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The Ringer stars reunite at the 14 December premiere in Los Angeles, California, including (left-right) Jed Rees, John Taylor, Johnny Knoxville, Edward Barbanell, Janna Ambort, Leonard Flowers and Nicole Bradley. |
It was a star-studded, red-carpet extravaganza as Special Olympics came to the big screen at the 14 December 2005 Los Angeles, California, USA, premiere of The Ringer, a comedy by the Farrelly Brothers about an ordinary man who attempts to "fix" a Special Olympics competition. In addition to the Los Angeles premiere, Special Olympics Programs around the country held their own premieres prior to the film's 23 December general release nationwide.
And while the movie was made with the support and assistance of Special Olympics, it's a real departure from the movement's traditional public awareness efforts. < Read "Making the Ringer," from the Quarter 3 2004 issue of Spirit magazine – Adobe PDF, 580K. > The Ringer tells the Special Olympics story in a new way, challenging destructive stereotypes and negative thinking about people with intellectual disabilities that are prevalent around the world.
The movement is reaching out to young people with its message—and what better way to do that than at the movies, and a Farrelly Brothers comedy at that? Special Olympics' Chairman Timothy Shriver and President Bruce Pasternack believe the movie represents a unique opportunity to harness the power of mainstream mass media to reach a broader younger audience. "The film projects the commonality of all people, showing people with intellectual disabilities as more alike than different. Laughing at a person and laughing with a person are very different forms of humor, and it is our belief that this comedy will give audiences the chance to laugh with Special Olympics athletes while appreciating their joy and wisdom. Equally importantly, we believe that the stigmas presented in the early scenes of the movie will be seen as folly by the end of The Ringer," said Pasternack and Shriver. < Read a statement from Pasternack and Shriver about Special Olympics' involvement in the film. >
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The Ringer producers Peter Farrelly (left) and Bobby Farrelly (right), with star Johnny Knoxville, approached Special Olympics in 2002 to secure the movement's cooperation with the film. |
The Los Angeles premiere of The Ringer, held at the Director's Guild of America, was a benefit event in support of Special Olympics. More than 150 individuals with intellectual disabilities appeared in the film. Special Olympics athletes featured in the film, and who got the red-carpet treatment, included Leonard Flowers, Eddie Barbanell, John Taylor, Janna Ambort and Nicole Bradley; they were accompanied at the event by Olympic greats, including Carl Lewis, Rafer Johnson, Scott Hamilton, Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner.
Among the many stars who attended the premiere were The Ringer stars Johnny Knoxville and Katherine Heigl, Director Barry W. Blaustein, Bill Chott, Zen Gesner, Producers Peter and Bobby Farrelly, Producer Bradley Thomas, California First Lady Maria Shriver, Andy Garcia, Nick Cannon, George Lopez, Tom Arnold, Greg Kinnear, Mehki Phifer and Leelee Sobiesky.
"We invite you to enjoy The Ringer and hope you will join us in our effort to use this film as a starting point for a thoughtful discussion about one of the last remaining civil rights movements today: to fight for equality and dignity for people with intellectual disabilities," said Shriver, who also is an executive producer of The Ringer. "We hope that this film will encourage thousands of new volunteers, coaches, athletes and Unified Sports® partners to join the world of Special Olympics — a world full of joy and acceptance and a world without bias, prejudice or false preconceptions."
About The Ringer
When Steve Barker (Johnny Knoxville) finds himself running dead last in the corporate rat race, he sinks to an all-time low...he attempts to rig the Special Olympics Games by pretending to be intellectually challenged. But, Barker is completely out-classed by his fellow competitors, who are not only better athletes; they're just plain better people. And they're on to him. But rather than rat-out the rat, they join forces with him to once and for all beat Jimmy, the cocky reigning champion of the annual Games. With a work-out regime uniquely their own, they train Barker to go for the gold and, in the process, show him what's at the heart of a true winner. < Visit The Ringer Web site. >
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