Ocean Avenue Entertainment continues to solidify strategic partnerships and endorsements in support of its October 24 national theatrical release of 23 Blast. On the heels of announcing its primary partner, K-LOVE/Air1, 23 Blast adds Contemporary Christian music sensation, Casting Crowns and former NFL coach and best-selling author Tony Dungy to its growing list of champions.
The Grammy and GMA Dove-award winning Casting Crowns, founded by youth pastor Mark Hall, has signed an exclusive tour sponsorship deal with 23 Blast for all 39 of its upcoming fall dates. The group will feature a specialized movie trailer that will play three times on screen each evening for its hundreds of thousands of fans around the country.
"I am glad to have the powerful movie 23 Blast be a part of our Casting Crowns tour this fall, says Hall. "I love the story of Travis Freeman overcoming incredible obstacles to reach his goal. Even more so, the message of hope, through Christ, that 23 Blast brings. Having K-LOVE and Air1 behind it as well made it a perfect fit for us!"
Tony Dungy, a former professional American football player and first African American National Football League head coach to win the Super Bowl when his Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, is also a strong advocate for the film.
"23 Blast is a powerful movie about football and perseverance, based on the true story of Travis Freeman," Dungy said. "If you're looking for an inspiring movie that the whole family can enjoy, go see this film!"
Earlier this month, K-LOVE/Air1 Radio released an exclusive 23 Blast movie trailer featuring the David Crowder's single "My Beloved" (KLOVE.com and Air1.com) which continues to gain national airplay and momentum. In addition to tour partnerships and endorsements, Casting Crowns and Dungy also plan to support and promote 23 Blast via their social media channels, leading up the film's theatrical kick-off.
Alongside Crowder ("My Beloved"), Grammy® award-winning artist and producer TobyMac ("Unstoppable"), Contemporary Christian music singer/songwriter Sean McDonald ("We Are Brave") and Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter Ginny Owens ("Stublin'") have teamed up to support 23 Blast through their musical contributions to the movie's soundtrack with songs featured throughout the film.
23 Blast features Freeman, a typical teenager growing up in a small town in Kentucky, who is a local hero on and off the field. In the fall of 1997, in the prime of his youth, he is unexpectedly stricken with an infection that destroys his optic nerve. He becomes blind overnight. Under the influence of parents who love him, a physical therapist who challenges him, a coach who inspires him, and a best friend who he cannot bear to leave behind, Freeman shows us what true bravery is by competing on the gridiron, helping his Corbin High School team advance to the state playoffs. 23 Blast follows Freeman and Jerry Baker, his closest friend, from the time they meet on the football field as kids through high school. Baker's attraction to the dark side of teenage temptations, beer and drugs, threatens to pull the friends apart. It is only on the football field where they truly connect.
The film stars Dylan Baker, Stephen Lang, Alexa Vega, Mark Hapka, Max Adler, Bram Hoover, Kim Zimmer, Becky Ann Baker, Timothy Busfield, and Fred D. Thompson, and is written by Bram Hoover and Toni Hoover, directed/produced by Dylan Baker (Spider-Man 2 & 3, 13 Days) and produced by Gary Donatelli and Toni Hoover. Executive producers for the movie include Daniel Snyder(owner of the Washington Redskins), Misook Doolittle and Brent Ryan Green.
The Dylan Baker Film is designed to encourage and uplift audiences and depicts a story of hope triumphing over despair, of courage and faith overcoming fear and of victory prevailing over adversity. Inspired by the true life events of Travis Freeman, who played football for Corbin High School in the mid 1990's despite being blind, 23 Blast will release through Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Inc. in association with Toy Gun Films.
