Bill Sackter Documentary (PBS Version) Completed

Hi Friends and Bill Sackter Fans!! 

In 2014 I launched a successful Kickstarter campaign that allowed me to edit a new version of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" that would fit within the 1 hour time slot for PBS stations.

While the new version is shorter than the original, I made sure to give it maximal impact, staying true to the original 90 minute version that is on the DVD. I was able to get this new version broadcast on numerous PBS stations around the country, and I thank all the supporters that contributed to the effort - it is really wonderful to have so many people that believe in the inspirational true story of Bill Sackter.

If you want to see the original 90 minute theatrical version, it is available on DVD at Amazon.com at the following link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C6WURF8 
The DVD version also includes over 2 hours of extras, so if you are a big fan of Bill Sackter's inspirational true story, this will be the best way to experience the documentary. 

I started this project in 2001, and my main goal has always been to reach as wide of an audience as possible. Thanks again to all of you that have been with me over the last several years. Your interest in helping spread the word about "A Friend Indeed" is greatly appreciated! 

Sincerely,

Lane Wyrick, Director/Editor of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story"
http://www.BillSackter.com
email: Lane@BillSackter.com

CUSTOMER REVIEWS NEEDED: A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story

Hi Bill Sackter fans!! 

If you have purchased the DVD of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" any time in the past, it would be very helpful if you could leave an honest customer review on Amazon - this way people around the world can know what you think about the documentary and Bill Sackter, and whether or not "A Friend Indeed" is worth watching.

Just go to: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C6WURF8  and scroll down to click on "Write a Customer Review". 

You can write just a sentence or two, or take your time and leave a more detailed review. You can also leave a video review as well where you talk about what you think about the documentary. 

Even if you purchased the DVD at a screening or somewhere else instead of Amazon you can still write an Amazon review (as long as you have purchased anything on Amazon).

Thanks so much for being a great supporter of "A Friend Indeed" - this will make a huge and long lasting impact on having the documentary reach a wider audience and is very appreciated!!!

Sincerely,

Lane Wyrick, Director/Editor of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story"
http://www.BillSackter.com
email: Lane@BillSackter.com

Bill Sackter on PBS - Please visit our Kickstarter site

Hi Fans of "A Friend Indeed",

Please come and check out our Kickstarter campaign for "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" at: http://kck.st/KkzGMU

We're trying to get this inspiring documentary out to PBS stations across the nation...with your help. Come watch the intro video and consider join our growing group of supporters!!!

Thanks!

Lane Wyrick, Director/Editor
 A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story

A Friend Indeed - Update #2...New video from 100th B-Day

This week, Director/Editor Lane Wyrick talks about YouTube and Facebook fan responses to the first "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" video blog post. 

Video the video here: http://youtu.be/giJ3Y2Fqh5o

And a video of the full Bill Sackter 100th Anniversary "Stories Night" surfaces on Youtube, created by Nadia Honary of Public Access TV in Iowa City - 

You can view the 100th Birthday video here:http://youtu.be/dYHwILu6cI8 

A Friend Indeed - Video Blog Update #1...ready for television!

Check out the inaugural post of my brand new video blog series. This first video announces the completion of the television edit of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" for broadcast on Iowa Public Television and other Public Television Stations around the country. 

Very soon I will be giving you tips on how you can help by encouraging your local PBS provider to broadcast "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" in your area...stay tuned for further information on how to do this, and for more video blog updates. 

Thanks for being a fan of "A Friend Indeed", and please comment on the video...All the best - Lane Wyrick

View the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csA0SmjIdgY

Lane Wyrick holding "thumb drive" with completed television edit

of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story"

Learn more about the real story of Bill Sackter at

http://www.BillSackter.com

Join our Facebook fan page at

http://www.Facebook.com/BillSackter

Or buy the DVD of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" at

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C6WURF8

Video from Bill Sackter's 100th Birthday Celebration

Here's some video of Bill's 100th Birthday Celebration, captured on my iPhone. It was nice to have Barry & Bev Morrow, Jack Doepke, Tom Walz and others reminisce about the impact Bill had, and tell some funny stories as well. Lots of cake, music, and more. 

Enjoy!!! - Lane Wyrick

Click here to see the video on Youtube

Bill Sackter 100th Birthday Celebration (Youtube) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV0EATO_qzA

Video taken at Bill Sackter's 100th Birthday Celebration in Iowa City. Enjoy the stories and fond remembrances of Bill Sackter, and how he changed the way the world looks at people with disabilities. Featured in the documentary "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story", the main cast joined in Iowa City for the celebration, including Barry & Bev Morrow, Jack Doepke, Tom Walz, and Lane Wyrick.

Friday April 12, 2013 a panel discussion at Pappajohn Business Building, and party afterwards at Wild Bill's Coffee Shop in North Hall. Saturday April 13 on Bill's actual birthday, events took place at Uptown Bill's, with harmonicas, cake, bands and more.

Learn more about the real story of Bill Sackter at

http://www.BillSackter.com

Join our Facebook fan page at

http://www.Facebook.com/BillSackter

Or buy the DVD of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" at

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C6WURF8

Bill Sackter's 100th Birthday Celebration

April 13, 2013 marked Bill Sackter's 100th birthday, and people in Iowa City celebrated it with style. All last week there were events, music, the screening of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" and more.

Barry and Bev Morrow, Jack Doepke, Tom Walz, and I were at the events, and there will be upcoming video footage from Friday night's panel on Bill, and from Saturday's birthday celebration at Uptown Bill's.

Here's an article about Bill Sackter day being declared by the Iowa City Mayor - more postings will soon follow about upcoming events regarding the documentary including the television broadcast of "A Friend Indeed".

Enjoy!

- Lane Wyrick
Director/Editor of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story
http://www.BillSackter.com
Join us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/BillSackter

Iowa City Mayor Hayek declares April 13 Bill Sackter Day

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UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING | 2013.04.09 | 07:00 PM

Bill Sackter. Photo courtesy of the UI School of Social Work.

Iowa City Mayor Matt Hayek has proclaimed April 13 as Bill Sackter Day. The proclamation coincides with a week of special events to mark the 100th birthday of Bill Sackter, April 8-13.

Sackter, a native of Minnesota, was a middle-aged man with a disability who spent nearly half a century in the old Faribault State Hospital. In the early 1970s, he came to Iowa City with Barry and Bev Morrow, a couple he had met in Minneapolis. Barry Morrow had been offered a job at the University of Iowa and Sackter ended up coming along.

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop, 321 North Hall on the UI campus, began as an employment opportunity for Sackter. Later, it became a symbol of "abilities awareness" around Iowa and beyond. The coffee shop thrived and it continues today in the same location in North Hall on the university campus. Staffed by individuals with disabilities, the coffee shop is a service learning project of the UI School of Social Work in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The proclamation was signed and awarded at the Tuesday, April 9 City Council meeting and can be viewed at now.uiowa.edu/files/now.uiowa.edu/bill_sackter_day.pdf

(this article is available at: http://now.uiowa.edu/2013/04/iowa-city-mayor-hayek-declares-april-13-bill-sackter-day )

Bring "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" to your City

Hi Fans of "A Friend Indeed",

I wanted to update you about the innovative new distribution model for "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" allowing you to easily "Bring A Friend Indeed To Your City" and share this inspirational production with the rest of your community, while at the same time making a profit for yourself or your organization through these screenings.

Click Here to view the trailer for "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" (3 min.)

The concept is called the "Screen It Yourself Package" and it was developed when it was noticed that a consistently high percentage of audience members were purchasing "A Friend Indeed" DVDs that were being made available after every screening. For instance, immediately following a recent Minneapolis screening with an audience of 500 people of all ages and backgrounds, nearly 200 DVDs were sold! At smaller venues with around 50 audience members, viewers will typically purchase 20-30 DVDs!

You may also host a Filmmaker Presentation and Screening and have Filmmaker Lane Wyrick come to your location for a first-class event. 

For more information, visit

http://www.BillSackter.com/Bring_A-Friend-Indeed_To_Your_City.html

Notes: With the "Screen It Yourself Package", all screenings and DVD sales must be within your same county. - Internet sales of the DVDs are strictly prohibited. For a full explanation, please call Lane Wyrick at 1-314-200-5534.

Filmmaker Lane Wyrick to be at Des Moines Screening This Sunday

This Sunday night (November 1), Filmmaker Lane Wyrick will make a special appearance at the 7:30 p.m. screening of "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" at the Fleur Cinema & Cafe (4545 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, Iowa).

He will give insight into the documentary and host a Q&A after the screening. Also, DVDs will be available at a reduced price after this specific screening.

The award-winning documentary is currently playing for a week long theatrical run now through Thursday November 5. This is your chance to see "A Friend Indeed" in a very classy independent theater where, after a successful recent showing at The Fleur it was invited back for a full week of screenings.

Showtimes are as follows:

Friday/Monday through Thursday: 4:45, 7:30, 9:35

Saturday & Sunday: 1:50, 4:45, 7:30, 9:35 (Filmmaker Presentation)

Tickets are just $8 for General Admission

(Matinees, Seniors & Children are $6) and are available at

the door.

For more information, visit: http://www.fleurcinema.com

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Barry Morrow Donates Emmy to Univ. of Iowa

On Friday October 30, Barry Morrow gave a special presentation to the University of Iowa Foundation Board Members and guests where he donated his Emmy Award that he received for his screenplay for the 1981 made-for-tv movie "Bill" (starring Mickey Rooney & Dennis Quaid) to the University of Iowa where it will be on permanent display.

Barry Morrow donates Emmy for "Bill" TV Movie to Univ. of Iowa

In his rousing speech he also enthusiastically related how "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" now tells the real life documentary story that he originally started in 1972 when he first met Bill. Other people from the documentary at this special event were Bev Morrow, Filmmaker Lane Wyrick, Tom Walz, & Darrell Wyrick.

A video of Barry Morrow's incredible speech will be posted soon.

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For more information about Bill Sackter and “A Friend Indeed” and for reviews and video clips, please visit http://www.BillSackter.com.

Screenings & More - "A Friend Indeed" Update

Since the last blog post about the Bill Sackter documentary, there have been important screenings and the "Public Screening" version of the documentary is now available -

The Englert Theater Screening

"A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" had a three day screening at the Englert Theater in Iowa City on October 1, 4, & 5.

Lane Wyrick attended all three screenings with Q&A afterwards, and Tom Walz also provided insight to the appreciative crowd. There were several people that were in the documentary that were able to see "A Friend Indeed" for the first time.

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Citizen Advocates shows Bill documentary

On October 16, Wyrick presented the documentary to Citizen Advocates of Washington County, in West Bend, Wisconsin. Mark Brunner, President of Citizen Advocates had planned the screening for several months, which was held during their annual meeting and recognition banquet at West Bend - A Mutual Insurance Company's brand new conference facilities.

Projected simultaneously on two screens, the documentary was especially relevant, as the mission of Citizen Advocates is to find people in the community to be partnered with a person with disabilities, and the story of Barry and Bill resonated with the audience. Brunner was so pleased with the way that the documentary communicated the purposes of their organization, that he has already planned for another screening on March 28, 2009 where Wyrick will again be present to screen the film.

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The Arc's National Convention in Albuquerque

Wyrick flew to Albuquerque to present the documentary to The Arc's National Convention on November 6. This is the largest Arc meeting held annually, and Wyrick spoke and presented "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" in its entirety.

People from Arc organizations from around the country heard about the documentary for the first time, and it gave new meaning to their "National Bill Sackter Award" which was presented the following evening...now they know the real Bill Sackter.

This national event also marked the beginning of the availability of the documentary for Public Screenings and Filmmaker Presentations.

Wyrick also met with Geraldo Rivera who was giving the keynote address for the convention. While Rivera had to leave before the documentary presentation, Wyrick was able to give him a copy of the Bill Sackter DVD...maybe sometime he will see it with encouragement from someone out there who has seen the documentary and knows Geraldo. : )

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The DVD creation is beginning...

It is now mid-December, and I am starting the process of gathering the vast amount of extra footage/deleted scenes, photos, and a huge variety of material that will be on the DVD (along with the award-winning documentary).

This DVD will be completed in the future - the date is not set, but if you would like to be notified when the DVD is released, please go to the Buy The DVD link at the BillSackter.com website.

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Upcoming Screenings

There will be a very special screening of "A Friend Indeed" in Salt Lake City on January 17, which will also commemorate the 20th Anniversary of "Rain Man". Both Wyrick and Barry Morrow (who wrote the screenplay for "Rain Man", and was Bill Sackter's legal guardian) will be at the event. Also, the event will honor Kim Peek, who Barry modeled the character that Dustin Hoffman played in the movie.

Also, on January 7, there will be a screening at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

To see what future screenings are coming, please go to Upcoming Screenings at the BillSackter.com website.

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