“Kevin’s Room 2” Will Be Shown on WCIU-TV
Chicago, IL -
An innovative new film that explores HIV/AIDS issues among gay and bisexual men of color will make its television broadcast premiere next month.
“Kevin’s Room 2: Trust” will be aired at 9 p.m. Sunday, December 14 on WCIU-TV.
“Kevin’s Room 2” is fresh off its triumphant world premiere at the 22nd Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, where it played to a sold-out house on November 9.
Funded by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), “Kevin’s Room 2” is part of the department’s innovative social marketing strategy to deliver messages about HIV prevention in non-traditional settings.
“Traditional methods of health education, like fact sheets and brochures, are useful but only go so far,” stated CDPH Commissioner John Wilhelm, M.D. “The continued urgency of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, especially in communities of color, demands that we find newer and more creative ways to attract attention and engage people in frank discussions of what HIV and related issues mean to individuals and to communities.”
Produced and directed by Sharon Zurek of Black Cat Productions and CDPH Office of Lesbian and Gay Health Director Lora Branch, “Kevin’s Room 2” is the second in a series of 60-minute films that explore gay and bisexual relationships, HIV testing, substance abuse and sexual risk taking in the lives of African-American men. It is the sequel to “Kevin’s Room,” an award-winning, internationally acclaimed drama that CDPH released in 2001.
“We at WCIU are honored to be bringing ‘Kevin’s Room 2' into the homes of Chicago television viewers,” added Neal Sabin, Executive Vice President of WCIU-TV. “Twenty years of the AIDS epidemic mandates renewed attention and action regarding this critical health issue facing all Chicagoans.”
Featuring a Chicago-area cast and crew, “Kevin’s Room 2” follows Kevin (Keith Butler) and his leadership of a support group for gay men of color who examine and deal with such issues as honesty, fidelity, sexual practices that carry increased risk of HIV transmission, living with HIV, and more.
Other principal cast members are Da’Non Bolden, Sanford Gaylord, Malik Middleton, Byron Stewart, Darryl Taylor and Nicholas Vazquez III.
“In many communities—but perhaps especially communities of color—it’s not easy to talk about HIV/AIDS and issues relating to gay and bisexual men,” Branch added. “The obstacles we face are fear, misinformation, stigmatization and silence. ‘Kevin’s Room 2’ is an effort to build on the success of our first film by continuing this courageous, honest and sensitive dialogue about something so important to our communities.”
“Kevin’s Room 2” is written by Allen Wright, Lora Branch and Martha Shaifer-Hartel. Ines Sommer is director of photography, and Anna Nakajima is the film’s editor.
Other crew members are Mark Markley, gaffer; Tom Yore, sound recordist; and Byron Stewart and Duane Sharp, casting.
WCIU-TV is broadcast on Channel 26. Check your local cable listings or visit WCIU's web site to find its assigned cable channel.
“Kevin’s Room 2: Trust” will be aired at 9 p.m. Sunday, December 14 on WCIU-TV.
“Kevin’s Room 2” is fresh off its triumphant world premiere at the 22nd Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, where it played to a sold-out house on November 9.
Funded by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), “Kevin’s Room 2” is part of the department’s innovative social marketing strategy to deliver messages about HIV prevention in non-traditional settings.
“Traditional methods of health education, like fact sheets and brochures, are useful but only go so far,” stated CDPH Commissioner John Wilhelm, M.D. “The continued urgency of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, especially in communities of color, demands that we find newer and more creative ways to attract attention and engage people in frank discussions of what HIV and related issues mean to individuals and to communities.”
Produced and directed by Sharon Zurek of Black Cat Productions and CDPH Office of Lesbian and Gay Health Director Lora Branch, “Kevin’s Room 2” is the second in a series of 60-minute films that explore gay and bisexual relationships, HIV testing, substance abuse and sexual risk taking in the lives of African-American men. It is the sequel to “Kevin’s Room,” an award-winning, internationally acclaimed drama that CDPH released in 2001.
“We at WCIU are honored to be bringing ‘Kevin’s Room 2' into the homes of Chicago television viewers,” added Neal Sabin, Executive Vice President of WCIU-TV. “Twenty years of the AIDS epidemic mandates renewed attention and action regarding this critical health issue facing all Chicagoans.”
Featuring a Chicago-area cast and crew, “Kevin’s Room 2” follows Kevin (Keith Butler) and his leadership of a support group for gay men of color who examine and deal with such issues as honesty, fidelity, sexual practices that carry increased risk of HIV transmission, living with HIV, and more.
Other principal cast members are Da’Non Bolden, Sanford Gaylord, Malik Middleton, Byron Stewart, Darryl Taylor and Nicholas Vazquez III.
“In many communities—but perhaps especially communities of color—it’s not easy to talk about HIV/AIDS and issues relating to gay and bisexual men,” Branch added. “The obstacles we face are fear, misinformation, stigmatization and silence. ‘Kevin’s Room 2’ is an effort to build on the success of our first film by continuing this courageous, honest and sensitive dialogue about something so important to our communities.”
“Kevin’s Room 2” is written by Allen Wright, Lora Branch and Martha Shaifer-Hartel. Ines Sommer is director of photography, and Anna Nakajima is the film’s editor.
Other crew members are Mark Markley, gaffer; Tom Yore, sound recordist; and Byron Stewart and Duane Sharp, casting.
WCIU-TV is broadcast on Channel 26. Check your local cable listings or visit WCIU's web site to find its assigned cable channel.
