“It’s more than just a movie, it’s a movement and the message is coming through loud and clear; you can see it and feel it, people are walking out of the theater awake and I can tell we have a new ally to our movement against Domestic Violence!,” said director, producer, writer Harley Wallen of Finding Nicole. “Nicole’s story brings you into it all as a fly on the wall into very private and intimate situations that are often reserved for the victims,” he added.
The world premiere of multi award-winning filmmaker Harley Wallen’s much anticipated film, Finding Nicole, was on Thursday, May 1st at the Laemmle Town Center 5. This date was very appropriate as May 1st actually marks the start of Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Month.
Based on the true-life story of author, activist, social worker and speaker Nicole Beverly as seen on “Inside Evil with Chris Cuomo,” “Til Death Do Us Part,” and the top-selling book with the same title.
Nicole (Kaiti Wallen) and her children not only survive and overcome domestic violence but also thrive and help other victims. Nicole, who is truly an inspiration, takes this cycle of abuse and turns lemons into lemonade by becoming an advocate for other survivors. She is the founder of the Enough Initiative domestic violence prevention non-profit.
Watch the trailer here:
Celebrities and VIPs in attendance from the film were: Sean Whalen (Twister), Kaiti Wallen (Beneath Us All), Blanca Blanco (Syfy network’s Bermuda Tentacles), Vida Ghaffari (The Mindy Project), Marcus Woods (Empire), Mari G. (Tale of Tails), Shawn Jones (Beneath Us All), Director Harley Wallen (Ash and Bone), Producer, Author and Activist Nicole Beverly, Producers Yan Birch (Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs), Joseph Williamson (Eternal Code), Kevin Schierlinger (A Bennett Holiday Song), Tandreka Keaton (Living It Up), Producer and Actor Jeffrey C. Berry (Beneath Us All), noted filmmaker Dustin Ferguson (Spider Baby), Screenwriter Geoffrey D. Calhoun (Dark Deceptions), Cinematographer Nolan Rhys Elias (Beneath Us All).
Other celebrities in attendance: Merrick McCartha (All American), Devin McGee (The Rookie), Shane Callahan (Dopesick), Jed Mills (Casino), Amber Lynn (The Kominsky Method), Brinke Stevens (The Slumber Party Massacre), Susan Lanier (Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes), Michelle Bauer (Dinosaur Island), Dawna Lee Heising (Bad President), Nathan Pelle (CSI: Cyber), Crystal Rivers (General Hospital), Meredith Jackson (High Potential), James Darius Moshir (The Verdict with Judge Hatchett), Latasha Pippen (Christmas Angel), Jon Mack (Andromeda Wars), David Baughn (Graduation Day), August Kyss (Murdercise), Dr. Angela Sadler Williamson (Emmy nominated producer), Producer Lynn Tang (Senior Entourage), Samira Kazemeni (Academy Award Gala Event Producer, TV host and publisher), Comic and music artist A12 Funny, Saul Mejia (Executive Director of the Panorama City Chamber of Commerce), Tammy Scher (Board of Directors at the United Chambers of Commerce, President of Sherman Oaks/Encino Chamber of Commerce), Actor/Producer/Celebrity Fitness Expert Rehan Jalali, Celebrity Makeup Artist Joanne Cervelli Smith and John Ozuna (holds two Guinness World Records).
Photos courtesy of John Chen and Lumiere Anchor Photography
