Trailer To Re-Release Of ‘Follow Me Home’ Starring Alfre Woodard, Benjamin Bratt, And Jesse Borrego
Today The BIG We announced that it will host in partnership with the Follow Me Home Coalition & IllumiNative, a nationwide, online event that will feature dynamic conversations about race and our current political climate over three days on October 28, 29, and 30, 2020. The filmmakers of “Follow Me Home” have partnered with the Follow Me Home Coalition to digitize the 1996 film and re-release it online nationally for free for one week starting October 22, 2020. Following the film’s online availability, a three-night curated live event will engage audiences in frank conversations around the themes of race, class and gender the film explores.. When first released, “Follow Me Home” captured the struggle of people in the face of oppression and today its message is more relevant and urgent than ever.
Written and directed by Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Peter Bratt, “Follow Me Home” stars Academy Award-Nominee Alfre Woodard, Benjamin Bratt, Jesse Borrego, Calvin Levels, Steve Reevis, and features a then-unknown Salma Hayek; Executive Produced by Alpita Patel, Adam Zbar and John China. Drawing upon Native, African and Latino culture, “Follow Me Home” is a rebellious fable of four Los Angeles street artists who hatch a plan to cover the White House with vibrantly painted murals. Joined by a woman with a haunting secret, they set off on an impetuous joyride across a desert landscape steeped in magic, mystery and danger. A powerful celebration of art, history, music and community, “Follow Me Home” challenges long-held beliefs about race and identity in America, adding an important voice to today’s racial reckoning.
"Stories have the power to change perception, and even policy,” said director and writer Peter Bratt. “They also have the ability to unite us as a people -- an interdependent and interrelated community.”
After George Floyd's tragic murder & the protests that followed, Peter received impassioned calls from concerned citizens of every creed and color who thought that the film was still relevant today. As calls turned into action and Peter and Benjamin joined a small, passionate group of allies known as the Follow Me Home Coalition to reshare this tale. The hope of the Follow Me Home Coalition is to help foster one of the most pivotal conversations of our collective lives and to provoke change in the way we live in America.
The Sundance film has been praised by prominent cultural critics of color including Angela Davis, Alice Walker, June Jordan, and Toni Morrison and is revered for bringing voices and stories from the background to the forefront. The film has sparked lively, impassioned, and often emotional reactions, spotlighting the unsettled issues that yet cripple America as we rapidly approach a crucial election.
“FOLLOW ME HOME premiered at Sundance in 1996 and the fact that the folks are calling on Peter and Benjamin to bring it back to life 25 years later is a testament to the depth, power and accuracy of the storytelling. It is an incredible gift for The BIG We to serve the vision of the film and curate talk backs and story circles for folks who are ready to talk about racial equity and justice. This film is timeless and now because it has been remastered and re-released the themes of this powerful film will bring their transformative power into the 21st century. Our goal is to start an enduring conversation that will magnify these stories & voices to boldly shape narratives that will transform how we think, speak, and move through this very critical time” said Anasa Troutman, CEO of The BIG We.
During this week-long activation, there will be a three-night live event available nationwide online at www.FollowMeHomeTheMovie.com for the public to join discussions focused on the themes that follow:
On Wednesday, October 28th the Follow Me Home Coalition in partnership with The BIG We will host a panel discussion with the cast and filmmakers of “Follow Me Home,” including Golden Globe and Emmy winning actor Alfre Woodard, Benjamin Bratt, Jesse Borrego and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Peter Bratt. Special guests to be announced later this week. The conversation will be centered around select scenes - what they mean and how they relate to the current climate. It will also allow the cast and guests to candidly address both new and old ways of thinking as they examine language written over 20 years ago in contrast and comparison with today’s dialogue.
On Thursday, October 29th, there will be a series of brief chats with activists and thought leaders including Pulitzer Prize winning writer, Alice Walker, Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta and NY Times best-selling author and former SC state legislator, Bakari Sellers, amongst others to dive deeper into key themes of the film:
Follow Women: A conversation on feminism then and now, and the value of having women in positions of political power.
Follow Me to the Polls: A dialogue about voting rights, voter turnout and the importance of civic engagement.
Who Do I Follow?: An honest and thought-provoking discussion about how and where white people can engage to further the antiracist movement.
On Friday, October 30th, we will borrow from the indigenous practice of story circles to create space for honest, unfiltered dialogue around race, this moment in time, & what’s possible for the future. We will invite a curated group of audience members to share their stories of home & belonging around race.