Dear Friends and Supports of In Our Son's Name,
Phyllis Rodriguez accompanied her daughter, Julia, to Guantánamo last week to observe pretrial hearings for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and his four alleged co-conspirators. Phyllis and Julia were among a small group of 9/11 victims' family members chosen by lottery to observe the hearings.
Phyllis said that she is not concerned about the drawn-out nature of the hearings, which precede trials, stating that "If we forgo some of the rights of these guys in order to have a speedy trial and a speedy resolution, whatever the verdict is, then who is next?"
You may read Phyllis and Julia quoted in Newsweek and in the GITMO Observer:
http://tinyurl.com/newsweek-Phyllis-Rodriguez
http://gitmoobserver.com/…/14/the-club-no-one-wants-to-join/
Peace, Shalom, Salaam,
Gayla
In Our Son's Name crossing the finish line
As 2015 begins we're putting the finishing touches on In Our Son's Name, a very good feeling indeed. Composer Ed Barguiarena is hard at work on the original score, and in early February we join Joe Milner at Puget Sound in Los Angeles, for the mix. Ed created the evocative music score for the 2013 Sundance Festival documentary favorite, Cesar's Last Fast, and Joe did sound design and mix for Rory Kennedy's Last Days of Vietnam, now in theatrical distribution. We are happy that Ed and Joe are on our team!
In February we're off to New York for the film's premiere on 24th at Fordham University, with other screenings in the works to be announced.
Thanks so much to all of our supporters. You have made this film possible.
A very happy New Year to you all,
Gayla
In Our Son's Name in Distribution
The latest good news is that In Our Son's Name is in distribution with Filmakers Library, in association with Alexander Street Press. Requests for use in educational institutions, either by streaming or on DVD, can be made directly to Andrea Traubner, andrea@filmakers.com.
I'm also pleased to report that the film received standing ovations by full houses at the Atlanta Film Festival as well as at Fordham University. The film is being booked for screenings by peace and justice groups, churches and synagogues, and in August In Our Son's Name will be featured at the American Sociological Association's conference in Chicago. The film continues to spark lively discussions by audiences wherever it's shown. Making peace is not easy, and the thought of taking this path is challenging and often disturbing. Phyllis and Orlando's story, however, opens the door to the possibility of foregoing revenge and seeking justice through nonviolence and reconciliation.
Please let us know if your group would like to organize a showing of this powerful story of reconciliation and compassion.
Peace, Shalom, Salaam,
Gayla
In Our Son's Name crossing the finish line
As 2015 begins we're putting the finishing touches on In Our Son's Name, a very good feeling indeed. Composer Ed Barguiarena is hard at work on the original score, and in early February we join Joe Milner at Puget Sound in Los Angeles, for the mix. Ed created the evocative music score for the 2013 Sundance Festival documentary favorite, Cesar's Last Fast, and Joe did sound design and mix for Rory Kennedy's Last Days of Vietnam, now in theatrical distribution. We are happy that Ed and Joe are on our team!
In February we're off to New York for the film's premiere on 24th at Fordham University, with other screenings in the works to be announced.
Thanks so much to all of our supporters. You have made this film possible.
A very happy New Year to you all,
Gayla
BLOG FOR IOSN WEBSITE: 09/17/14
Reconciliation begins with empathy for the "other." Recently, TED Talks published a conversation about the power of empathy between Phyllis Rodriguez and Zak Ebrahim, whose father was one of the terrorists who bombed the World Trade Center in 1993.
Please take a moment to read their talk, "How Tolerance Transformed Two Lives Wrecked By Terrorism."
Peace, Salaam, Shalom,
Gayla
BLOG FOR IOSN WEBSITE: 08/13/14
Our successful Kickstarter campaign has enabled us to move In Our Son's Name towards completion, and we're already hard at work. I'm revising the script for the rough cut, getting ready to return to the editing room in mid-September to create the final version of the film. We'll also film a final scene and interviews to bring the film up to date. A study guide is in the works as well, to accompany the documentary when used by groups, schools, churches, synagogues, mosques and prisons.
The date for the premiere is set for February 24, 2015, at Fordham University. Stay in touch with us for details about the premiere and to find out where In Our Son's Name will be showing near you.
With the current horror of conflict occurring in the Middle East, Central America, Northern Africa and Eastern Europe, not to mention the violence in our cities here in the United States, Phyllis and Orlando's message of non-violence, reconciliation and reaching out to the “other,” is as relevant now as it was after the 9/11 attack.
Thank you for your support.
Peace, Paz, Shalom, Salaam,
Gayla
PS: Friends in the New York City area will be interested an important event coming up September 6.
SYMPOSIUM: Carving Out Peaceful Tomorrows
Peace starts in our communities. As we approach the 13th Commemoration of 9/11, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows seeks to honor our loved ones who perished on 9/11 by fostering peaceful communities that embrace alternatives to hatred and violence. Toward that end, we will hold a free, one-day symposium in an effort to impact and empower communities to serve as ambassadors of peace. Keynoting will be Lisa Bloom, civil rights attorney and legal analyst for CNN and CBS news. Raising the consciousness of the public to the threats of guns in our society and promoting cultural awareness through discussion of Islamophobia will be the topics discussed. Please join us! You must be registered to attend. Free reception to follow.Register here: https://tinyurl.com/mbep9m3
Kickstarter Campaign Update: 6/04/14
We're thrilled to announce the success of our Kickstarter campaign that ended May 21. Through generous contributions from friends, colleagues, family and other believers in peace and reconciliation, we raised a total of $23,085 that will be used to complete In Our Son's Name. In addition, we received a grant of $5,000 from the Tides Foundation through the Institute of Socioeconomic Studies, in memory of Leonard M. Greene.
We are also very pleased to announce that the film will premiere in mid-February, 2015, at Fordham University, where Orlando Rodríguez is the Director of Peace and Justice Studies Program.
Thanks to our nearly 200 Kickstarter supporters and other contributors who have come forward since the campaign!
Thanks also to our “crew” who played a large role in making the campaign a success:
A Media Marketing
Larry Robertson, Director of Photography, Pitch Video
Amy Linton, Editor, Pitch Video
Greg Linton, Location Sound, Pitch Video
Bill Woolery, Editor, Trailer
Ryan Gordon, Website Design
Kickstarter Campaign Update: 5/04/14
Our Kickstarter campaign to raise finishing funds for IN OUR SON'S NAME is up and running through May 20! You may visit the Kickstarter page by clicking here. We invite you to make a pledge and to pass the word to your friends and colleages. You can be a voice for peace by helping us complete the film and get Phyllis and Orlando's message of reconciliation and nonviolence out to audiences – to anyone searching for answers in the aftermath of violence.
Thanks for your interest in IN OUR SON'S NAME,
Gayla
Filmmaker's Blog
Welcome to our new website. Please revisit us often for news of our Kickstarter campaign that we'll be launching in April. You can become part of Phyllis and Orlando's journey by helping us to complete In Our Son's Name and receive rewards for participating. We think the best reward will be taking part in getting this film out with its inspiring message of reconciliation.