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NEWorks Productions is leveraging its influence in the creative arts space to encourage more Americans to vote this election cycle through a non-partisan civic initiative, “Freedom Advances”. This multi-faceted campaign features a slate of media assets, including public service announcements, call-to-action anthems with corresponding music videos, and a multifaceted viral video challenge. The initiative has already attained massive support from celebrities including Debbie Allen (Grey’s Anatomy), Carla Hall (The Chew / Chasing Flavor), Billy Porter (Pose), Norm Lewis (Scandal), Regina Belle(Grammy Award-winning singer), Andre de Shields (Elsbeth / HADESTOWN), Ricky Dillard (6x Grammy nominated gospel artist)—all of whom are featured in campaign PSAs!

NEWorks CEO Nolan Williams, Jr. has underscored the importance of this initiative: “Too often, we look at the events of our world and feel paralyzed to do anything. With this Freedom Advances campaign, I and my team are using the power of music and video as urgent calls to action.”

The campaign is anchored by the award-winning music video of Williams’s civic anthem “Rise Up & Fight!”Inspired by the 60th Anniversary of Freedom Summer, the song is written from the perspective of the three civil rights workers murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in 1964. James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. In the song, these three martyrs return to Mississippi 60 years later to evaluate how far we’ve come, and how far we have to go. They issue an urgent call to action:

“We’ve come too far to just resign

Too many folks gave up their lives

Today’s the day, now is the time

To rise and fight for what is right.”

The anthem includes three notable voices: Broadway stars Benjamin H. Moore (HARMONY, A New Musical) and John Riddle (The Phantom of the Opera) and Singer/Songwriter Rayshun LaMarr, (NBC’s The Voice, season 14). The video, directed by Williams, illustrated by Willie Cordy Jr., with animation and motion graphics by Gabriel Genesis, has received the following accolades:

• “Award of Excellence Music Video”, Best Shorts Competition 2024

• “Best Lyric Video”, International Music Video Competition 2024

• “Award of Excellence African American Theme”, Best Shorts Competition 2024

• “Award of Excellence Animation”, Best Shorts Competition 2024

• Honorable Mention – “Best Animated Short Film”, APEX Film Awards 2024

• Honorable Mention – “Best Music Video”, APEX Film Awards 2024

• Semi-Finalist, Sunday Shorts Film Festival 2024

• Official Selection, New York Film & Actor Award 2024

• Official Selection, The IndieFEST Film Awards 2024

Inspired by the video’s massive success, NEWorks has also launched the Rise Up Song Challenge! This social media contest is engaging young creatives and social media influencers to remix one of NEWorks’ civic anthems (“Rise Up & Fight” or “I Have A Right To Vote”) for a chance to be featured in performance at the Kennedy Center. Those interested in participating can visit riseupmusicchallenge.com for more details. The submission deadline is Sunday, October 20, 2024.

For more information on the Freedom Advances campaign, visit neworksproductions.com.

About NEWorks Productions

NEWorks Productions is one of the nation’s premier creators of impact-arts programming and entertainment. We produce music, concert. events, theatrical productions, video documentaries, art exhibitions, educational initiatives, cultural festivals, and other signature works to reflect the change we seek in our community.

Standout projects include: the television documentary, “Becoming Douglass Commonwealth” (winner of ten media prizes); the award-winning new musical, GRACE; the touring theatrical production, STIRRING THE WATERS ACROSS AMERICA; the Kennedy Center performance series, “Joyful Sounds” and “Music: A Force for Mending”; the award-winning viral video, “I Have a Right to Vote”, and the national photo exhibition, “West Side/South Side.”

Much of our work is developed in collaboration with leading humanitarian, educational, arts, and cultural institutions, including: the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Fulton County Arts & Culture, The Franklin Institute, American Cancer Society, Georgetown University, Oberlin College, Ithaca College, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Embassies of India, France, and the People’s Republic of South Africa, the United States Embassy in Cairo, Amalfi Coast Music & Arts Festival, Washington National Opera, National Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, and Philadelphia Orchestra.