Feature: STAGE TO SCREEN: THE BLIND DATE - A New Film by Peter Danish

The day after the presidential election 2016, I was consulting for a college in NYC, and learned to my surprise a large portion of the students at the college had not voted. I wrote them a play, THE BLIND DATE as an apolitical cautionary tale for young people about the consequences of not voting. The play ran off Broadway - it won some awards - but most important - dozens of people wrote me saying that after seeing the play - they registered to vote!

The Blind Date is the story of a young woman whose idyllic life is SHATTERED when, because of a change in laws, she is forced to make a horrifying decision - a decision no woman should have to make.

I am extremely passionate about this topic and I've been thrilled that so many wonderful artists share that passion. A dream team of Oscar winners and Emmy winners have signed on to the project - with most working pro-bono or at scale, because of their dedication to the message of the film. In addition, rock legend Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater is providing music for the film.

As Oscar-winner, Tom Fleishman (who is mixing the sound for the film) put it: "Arts, and story-telling in particular can be an extremely powerful way to communicate. Seeing the physical tangible results of action - or in this case inaction - makes it real in a way talking heads and numbers and statistics never could. It can affect real change." And so far THE BLIND DATE has done just that, it has touched young people in a meaningful way and motivated so many of them to register to vote.

We are thrilled to announce that we have been approached by several television networks about airing the short film this fall and numerous film festivals have contact us as well. Our goal is to get the film seen by as many young voters as possible this fall. To help convince them that this election is the most important of their entire lifetime.

We can fight voter apathy and make an impact. But time is very short! And we can't do anything until we complete the film! are in the middle of an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to complete and distribute the film. Please visit the site and give some thought to our campaign. Indidgogo Campaign link Art does have the ability to move people in a way like nothing else. And to quote our star Eliza Martin Simpson: "This film reminds us that behind issues there people, and that policies affect people."

Peter Danish

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