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Mary Aloe Exec Produces Documentary Feature Profiling Barack Obama’s Mother
Aloe Entertainment announces a new documentary about Barack Obama’s mother - Stanley Ann Dunham: A Most Generous Spirit traces the life of the unconventional single parent who raised the 44th president of the United States and was a pioneering innovator in the third world micro-finance movement.
 (LOS ANGELES) – Aloe Entertainment in association with IMG and Shroeder-Ptacek Productions announced today the start of the first-ever film about Stanley Ann Dunham, the unconventional single parent who raised the 44th President of the United States and who would go onto become a leader in the new movement known today as micro-finance, which targets small entrepreneurs in developing countries. The documentary, feature-length project will be directed by Charles Burnett (To Sleep With Anger, Killer of Sheep, Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Wedding).
“According to Barack Obama himself, his mother was his single biggest influence in his life. Yet, we know precious little about this figure who raised essentially by herself the 44th President of the United States. This title documentary feature will capture the Life of President Obama’s Mother that will fill in the heretofore missing pieces,” said Mary Aloe, whose is serving as executive producer under the banner of her production company, Aloe Entertainment. Aloe produced the critically acclaimed Battle in Seattle (2007) and is producing MARY MOTHER OF CHRIST for MGM.
Babette Perry, Vice President, West Coast IMG Broadcasting, who is spearheading the project’s distribution, believes it has enormous international as well as domestic appeal. “Even Barack Obama’s harshest critics recognize that he is a singular, if somewhat enigmatic figure – the most famous personality on the world stage today. People want to know more about him, what makes him tick, who and what is at the roots of his extraordinary rise to success.”
The documentary will reveal the many fascinating and at times, contradictory aspects of Dunham’s life, concluding with her innovative work in micro-finance, also known as micro-enterprise and micro-credit. Dunham, who earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Hawaii, blazed a trail in the emerging field and was among the very first to identify women entrepreneurs in rural villages as key to the movement’s success.
In a commentary published in The New York Times (“Dreams From His Mother,” August 11, 2009) Yale professor Micheal R. Dove noted how his former colleague Dunham (who later changed her last surname to that of her second husband’s, Soetoro) was fearless in her work: “It’s worth pointing out that though micro-enterprise is fairly well-known today — and Indonesia now has one of the world’s largest micro-credit programs — it was pretty radical stuff when Ann Soetoro was doing her work. But then, she had a habit of swimming against the current. While many American academics tried to avoid antagonizing the repressive Suharto government, Ann Soetoro called attention to those the regime had failed to benefit: the village craftsmen, the plantation workers and urban scavengers, the underpaid workers in the shoe and clothing factories.”
The documentary will reveal that when Barack was 10 years old and living with his mother, stepfather and sister in Indonesia, Dunham made the decision to send her only son to live in Hawaii with her parents (Barack’s grandparents) out of fear that her politically sensitive work might endanger his life. Dunham would join her son one year later in Honolulu where she continued to raise him.
Dunham’s innovations in micro-finance came to the attention of both the Ford Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development, both of whom employed her during 20-year-career. In 1985, when Barack Obama was competing in his first political race, she died of uterine cancer in 1995 at the age of 52.
“The litmus test for my involvement in the project was whether there was enough in Dunham’s life accomplishments, despite her premature death and in addition to being Barack’s mother, to warrant a feature-length documentary. Based on the producers’ research, there’s no doubt in my mind that her story will make a compelling film,” said Burnett, who is helming the project.
Carolyn Schroeder, who together with her business partner Greg Ptacek, is producing the project, previously worked with Burnett on The Glass Shield (Miramax, 1994). Ptacek is a former studio marketing executive and the founder and festival director of the Los Angeles-based Downtown Film Festival.
“As a woman and working mother myself, Dunham’s refusal to bend to the expectations of her time and not only raise her son on her own terms but pursue a highly successful professional career speaks volumes to her own character and the values she instilled in her son,” said Schroeder.
Shortly after the publication of his 1995 bestselling book, “Dreams From My Father,” then Illinois state senator Barack Obama made the following statement about his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham: “I think sometimes if I had known that she would not survive her illness, I might have written a different book, less than a mediation on the absent parent and more a celebration of the one who was the single constant in my life. In my daughters I see her everyday, her joy, her capacity for wonder. I won’t try to describe how deeply I mourn her passing still. I know she was the kindest, most generous spirit I have ever known, that what is best in me, I owe to her.
About Aloe Entertainment
ALOE ENTERTAINMENT specializes in obtaining 100% feature financing: raising private equity, working with hedge funds, gap financing, top tier foreign sales corps & securing domestic distribution. Producer/film finance expert, MARY ALOE, guides investors through various models of debt, equity, tax-credits, pre-sales & distribution channels to generate significant ROI & creating meaningful theatrical releases with global artistic/social impact.
Mary Aloe – Proud Mary Entertainment – Aloe Entertainment Announces Mary Mother Of Christ Finds Its Joseph
 LOS ANGELES—After a global search, Mary Aloe of Aloe Entertainment and director James Foley have found “Joseph”. With over 900 established and unknown actors vying for the coveted role, Diogo Morgado has been cast as Joseph in MARY MOTHER OF CHRIST. He joins an all-star cast including Camilla Belle (10,000 B.C. and Push) as Mary, Academy Award winner Al Pacino (The Godfather and Scarface) as King Herod, Golden Globe winner Peter O’Toole (Lawrence of Arabia and Venus) as Symeon, and Julia Ormond (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Legends of the Fall) as Elizabeth.
The film’s award winning director James Foley (Confidence, Glengarry Glen Ross and Perfect Stranger) says of Morgado, “We saw a huge amount of young actors and a couple were great. We thought we finished our search when a tape appeared with this incredible guy. A major future star walked in the room and I met him, read him and knew we had found THE one.”
Though unknown for the most part to U.S. audiences, Morgado is one of the most recognizable actors in Portugal. Now in his 20’s, since his first professional screen engagement 15 years ago, Morgado has constantly been working in Film and television. This year, Morgado appears in critically praised performances in Star Crossed—Amor em Jogo and A Vida Privada de Salazar, playing the title character Oliveira Salazar, the Prime Minister and dictator of Portugal who was highly influential in shaping modern Portugal. Mary, Mother of The Christ is Morgado’s first crossover to a U.S. Production.
From the writer and technical adviser of The Passion of the Christ, this is an action drama, youth oriented, faith based biopic that chronicles the epic journey of a young Mary and Joseph, their escape from the tyranny of King Herod’s reign and their preparation of young Jesus for his destiny.
Mary, Mother of the Christ is produced by Mary Aloe through Aloe Entertainment (Battle In Seattle, Tortured, When a Man Falls in the Forest and While She Was Out) with producing partner Dune Films (Babel, Hidalgo and Prince of Persia).Mauricio Sanchez, Mike Dolan and James Volk are executive producers. Casting was coordinated by Carla Hool (Apocalypto, Man on Fire and Quantum of Solace). Currently in pre-production, the film is scheduled to begin principal photography in the first week of May 2010. The film will be domestically distributed by the studio with an anticipated 2011 release in a guaranteed minimum of 2,000 theaters. Morgado is represented in the U.S. by Adam Park of The Park Noack Agency.
Mary Aloe talks about the search for the title role in Aloe Entertainment’s
MARY MOTHER OF CHRIST
MARY has its Mary…
Aloe Entertainment announces that the global search was on for “Mary” in MARY MOTHER OF CHRIST, as fierce competition heated up around the world among both well-known and unknown actresses.
Camilla Belle (’10,000 BC’, Push) was chosen for the coveted role. The film also stars Academy Award winner Al Pacino (The Godfather, Scarface) as Herod, Golden Globe winner Peter O’Toole (Lawrence of Arabia) as Symeon, Wentworth Miller (Prison Break, Underworld) as Gabriel / Lucifer, Julia Ormand (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Diogo Morgado as Joseph. “This is not a Christmas movie,” says producer Mary Aloe (Battle in Seattle, Numb, The Princess and the Marine). “This is a part of Mary’s life that has never been shown on the big screen before. It takes us through Mary’s youth, young love, her life as a new mother, and the triumph through the absolute terror of Herod the Great’s reign. It is truly a story of real female empowerment.”
Key members of the creative team from The Passion of the Christ come together, including the writer, technical script advisor, costume designer, PR and marketing team. The picture is directed by award winning director James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross, Perfect Stranger). Carla Hool (Apocalypto, Man on Fire) and associates have been at the helm of casting. Other producers are executive producers Mauricio Sanchez, James Volk, and Alfred Zaccagnino (Keeper of the Pinstripes). Aloe’s production partner is Dune Films (Hildago, Prince of Persia, Babel) in Morocco where the film starts principal photography in May.
The film will be distributed in 2,000 plus theaters with a 2011 release date. “We are looking forward to releasing a film that will lift spirits and inspire,” commented Erik Lomis, Executive Vice President International Theatrical and Home Video, MGM.
In developing the official website, Aloe is working with a cutting edge, live HD portal patent company, with a full screen web streaming capability that has not yet launched publicly. This technology provides live stream progress/behind the scenes content and live streaming of faith based events worldwide. The portal will be donating generous portions of the e-commerce model to organizations and provide a virtual social network for those interested in the film/faith based communities.
Mary Aloe of Aloe Entertainment and Team Complete Bond Scouting for
MARY MOTHER OF CHRIST
Morocco is the set for the movie “Mary Mother of Christ” starring Camilla Belle, Al Pacino, Peter O’Toole, Diogo Morgado and Julia Ormond. James Foley is directing.
Ouarzazate, Morocco – Bond scouting was accomplished for the film, MARY MOTHER OF CHRIST. The director, line producer, production designer,and producer Mary Aloe, along with the Dune Film team, got most of the coverage – hot, beautiful, and absolutely stunning.
Mary Aloe told us, “It will be interesting to film a Christian movie in a Muslim world. The film crew is A+ (Babel, Prince of Persia, Hidalgo, Alexander, The Mummy, and Gladiator). The people are absolutely warm and embracing. The varying colors of the blues, the reds, and the custom dress of the indigenous people pop against the putty golden sand and the orange hues of buildings built over two thousand years ago. With more stars than we knew were in the Heavens, it is truly God’s hands that have created this country, this land, and the foundations of these marvelous historical sites.”
The producer and president of Aloe Entertainment continued, ” What a blessing Morocco will be for MARY MOTHER OF CHRIST. The movie is a part of Mary’s life that we have never seen before; at age 8, 15 and 19. Our Mary and Joseph are both young, during a time that has been left to interpretation in the New Testament.”
The film is an action, faith-based, youth-oriented, drama, and iconic character-driven biopic that captures each audience to make it an assured box office success. Gabriel and Lucifer, played by the same actor, will both entice and inspire the young Mary and Joseph. Under the terror of Herod’s reign, and against all odds, they survive. As we touch on the birth of Jesus, we see them survive as young parents in one of the most treacherous times in history. Joseph, who will be depicted at ages 10, 17 and 21, will be her childhood companion and confidante – a true soul mate – who willingly, lovingly, and courageously undertakes his role as protector and guide for Mary and her child. Throughout the film, Mary and Joseph, with the help of Gabriel, will face, head-on, the obstacles ingeniously devised by Lucifer as he plays on the greed and ambition of other people to endanger them.
ALOE ENTERTAINMENT specializes in obtaining 100% feature financing: raising private equity, working with hedge funds, gap financing, top tier foreign sales corps & securing domestic distribution. Producer/film finance expert, MARY ALOE, guides investors through various models of debt, equity, tax-credits, pre-sales & distribution channels to generate significant ROI & creating meaningful theatrical releases with global artistic/social impact.
 I just finished a great interview with Nikki at REEL Ladies – they’re a very cool LA based organization that inspires Women in Showbusiness all over the country. Hope you will support them too! You go Nikki Love.
Check out the interview here.
MARY, MOTHER OF CHRIST
From key members of The Passion of the Christ creative team, comes “Mary, Mother of Christ”
Los Angeles, CA – February 26th, 2009 – Aloe Entertainment, along with Producer Mary Aloe and Executive Producer Mike Dolan are pleased to announce the epic event movie “Mary, Mother of Christ.”
The global search was on for “Mary”, as fierce competition heated up around the world among both well-known and unknown actresses. Camilla Belle (‘10,000 BC’, Push) was chosen for the coveted role. The film also stars Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point, August Rush) as Gabriel and Lucifer, Golden Globe winner Peter O’Toole (Lawrence of Arabia) as Symeon. Producers are in talks with Academy Award winner Al Pacino (The Godfather, Scarface) for the role of Herod, and two time Academy Award winner Jessica Lange (Blue Sky, Tootsie) for the role of Anna the Prophetess. “This is not a Christmas movie,” says Aloe. “This is a part of Mary’s life that has never been shown on the big screen before. It takes us through Mary’s youth, young love, her life as a new mother, and the triumph through the absolute terror of Herod the Great’s reign. It is truly a story of real female empowerment.”
Key members of the creative team from The Passion of the Christ come together, including the writer, technical script advisor, costume designer, PR and marketing team. The picture is directed by award winning Argentinean director Alejandro Agresti (Valentin, The Lake House). Carla Hool (Apocalypto, Man on Fire) and associates have been at the helm of casting. Other producers are executive producers Mauricio Sanchez and James Volk, line producer Tim Van Relim and co-producer Scott Putman. Aloe’s production partner is Dune Films (Hildago, Prince of Persia, Babel) in Morocco where the film starts principal photography in May.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Pictures will distribute the film wide in 2,000 plus theaters with a 2010 release date. “We are looking forward to releasing a film that will lift spirits and inspire,” commented Erik Lomis, Executive Vice President International Theatrical and Home Video, MGM. Media 8 Entertainment will handle international sales and distribution for the film, and will debut the project for its buyers at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin.
In developing the official website, Aloe is working with a cutting edge, live HD portal patent company, with a full screen web streaming capability that has not yet launched publicly. This technology provides live stream progress/behind the scenes content and live streaming of faith based events worldwide. The portal will be donating generous portions of the e-commerce model to organizations and provide a virtual social network for those interested in the film/faith based communities.
About Aloe Entertainment
Aloe Entertainment is the umbrella corporation for Proud Mary Entertainment and is run by Mary Aloe. The groups recent film accolades include Battle In Seattle (Directed by Stuart Townsend, with an ensemble cast including Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson, Martin Henderson, Michelle Rodriguez, Andre Benjamin, Ray Liotta, Connie Neilsen and Channing Tatum), While She Was Out (starring Kim Basinger and Lukas Haas), Tortured (starring Laurence Fishburne and James Cromwell) and When A Man Falls In The Forest (starring Sharon Stone and Timothy Hutton.) Mary Aloe’s vast funding experience and successful track record enable Aloe Entertainment and PME to develop/produce independent and studio features, television series, network/cable event movies. Her corporate alliances assure significant theatrical releases which give the company a powerful advantage in distribution negotiations and enhanced ancillary revenue.
Aloe Entertainment website: www.proudmaryent.com
About Media 8 Entertainment
Media 8 Entertainment is a leading film entertainment company engaged in the production, financing, acquisition, and worldwide licensing of theatrical feature films. Media 8 previously produced, financed and distributed the Academy Award winning film MONSTER starring Charlize Theron, as well as the acclaimed drama THE UPSIDE OF ANGER starring Kevin Costner and Joan Allen. Media 8’s current slate of films includes DALI, a CGI-driven biopic of the famed surrealist starring Antonio Banderas; the hit Irish comedy A FILM WITH ME IN IT; and the charming romantic comedy EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ITALIAN.
Contact Information
Donnell Powell
Publicist, Aloe Entertainment
press@proudmaryent.com
(310) 288-1886
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