LOS ANGELES, Dec. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On
Sunday, December 13, a spectacular
cast including Pete Davidson,
Ellie Kemper, Ed Asner, Maude
Apatow, Carol Kane,
Vanessa Williams, Chris Williams, Mia
Farrow, Ed Begley Jr.,
Diedrich Bader, BD Wong,
Bill Pullman and Richard Kind performed a live table read of
the holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life," directed
by Victor Nelli, Jr. In
addition, Jeff Frost,
President of Sony Pictures Television Studios, was presented a
special honor by Norman Lear,
Ralph Macchio, Freddie Highmore, and Michael Chiklis. Karolyn Grimes, the original "Zuzu" in the
film, made a guest appearance. The event, hosted by
Tom Bergeron, was hugely
successful in raising funds to assist special needs families at The
Ed Asner Family Center. Numerous fans from all over the world have
requested a recording of the event.
"We quickly reached out to the cast and they all agreed that
releasing a recorded version of the evening was a fantastic idea,
so that scores of families can have access to this magical night to
provide hope, light and love during this difficult time," said
Matt Asner, Co-Founder of The
Center.
"So many people feel alone right now and this story is so
incredibly powerful and encouraging. This intimate, honest and
heartfelt reading of the film will help to bring everyone the joy
they so desperately need, while raising funds for families with
special needs," said Navah Asner,
Co-Founder of The Center. "I am very proud that six autistic adults
played shoulder to shoulder with the famous actors in this table
read."
The online event combined the talents of Film Producer Renee
Frigo of Oak Street Pictures and Event Producer Dan Kough of
Paradigm Shift Worldwide to create a truly unique viewer
experience. The addition of Pete
Davidson to the cast received national attention, with many
questioning the initial casting choice.
"When Pete Davidson came
on board in the role of George
Bailey, Dan Kough and I
immediately knew we had something special," said Frigo. "Watching
Pete's transformative performance was inspiring. The entire cast
delivered in every way imaginable. It was like giving a backstage
pass for a live recording of a TV show."
During the Q&A portion, a fan asked Davidson about his
history with the film version of "It's a Wonderful
Life." The fact that Davidson's father died as a hero on
9/11 added meaning to his deeply personal performance.
"This was my dad's favorite movie, so I grew up watching it
religiously. It is also one of my favorite movies of all time.
Jimmy Stewart is hard shoes to fill
but I did my best. It was a lot of fun and a really great time!"
said Pete Davidson.
For a minimum donation of $10, the
recording will be available for a limited time starting
Friday, December 18, through
Thursday, December 31, at
midnight. Oak Street Pictures, whose founder is also a board
member of The Ed Asner Family Center, has subsidized the cost of
the recorded version to make it affordable for all.
To make a donation and register for the "It's a Wonderful
Life" table read, visit www.teafc.org or contact
Shelby Landucci at
shelby@edasnerfamilycenter.org
For photos and clips: Click here
ABOUT THE ED ASNER FAMILY
CENTER:
In the United States,
about 1 in 6 (17%) children aged 3–17 years were
diagnosed with a developmental disability – CDC. The
Ed Asner Family Center is a non-profit founded by
Navah and Matt Asner, whose mission
is to help those with special needs and their families seeking
wholeness in all facets of life. The Center not
only caters to the needs of the special individual, but aims to
embrace the complete family, helping them meet the challenges they
face with grace and support, as well as providing the tools to
promote confidence, dignity and pride. Enrichment offered includes
art, yoga, music and career advancement programs, counseling and
mindfulness classes.
Facebook: facebook.com/edasnerfamilycenter/
Twitter: twitter.com/edasnercenter/
Instagram: instagram.com/edasnerfamilycenter/ Website:
www.edasnerfamilycenter.org
MEDIA CONTACTS: Cheri Warner • Erick
Yamagata • Weissman/Markovitz Communications
818.760.8995 • 261745@email4pr.com
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SOURCE The Ed Asner Family Center