HBO And THE GEORGIA FILM OFFICE To Host The Atlanta Premiere Of "BESSIE" On Monday, May 4 At The Rialto Center for the Arts

HBO And THE GEORGIA FILM OFFICE To Host The Atlanta Premiere Of "BESSIE" On Monday, May 4 At The Rialto Center for the Arts

Producer Shelby Stone and Actor Tory Kittles scheduled to attend

Shot almost entirely on location in Georgia, film project pumped more than $16 million into the economy




Monday, May 4, 2015 - Red Carpet


6:00 --6:45 PM: Red carpet photo and
interview opportunities with Shelby Stone and
Tory Kittles (BESSIE); and local celebrities
Michael Beasley (Bloodline), Jasmine Burke
(Drumline: A New Beat), Karen Ceesay
(Resurrection), Kendrick Cross (Secrets and
Lies), Maria Howell (The Hunger Games:
Catching Fire), Brad James (For Better or
Worse), Mary Honey B Morrison (NY Times
Bestselling Author), Rodney Perry (comedian),
Stepp Stewart (Dr. Oz Show), Bobby V (R&B
Platinum Singer), Tony Vaughn (Clairvoyance
the Ellis Files), among others


WHAT: The invitation-only, Atlanta premiere of HBO
Films' BESSIE presented by HBO and THE
GEORGIA FILM OFFICE
---------------------------------------------


Oscar(R)-nominee Queen Latifah ("Chicago")
stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith
in a poignant portrayal. The film is directed
by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees ("Pariah")
from a screenplay by Dee Rees and Christopher
Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by
Dee Rees and Horton Foote, the film focuses
on Smith's transformation from a struggling
young singer into the "Empress of the Blues,"
one of the most successful recording artists
of the 1920s and an enduring icon today.


Twenty-two years in the making, BESSIE offers
an intimate look at the determined woman
whose immense talent and love for music took
her from anonymity in the rough-and-tumble
world of vaudeville to the 1920s blues scene
and international fame. Capturing Bessie's
professional highs and personal lows, the
film paints a portrait of a tenacious spirit
who, despite her own demons, became a
celebrated legend. Throughout the years,
Bessie Smith has served as an inspiration for
such illustrious singers as Billie Holiday,
Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin and Nina
Simone, among others.


WHERE: The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia
State University

80 Forsyth St, NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30303


WHEN: Monday, May 4, 2015

6:15 p.m. Doors Open

7:00 p.m. Screening


DETAILS: BESSIE debuts Saturday, May 16 (8:00-10:00
p.m. ET/PT) exclusively on HBO. It is
executive produced by Richard D. Zanuck, Lili
Fini Zanuck, Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere,
Shelby Stone and Randi Michel. Ron Schmidt
produces. For more on the film, visit
Facebook.com/HBO or Twitter: @HBO #Bessie


ABOUT "BESSIE" FILMING IN GEORGIA
Not only was Atlanta a featured city in BESSIE, the movie was filmed almost entirely in Georgia including Covington, Conyers, Marietta, Woodstock and Duluth. The production generated more than $16 million into the state economy, employed nearly 1,700 local cast and crew, and filmed in more than 27 locations.

Advance telephone and onsite interviews available
Media requests should be directed to: Valerie Harris, HBO,
404-966-2445 or valerie@kinseygrouppr.com

Clip reels available for broadcast media

/PRNewswire -- April 30, 2015/

SOURCE HBO

HBO


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