "Work-In-Progress" DVDs are available for critical review upon request. Contact: Rick Manore at Music Hall (313) 887-8508 or, musichallpr@charter.net to obtain one for your publication.

SOURCE National African-American Parent Involvement Day

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category