Press Release: HIGH THERE promotion turns to high-profile human rights activism for Dave High & Roland Jointz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Honorary Grand Marshal: High There star Dave High leads Falun Gong parade through streets of Santa Monica

High There star leads Falun Gong protest parade in Santa Monica

HOLLYWOOD  (October 18) The stars of the hit independent gonzo comedy film High There mixed promotion with human rights activism Saturday when their appearance at a 420 Games event in Santa Monica led to their high-profile involvement in a rally by hundreds of practitioners and supporters of the Falun Gong movement.

Directors Wayne Darwen and Henry Goren, in character as High There protagonists Dave High and Roland Jointz, were in Palisades Park at the 420 Games' 2.20 Mile March for the Weed for Warriors project (promoting cannabis-stoked athleticism and supporting wounded veterans) when they were enlisted by the Falun Gong activists to help bring attention to their cause.

The pair had joined 420 event organizers and sponsors including Magical ButterSensi medical marijuana edibles and Eaze medical marijuana delivery, posing with fans, signing autographs, stopping for interviews and giving out BRINKvision limited edition High There DVDs -- before being noticed by organizers of the Falun Gong rally and parade that ended in the same park.

Protesters in their distinctive yellow shirts literally pounced upon High and Jointz as they entered Palisades Park toward the 420 Games area.   The documentary comedy stars, who'd helped free Hawaiian marijuana advocate Roger Christie from four years of federal imprisonment without charges (as documented in the film), were asked to bring attention to the inhumane persecution still taking place in China.

At one point, Dave High was convinced to lead a parade of hundreds of Falun Gong suporters in their distinctive yellow shirts and carrying flags, down Santa Monica Boulevard, across Ocean Acenue and into the park.

A reporter from the independent Chinese NTD television pulled him aside for an in-depth interview on his views on human rights, as well as the human rights issues brought up in the BRINKvision nonfiction gonzo comedy film.

"I, of course support human rights in all its forms,” Dave High told the reporter and the audience of NTD television audience across the globe. “High There is a film that reflects that.  And I’m proud to be its champion."

Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) is a spiritial practice that combines meditation and quigong exercises. The size and beliefs of the Falun Gong movement was seen as a threat by the Chinese government, which has persecuted, imprisoned and tortured many practitioners.

High There has been very well-received by critics ("A perfect film"-- ABucket OfCorn.com) and is becoming a cult favorite on DVD and Video on Demand.

The Santa Monica event follows the High There team's much-publicized appearance at the Las Vegas Hempfest, where comedy legend Tommy Chong was seen to "pass the cannabis comedy torch" to Darwen.

Executive producer Sam Peters announced at the Hempfest that a sequel, Area 420, will begin principal photography in Las Vegas in late November.

High There is a Sam Peters International Productions Unlimited presentation of a Good Story Productions and Rat Lung Pictures production.


FOR INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS, PRESS MATERIALS, REVIEWS
CONTACT: Sam Peters
goodstoryproductions@mac.com

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press release
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Dave High leads Falun Gong human rights march in Santa Monica!


High There star Dave High found himself at the head of the parade and in the thick of human rights activism Saturday when he was pulled into action at a Falun Gong rally adjoining the 420 Games Weed for Warriors march in Santa Monica, where he and costar Roland Jointz had scheduled an appearance.
 

The man who helped free Hawai’ian marijuana advocate Roger Christie from four years of federal imprisonment without charges (see High There for details) was called upon by Falun Gong activists to help in their rally and protest against the inhumane persecution still taking place in China.





Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) is a spiritial practice that combines meditation and quigong exercises. The size and beliefs of the Falun Gong movement was seen as a threat by the Chinese government, which has persecuted, imprisoned and tortured many practitioners.



Protesters in their distinctive yellow shirts literally pounced upon Dave High and Roland Jointz as they entered Palisades Park toward the 420 Games area.  Dave was introduced to activists, and encouraged to lead hundreds of Falun Gong activists in a peaceful parade down Santa Monica Boulevard and across Ocean Avenue into the park.




A reporter from the independent Chinese NTD television pulled Dave aside for an in-depth interview on his views on human rights, as well as the human rights issues brought up in the BRINKvision nonfiction gonzo comedy film,  High There.



“I, of course support human rights in all its forms,” Dave High told the reporter and the audience of NTD television audience across the globe. “High There is a film that reflects that.  And I’m proud to be its champion."


HIGH THERE stars light up 420 Games’ Weed for Warriors march in Santa Monica


The High There street team descended on Palisades Park in Santa Monica Saturday, bringing a jolt of energy and cannabis comedy to the 420 Games' 4.20 mile march in support of the Weed for Warriors project.



 Dave High and Roland Jointz were there with event organizers and sponsors including Magical ButterSensi medical marijuana edibles and Eaze medical marijuana delivery, posing with fans, signing autographs, stopping for interviews and giving out BRINKvision limited edition High There DVDs -- before being called over to bring attention to a Falun Gong protest rally and parade that ended in the same park! (see related story)

Dave & Roland with photographer Ben Karris of The Kind internet magazine


Dave & Roland check outthe 2015 Cannaball Run pace car

The 420 Games promote cannabis as a conduit for athleticism and healthy activity, Weed for Warriors supports wounded American veterans. The march kicks off the cross-country 2015 Cannaball Run for Vets.



Press Release: Meeting of Tommy Chong and Wayne Darwen brings new attention to HIGH THERE film

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


Comedy legend Tommy Chong and High There star Wayne Darwen in historic meeting at Las Vegas Hempfest, October 3, 2015.

Ailing comedy legend reportedly "passed the cannabis comedy torch" to the man who plays Dave High

HOLLYWOOD (October 9)  The meeting of High There star Wayne Darwen and comedy legend Tommy Chong at the 2015 Las Vegas Hempfest has brought renewed attention to the nonfiction gonzo comedy film that was described as reigniting "a film genre made popular decades ago by the likes of Cheech and Chong."

Darwen, who directed High There with co-star Henry Goren, was at the October 3rd event to promote his film.  Chong was receiving a lifetime achievement award from festival organizers.  The pair got together several times during the day-long event, but it was a conversation backstage that drew attention around the world.

The New York Post and PageSix.com reported that Chong "passed the cannabis torch" to Darwen, instructing him to carry on his work with "pot humor"

Richard Johnson wrote:

"Chong graciously chatted backstage with Wayne Darwen, director and star of the cult comedy film High There.

“'Chong told Wayne to carry on the work of getting laughs with pot humor and passed the cannabis torch to a new generation,' said my witness. 'There were tears.'”

A photograph of the pair went viral within hours of the meeting on websites including 420 Magazine.

Chong announced from the Hempfest stage that he will soon be undergoing surgery for a recurrence of the cancer he'd hoped would be cured with cannabis.

Darwen and Goren worked the event with the High There street team, giving away dozens of limited edition DVDs, posters and collectible postcards, while also doing several radio and television interviews.  Goren caused a stir when he appeared wearing a gas mask, a trademark of his High There alter ego Roland Jointz.  He received online attention this week after he produced a doctor's prescription for the apparatus, stating it would protect him from irritating marijuana smoke.

High There is a Sam Peters International Productions Unlimited and Good Story Productions presentation of a Rat Lung picture, distributed by BRINKvision on limited edition DVD and VOD.

The film has received many rave reviews from indie movie websites, including A Bucket of Corn, which called High There "a perfect film," and Movie & TV Series Geek ("A perfect example of a memorable and really good piece of filmed cinema"). It was columnist Mark Day in The Australian who first reported the Cheech and Chong comparison.

View or download the new High There trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP8sJ1yA__g

Find additional photos and information at hightherethemovie.blogspot.com.


SAM PETERS PUBLIC RELATIONS NY LA LV LN HK
FOR INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS, PRESS MATERIALS
CONTACT: Sam Peters

goodstoryproductions@mac.com

PR Inside

The HIGH THERE street team at the Las Vegas Hempfest


High There Producer Burt Kearns, director and director of photography Henry Goren and director and writer Wayne Darwen, taking a break from publicity duties at the Las Vegas Hempfest on Saturday, October 3, 2015.  Not pictured: executive producer and public relations director Sam Peters, who is across Convention Center Drive at Piero’s.




NY Post’s PageSix.com: Tommy Chong tells HIGH THERE star Wayne Darwen to carry on his work


“Chong told Wayne to carry on the work of getting laughs with pot humor 
and ‘passed the cannabis torch’ to a new generation,” said my witness. 
“There were tears.”


by Richard Johnson
October 7, 2015

Fans are praying for Tommy Chong, of “Cheech & Chong” fame, as he faces his latest battle with cancer.

The marijuana maven who created best-selling stoner comedy albums and eight movies with partner Cheech Marin could barely stand last weekend at the Las Vegas Hempfest, where he was given a lifetime achievement award.
Chong, 77, announced three years ago he’d been stricken with cancer. But a month later, he tweeted that a hemp oil treatment was working and that he was “99 percent cancer-free.”
Onstage Saturday, Chong said the cancer had come back “big” and that he was due for major surgery in the coming days.
“I was on the Southwest flight from LA with him,” said one source. “He looked pretty worn out. He was visibly weak and ill.”
Chong graciously chatted backstage with Wayne Darwen, director and star of the cult comedy film “High There.”
“Chong told Wayne to carry on the work of getting laughs with pot humor and ‘passed the cannabis torch’ to a new generation,” said my witness. “There were tears.”

Exclusive: Roland Jointz’s gas mask prescription for the Las Vegas Hempfest!


 Yes, this is a prescription for a gas mask.


Viewers of High There know that Dave High’s lifeline to reality -- his cameraman Roland Jointz, -- wears the protective apparatus gas mask throughout their adventures-- because he’s very susceptible to secondhand marijuana smoke and wants to avoid a “contact high” while he’s trying to work (or perform any activity-- he does not imbibe or inhale).


Well, in real life, the man behind Roland Jointz has the same concerns.  Henry Goren, who co-directed High There with Dave High’s alter ego, Wayne Darwen, took special precautions before heading off to the Las Vegas Hempfest over the weekend... an actual bonafide doctor’s prescription that allowed him to drive onto the convention center grounds, stroll through the vendors market festival, attend seminars, converse backstage, wander freely and be nterviewed on television-- looking like a civil defense instructor.