"Kat Kramer's Films That Change the World" to Premiere Controversial Elephant Documentary
Some of Hollywood's top celebrities will gather January 20 to discuss the plight of elephants in zoos and circuses, when the new documentary film "Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy" premieres as part of "Kat Kramer's Films That Change the World." Kramer founded her series in 2009 under the auspices of KnK Productions, Inc., the motion picture production company she owns with her mother, producer Karen Kramer.
Los Angeles, CA, January 17, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The third installment of Kat Kramer's Films That Change the World will feature the world premiere of the documentary "Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy" at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood on Thursday, January 20.
The film, executive produced by Melya Kaplan and directed by Jacek Kropinski, chronicles the history of elephants in captivity. Kaplan, founder of the nonprofit Voice for the Animals Foundation, contends that zoos and circuses are not capable of properly caring for elephants due to their size and their need for vast amounts of space in which to roam. Many celebrities have joined Kaplan in a campaign to persuade zoos to close elephant exhibits and transfer the pachyderms to larger sanctuaries.
The host committee for the premiere of "Elephants and Man" includes Cher, Alec Baldwin, Kathy Griffin, Billy Bob Thornton, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, Ed Begley, Jr., Paul Haggis, Fisher Stevens, Ric O'Barry, Karen Black, Lainie Kazan, Ken Davitian, Sally Field, Beau Bridges and others. Special guests will include actresses Lily Tomlin and Tippi Hedren, who have been outspoken on the issue of elephants in captivity. They will participate in a panel discussion, which will follow the screening.
"Hopefully, this film will introduce and educate people to the barbaric and inhumane practice of keeping elephants captive in zoos," Tomlin said. "Once most humans learn the truth about the cruelty and suffering we are causing these creatures, I believe they will find exhibiting them in zoos as morally unacceptable as I and many, many others do."
Kramer founded her film series in 2009, under the auspices of KnK Productions, Inc., to highlight motion pictures that raise awareness of important social issues. Her father, the late producer/director Stanley Kramer, was known for making socially conscious movies such as "Judgement and Nuremberg," "Ship of Fools," "On the Beach," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" and the animal-rights film "Bless the Beasts and the Children." The first two films Ms. Kramer screened in her series were the Barbra Streisand classic "Yentl" and the dolphin documentary "The Cove," which later received the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2010.
Kramer selected "Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy" as a result of the controversy surrounding a new elephant exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo. The $42 million exhibit, which opened in December, 2010, is comprised of six acres, just three of which are for elephants, with the remaining area for spectators. Prior to the opening of the new exhibit, 14 elephants had died prematurely at the LA Zoo over a period of several years, while confined in cramped quarters.
"People who think the new elephant exhibit is wonderful because it is larger than the old one, are missing the point," Kramer said. "Elephants need more space, to be healthy. We hope zoos throughout the country will pay attention to the message of 'Elephants and Man' and do the right thing by closing their elephant exhibits."
"Kat Kramer's Films That Change the World" is by invitation only. A red-carpet reception will begin on January 20 at 6:30 p.m. "Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy" will be shown at 8:00 p.m.
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The film, executive produced by Melya Kaplan and directed by Jacek Kropinski, chronicles the history of elephants in captivity. Kaplan, founder of the nonprofit Voice for the Animals Foundation, contends that zoos and circuses are not capable of properly caring for elephants due to their size and their need for vast amounts of space in which to roam. Many celebrities have joined Kaplan in a campaign to persuade zoos to close elephant exhibits and transfer the pachyderms to larger sanctuaries.
The host committee for the premiere of "Elephants and Man" includes Cher, Alec Baldwin, Kathy Griffin, Billy Bob Thornton, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, Ed Begley, Jr., Paul Haggis, Fisher Stevens, Ric O'Barry, Karen Black, Lainie Kazan, Ken Davitian, Sally Field, Beau Bridges and others. Special guests will include actresses Lily Tomlin and Tippi Hedren, who have been outspoken on the issue of elephants in captivity. They will participate in a panel discussion, which will follow the screening.
"Hopefully, this film will introduce and educate people to the barbaric and inhumane practice of keeping elephants captive in zoos," Tomlin said. "Once most humans learn the truth about the cruelty and suffering we are causing these creatures, I believe they will find exhibiting them in zoos as morally unacceptable as I and many, many others do."
Kramer founded her film series in 2009, under the auspices of KnK Productions, Inc., to highlight motion pictures that raise awareness of important social issues. Her father, the late producer/director Stanley Kramer, was known for making socially conscious movies such as "Judgement and Nuremberg," "Ship of Fools," "On the Beach," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" and the animal-rights film "Bless the Beasts and the Children." The first two films Ms. Kramer screened in her series were the Barbra Streisand classic "Yentl" and the dolphin documentary "The Cove," which later received the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2010.
Kramer selected "Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy" as a result of the controversy surrounding a new elephant exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo. The $42 million exhibit, which opened in December, 2010, is comprised of six acres, just three of which are for elephants, with the remaining area for spectators. Prior to the opening of the new exhibit, 14 elephants had died prematurely at the LA Zoo over a period of several years, while confined in cramped quarters.
"People who think the new elephant exhibit is wonderful because it is larger than the old one, are missing the point," Kramer said. "Elephants need more space, to be healthy. We hope zoos throughout the country will pay attention to the message of 'Elephants and Man' and do the right thing by closing their elephant exhibits."
"Kat Kramer's Films That Change the World" is by invitation only. A red-carpet reception will begin on January 20 at 6:30 p.m. "Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy" will be shown at 8:00 p.m.
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Contact
KnK Productions, Inc.
Fred Anderson
818-760-3106
FAndersonMedia@aol.com
Fred Anderson
818-760-3106
FAndersonMedia@aol.com
Contact
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