November 26, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tim Hadac, 312-747-9805
Simone Koehlinger, 312-747-9632
"Kevin's Room:Together"
Set for TV Broadcast Debut
3rd Installment in Innovative,
Award-Winning Series
About African-American Gay Men & HIV/AIDS-Related Issues
The third installment in the Chicago Department of Public Health's (CDPH) innovative and thought-provoking "Kevin's Room" series will make its television debut this weekend.
"Kevin's Room: Together" will air at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 2 on WCIU-TV (Channel 26), just one day after World AIDS Day.
Not a documentary but a 90-minute drama that frankly addresses real-
life HIV/AIDS and related health issues affecting African-American gay and bisexual men and those who care about them, "Kevin's Room: Together" is designed to educate and motivate the thousands of people locally and nationwide who will see it.
"We're proud of the 'Kevin's Room' series," stated CDPH Commissioner Terry Mason, M.D. "With the HIV/AIDS epidemic taking a disproportionate and tragic toll on communities of color---not only in
Chicago but nationwide---we continually strive to devise and deploy public health interventions that are current, relevant, culturally sensitive, accurate and effective."
"We are proud to bring such an exceptional production into the homes of viewers all across the Chicago area," said Neal Sabin, Executive Vice President of Weigel Broadcasting, recent winner of a Midwest Emmy for its "Snapshots of Black History" campaign, which aired on WCIU-TV and celebrated achievements of African-Americans.
The first film of the "Kevin's Room" series, launched in 2001, was met with much praise and was followed by Kevin's Room: Trust in 2003. "The need for creative media and social marketing initiatives like Kevin's Room is greater now more than ever," added Lora Branch, CDPH staff who served as the film's Executive Producer.
"Kevin's Room: Together" addresses concerns reflected in today's headlines-violence, identity, and community change. "Although the primary target audience is African-American gay men, the film effectively brings together common issues that affect all of us. We cannot miss this vital point---it will take communities coming together to turn this epidemic around," added Assistant Commissioner Christopher Brown.
The world premiere of the film took place on November 12, 2007 as part of Reeling, the Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival. Produced by CDPH and Karl Productions, "Kevin's Room: Together" was filmed earlier this year and showcases many Chicago-based actors. The program will be distributed to community based organizations, groups, and individuals after the broadcast premiere.
For more information, go to www.kevinsroom.org or call (312) 747-9632. (Editor: Interviews with local cast and crew easily arranged and welcome.)
