First African – American owned film studio, Codeblack Entertainment, Tapped to Distribute Pioneering New Full Length Documentary on President Barack Obama
Revolutionary new film production company Veridicus Films, alongside Codeblack Entertainment, America’s premier source for quality urban films, released the gripping political documentary, Barack Obama: The Man and His Journey, on inaugural Tuesday to coincide with the imminent Presidential Inauguration.
‘Journey’, created by Emmy Award winning CBS news anchor/reporter and nationally syndicated television talent Maria Arita, is a follow up to the highly successful Veridicus Films release, “Barack Obama: Who Is This Guy?”, which explored pre-election what was truly at stake, and the monumental significance of this moment in our nation’s history, answering the sometimes elusive question, “Who is Obama?”.
‘Journey’ is a unique and compelling exploration of the dynamics of change in America through the magnified lens of this historic political season, providing intimate insight into the upward journey of President Elect Barack Obama.
Narrated by 4-time NAACP Image Award winning and Golden Globe nominated actor Blair Underwood, the film is the first full-length DVD documentary about Obama, and features interviews with a diverse cross-section of some of America’s most prominent and recognizable personalities in politics, academics, entertainment, religion, and business, including Martin Luther King III, George Lopez, Hill Harper, Tom Joyner, Roland Martin and Robert Kiyosaki. A poignant depiction of one man’s unyielding will to reach the highest office in the world, Obama’s inspiring story truly manifests itself in ‘Journey’.
Seasoned in several aspects of the entertainment industry, Arita along with her husband Thomas Howard, a 30-year business executive, founded Veridicus films to broaden the reach of truth through film. Of her unyielding inspiration to create ‘Journey’ Arita says, “As a journalist and newly naturalized citizen, how could I not tell the most significant political story of our times?”
Prior to the news, Arita was discovered on “Dallas,” and was cast in principal roles for film, series TV, industrials, voiceovers and hundreds of commercials. Her television and film credits include roles in “Walker: Texas Ranger,” “Universal Soldier II, Jean-Claude Van Damme,” and Ice Cube’s hit movie “Long Shots.”
The documentary contains never-before-seen video, including perspectives of the best minds in politics and national security. The only Obama DVD to be released on Inauguration Day, from the first company to produce and release a full length DVD documentary on our President, no other film has connected the Obama biography with key moments of the 2008 primaries and general election. This film, brilliantly and unequivocally captures the tectonic shift that occurred in America on November 4th, 2008.
Says Jeff Clanagan, CEO and Founder of Codeblack Entertainment, “It has always been a priority for us to provide the utmost support for those pioneering individuals who inspire the upward mobility of minorities. In our experience as the first African-American owned film studio, much like Maria Arita’s experience who with her husband went up against the odds to achieve what many thought was impossible, we’ve learned that only through perseverance and determination can records be set and boundaries be broken. This has undoubtedly been illustrated by President Elect Obama himself, and we’re pleased to be the first to deliver a glimpse of his incredible journey to the masses alongside Veridicus Films.”
‘Journey’ also features a previously unreleased original song composed and performed by multi-talented Grammy nominee Brian McKnight. The song, fittingly titled “Yes We Can”, was inspired by Obama’s historic victory, and will be available exclusively as a bonus track in limited quantity on the DVD and for download on Codeblack’s website.
The documentary will be the first film released under Codeblack’s groundbreaking new licensing agreement with Ebony/Jet Entertainment Group, LLC. The agreement brings two of the most powerful urban entertainment entities together, delivering the Ebony brand to the creation, development, production, marketing and distribution of existing and future innovative Codeblack Entertainment properties.
The partnership cements Codeblack’s commitment to serving consumers globally with quality urban films, as well as providing the African-American community’s most influential and relevant brands with an innovative new vehicle for brand extension. Codeblack will produce up to six additional titles under the Ebony umbrella by the end of 2009 to be distributed via broadcast/VOD, DVD, internet, digital, mobile and all future digital media.
