News
Not Today Tackles Human Trafficking
YORBA LINDA, Calif. – Jan.
23, in the year of our Lord 2013 – On a wave of strong
praise from advance screenings, NOT TODAY—the first church-made
film around an international issue—hits theaters Friday, April
12. (See below for list of debut cities.) In NOT TODAY, a
spoiled young American encounters trafficking of children among
India’s “untouchables” and is forever changed.
“NOT TODAY is the first feature-length, faith-based film to
tackle human trafficking, a global disease,” Producer Brent
Martz said. “It’s entertainment, yes. But entertainment with
world-changing purpose.”
NOT TODAY is produced by Friends Media, an arm of Friends Church
of Yorba Linda, Calif., where Martz heads creative ministries.
Rising star Cody Longo plays Caden, a spoiled, SoCal rich kid
partying in India. On mean city streets, he’s oblivious to the
so-called “untouchables” until a young girl sold into slavery
draws him into the world of India’s outcast Dalits. Fighting to
find her, Caden finds himself and his faith re-energized. Also
featured in NOT TODAY: John Schneider, Shari Rigby and Cassie
Scerbo.
Typical audience response to NOT TODAY, from the advance
screening at the 2012 Urbana student missions conference in St.
Louis:
“Gripping, informative movie that takes you into its world . . .
makes you want to get involved to make a difference.”
"Everyone should see this film. You cannot walk away unchanged."
"Heartbreaking and eye-opening . . . I am inspired to make a
change."
“Wow! Should have warned us to bring Kleenex."
NOT TODAY echoes in daily headlines:
Jan. 11 was International Human Trafficking Awareness Day
President Barack Obama recently declared January as Human
Trafficking Prevention Month in the United States.
Louis Giglio, founder of the Passion movement, heavily focused
the Passion 2013 conference on the battle against trafficking
and the support of exploited people.
And stark statistics underscore growing concern around the
globe:
An estimated 27 million people worldwide are in forced labor
including sexual exploitation as a result of trafficking.
SOURCE: U.N. Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
Profits from all trafficked forced labor: estimated $31.6
billion/year. SOURCE: U.N. Global Initiative to Fight Human
Trafficking
India’s Dalit population is among the world’s most vulnerable to
the global industry in human abuse:
More than 1.2 million children in India are trapped in human
trafficking as child prostitutes. SOURCE: National Underground
Railroad Freedom Center India Conference
“For centuries Dalits, the ‘lowest of the low,’ have grown up
believing they are less than animals,” said Matthew Cork, NOT
TODAY executive producer and lead pastor of Friends Church.
“Christianity tells them they are made in the image of God.”
Using education to lift Dalit lives and prospects, Friends
Church has committed $20 million to build 200 of 1,000 proposed
schools for Dalit children in the coming decade. Friends already
has funded more than 40 of the current 107 schools. Profits from
NOT TODAY go toward building schools and freeing children.
NOT TODAY premieres across the nation April 12 in these markets:
Los Angeles (Orange County), Calif.
Houston, Texas
San Diego, Calif.
Dallas, Texas
San Jose, Calif.
San Francisco, Calif.
Columbus, Ohio
Seattle, Wash.
Denver (Littleton), Colo.
Washington, D.C.
Nashville, Tenn.
Portland, Ore.
Sacramento, Calif.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Atlanta, Ga.
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Orlando, Fla.
Akron, Ohio
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
West Palm Beach/Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
For more information, visit:
NotTodaytheMovie.com