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 Stars Come Out For Premiere and to Pay Homage to a Slain Silent Hero"By Tonie Moses It wasn’t your typical movie premiere Their wasn’t a lot of celebs walking the red carpet waiting on photographers to take their picture, stars weren’t out trying to pitch their new movie projects, and their wasn’t any groupies hanging around trying to get a glimpse of their favorite actor, instead this was a premiere about the loss of a young man, and his mothers relentless efforts to raise awareness about hate crimes. The Matthew Shepard story, which stars Stockard Channing(West Wing) as Judy Shepard, Sam Waterston(Law and Order) as Dennis Shepard, and newcomer Seth Meier, as Matthew, explores the life of a courageous young man’s battle with being gay in rural Wyoming. The movie which is scheduled to air on NBC March 16th, is centered around Shepard’s life as gay teenager and adult who found that being a homosexual was a constant struggle he had to live with day by day, which unfortunately led to his untimely death.  Shot on location in Vancouver, Canada over three and a half months, The Matthew Shepard story offers a grim look inside the life of a young, man, who was beaten to death and left for dead for being a homosexual. "I knew Matt would not be forgotten, and I knew that this film would at least open up people’s hearts and minds about senseless hate crimes," said Judy Shepard. "I hope this story would remind people that violence isn’t the answer." Shepard who started The Matthew Shepard Foundation shortly after her son’s death in 1998 said she wanted to create something that would honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs and aspiration. "He had an interest in politics and current news events. He was quite adept at understanding complex issues and was equally adept at expressing his opinions on these issues, she said. "He had such hopes for the future, his future. He was always anxious for the next step – the next stage of his life to begin. Every new step meant new challenges, new friends and new experiences."  Seth Meier who candidly resembles Shepard said he could relate to Matthew’s pain because like himself his peers ostracized him, though for separate reasons he understood his pain."Through all the research that I had done over the months he was very much like me, not only physically, but mentally as well," said Meier. "We were both caring warm people, and Judy said we really would have gotten along really well." Although the actor said he shot the movie with a breeze, he was a bit intimidated by working with such seasoned actors like Channing and Waterston. "I wasn’t sure at first if I was going to be able to work with them, but they made me feel assured throughout the shoot." Channing spoke equally as high about her co-star who she said really brought out Matthew’s character. "He was professional and I really enjoyed working with him," she said. Channing who was hand picked by Goldie Hawn who serves as Executive Producer says she hopes that audiences walk away from their television screens with a new sense that hate crimes is not the way, "Having already seen the film, I can imagine people feeling an emotional catharcist, said the actress. Hahn agreed that the message behind this film and movement is to promote love, which is important. "Eliminate hate and anger because these are the things which are making our world miserable right now," she said. "If you care enough about something just hang on in there and this is how much this project means to me.’" For more info about the Matthew Shepard Foundation log on to www. Matthewshepard.com. send your request or coment s to: tonie@manmademultimedia.com |
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