THE LAST WALTZ 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, a benefit for IN THE DARK

Join us for a special 40th Anniversary Celebration of The Band’s farewell concert, THE LAST WALTZ, presented by The THE BAND Band with the TTBB Horns and special guests at the STONE PONY in Asbury Park on NOV 4th. Proceeds will benefit IN THE DARK, a socially relevant, non-profit film about the global problem of sexual violence against women and children.

$25 general admission tickets: http://stoneponyonline.com/schedule.html

$42 VIP tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2606097

VIP tickets include a pre-show cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres, artist meet & greet, and one raffle ticket for a chance to win one of the signed photos from The Last Waltz(!) that will be exhibited and auctioned off.

The VIP reception will begin at 7:00pm and the concert will begin at 8:00pm.

IN THE DARK is a character-driven narrative about a middle-aged reporter who is trying to cope with the sexually violent atmosphere that surrounds her. As she attempts to hold accountable the perpetrators of crimes she investigates as a reporter, we witness her suffering from dissociative amnesia, leaving Nina, in essence, “in the dark” in regards to her own childhood and a life she hoped had been sealed away in her subconscious.

The motivation behind this project is to reach global audiences that have a concern about, and seek innovative solutions to, sexual violence against women and children in both developed and developing nations. In South Africa, where the film is set, it is estimated that one in every two women will be raped in their lifetime at least once. Thirty percent of adolescents reported that their first sexual encounter was forced (information provided by Rape South Africa).

The story portrays the consequences of sexual violence on many levels. On the surface, Nina is brought back to South Africa to cover the gang rape of a child; however, once confronted with her own family, glimpses of the repressed sexual abuse she herself experienced as a child begin to debilitate her ability to function.

Nina is a chain-smoker, an alcoholic, and a regular user of prescription medication. As she remains in South Africa, the memories of her past flood back to her, and she dissolves more and more into the foggy world of an alcoholic.

Interpol reports that South Africa ranks as number one in the world for the most rapes against women and children. A rape occurs every seventeen seconds in South Africa, but it is estimated that only one in nine rapes are ever reported to the police. Incredibly, few rapists are ever convicted, and the sad reality is that rape statistics for South Africa, in particular, are on the rise, especially for children.

It’s important that these stories, whether via an article, a documentary, or a narrative film, are brought to the general public with the hope that they can create a call to action in those who are stirred, or, at the very least, allow viewers, be they male or female, to feel empathy with a victim whose life has been irrevocably altered through violence.

DENISE DRAGIEWICZ is the president of EYES OF THE WORLD FILMS, a small New Jersey-based production company dedicated to bringing socially relevant content to modern audiences. She is best known for her award-winning environmental documentaries Ndzou Camp and Chocolate in the Jungle and the recently released Andasibe. To learn more, visit www.eyesoftheworldfilms.com, www.inthedarkthefilm.com, or email denisedragiewicz@gmail.com.