A Private Showing of "Bridegroom," a Documentary Film by Shane Bitney Crone at the Centenary College David and Carol Lackland Center Sitnik Theatre September 15th at 7:00 pm

Hackettstown, N.J., September 5, 2014 – Shane Bitney Crone’s film “Bridegroom,” which has gained much publicity recently will be shown at Centenary College as part of a National Tour at 7 p.m. September 15, 2014 at the Sitnik Theatre in the David and Carol Lackland. The filmmaker, Shane Bitney Crone, will conduct a discussion about the film afterwards. Members of the community are invited to this opportunity. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served.

“This opportunity was made possible through a generous gift from a friend of the College,” says Emily Walker, Director of Programming and Service at Centenary College. “I am so pleased that because of her interest in the College we are able to meet Shane Bitney Crone and have a private viewing of this documentary.”

“Bridegroom” is a documentary directed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that tells the emotional journey of Bitney Cone and Tom, two young men in a loving and committed relationship – a relationship that was cut tragically short by a misstep off the side of a roof. The story of what happened after this accidental death- of how people without the legal protection of marriage can find themselves completely shut out and ostracized- is poignant, enraging and opens a window onto the issue of marriage equality like no speech or lecture ever will.

On May 7, 2012, the anniversary of Tom’s death, after a year of documenting his own grief, Bitney Crone decided to make a video tribute to his partner entitled “It Could Happen to You.” This film, posted on YouTube, received over 3.4 million views and has been translated into over 20 different languages. The impact of Bitney Crone’s YouTube video and the raw nerve it touched tells us this is an important story that needs to be told. With the incredible support from influential people like Brad and George Takei and Neil Patrick Harris, “Bridegroom” was successfully funded on July 19, 2012 by over 6,500 people on Kickstarter.com becoming the most funded documentary in the history of crowd funding. It was released in the fall of 2013.

“Bridegroom” received its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Fesitval 2013, where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. It subsequently screened at Little Rock Film Festival, Toronto Inside Out Festival, Outfest Los Angeles and Outflix Memphis, Louisiana Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, winning the Audience Award for Best Documentary at all five festivals.

“This is a wonderful, sad, heartbreaking yet exhilarating and life affirming story,” says President Bill Clinton.

For more information, please contact Emily Walker at walkere02@centenarycollege.edu.

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary College’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world.

Centenary College’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County). The Centenary College School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in two locations: Parsippany and Edison, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey. The School of International Programs recruits international students for study at Centenary and Centenary students for study abroad.

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