The Jack Johnson Story "The Night It Happened"

THE JACK JOHNSON STORY:
THE NIGHT IT HAPPENED

The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened is a collaborative feature documentary and companion narrative short film project that shines the spotlight on American Icon and first African American world heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson.
Get involved, contribute, learn more!
*LIKE* the FACEBOOK Page: www.facebook.com/JackJohnsonStory
WATCH the INTRODUCTORY TRAILER: https://youtu.be/wEGpIgYMdqQ
SEE the VIDEO ENDORSEMENT by Rep. Bobbie Richardson! http://youtu.be/CdlKE90h_e0
ALSO the FRANKLIN WITNESS INTERVIEWS Teaser: https://youtu.be/yb7uGCxrRWE
CONTACT US: JackJohnsonMovie@gmail.com
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PROJECT OVERVIEW::

The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened is a collaborative feature documentary and narrative short film project between nationally acclaimed Indie-film director/producer Rob Underhill and producers Aaron Snowell and Will Williams (see production team biographies below).

As part of laying the groundwork for producing the feature documentary, The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened, the filmmakers are producing a narrative short film, "The Night It Happened", to build awareness, drum up support, and continue to raise funds necessary to produce, promote, and distribute the feature documentary.

The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened has rapidly growing support from a wide audience locally around Franklin county and at the state and national level, including government representatives, residents, boxing industry legends and professionals, eye witnesses to the fatal car crash that took Jack Johnson's life in Franklin County in 1946, and many others interested in having presented on the silver screen an true historical account of Jack Johnson as an American icon (see video interviews below).

The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened also serves as a vehicle to showcase Franklin County and the town of Franklinton to draw tourism and infuse funding and other resources into the community.

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VIDEO INTERVIEWS:

Supporting and discussing The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened:

Rep. Bobbie Richardson extended interview with host, Aaron Snowell; they discuss the history and modern day importance of the Jack Johnson story:
http://youtu.be/B33MafKXcls

Six Franklin County residents talk about The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened, Including BILL CLANCY, professional boxing referee; CAROLYN FRANCIS, eye-witness of Jack Johnson's fatal car accident; Chief JOHN GREEN, Franklin Chief of Police; JOE CUTCHINS, owner of Cutchins Funeral Home; ROBERT WILDER, witness on the scene of Jack Johnson's accident; Sheriff KENT WINSTEAD, Franklin County Sheriff:
https://youtu.be/TfZbxaqGhNU


Aaron Snowell speaks to why the Jack Johnson Story is so important to Franklin County:
http://youtu.be/4zjYYomRJao

William Hunter on singing God Bless America and granting permission for use in The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened:
https://youtu.be/rJ7GKYiHjlE


John Perry speaks to playing the role of Jack Johnson and the importance of bringing the film to Franklin County.
https://youtu.be/8sELMLNJif8

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SHORT FILM LOGLINE:

In "The Night It Happened", retired 27-time champion boxer trainer, AARON SNOWELL (played by himself), finds himself back in the ring training again when a young man, JOE (played by Will Williams), enters his life in need of guidance and a history lesson about the great American Icon, Jack Johnson.

SHORT FILM SYNOPSIS:

In "The Night It Happened", JOE (played by Will Williams)--a recent high school graduate with a flare for getting into trouble with the law even while fighting for what he believes is right--is ordered by the court to do community service at "The Camp": a historic barn converted into a not-for-profit boxing center and headed by none other than 27-time champion-boxer trainer, AARON SNOWELL (played by himself). And, as Joe soon discovers, displayed prominently by the boxing ring that dominates the center of the barn's interior is a near-life sized poster of the very first African American heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Johnson.

When one night Aaron overhears Joe dismissing Jack Johnson offhand as a has-been of history, Aaron makes it his mission to train Joe in the art of boxing and to school him on why Jack was not just a legendary boxing champion, but a true American Icon. As Aaron brings the rich history of Jack Johnson to life, Joe is transported in his mind to two fateful stories of the night it happened: the night Jack Johnson won the heavyweight title as an aspiring young man; and a night much later in Jack's life when he died in a tragic automobile accident.

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PRODUCTION TEAM BIOGRAPHIES::


AARON SNOWELL, producer/host/actor, The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened.

Aaron is the current World Boxing Council (WBC) Official Ambassador. He has trained over *27 WORLD CHAMPIONS* in his 30-year career from bantamweight to heavyweight, including Mike Tyson. And he is on record as the youngest trainer to train a heavyweight champion. He also trained Rickey Parkey, who delivered the fastest knockout in history: within 8 seconds of the first round.

Aaron has been honored with 1994 Trainer-of-the-Year by the World Boxing Council; 1996 Trainer-of-the-Year by the World Boxing Association; and 1998 Trainer-of-the-Year by the International Boxing Federation.

For over 30 years Aaron has proven himself as an accomplished businessman with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and as a trainer, director, TV/radio producer, event coordinator, community service organizer, and more.

Some of Aaron's recent accolades for community service include: 2013 World Boxing Council Award for Outstanding Achievement for Community Service; 2014 United Way of Franklin County Silver Award for Build-a-backpack; United Way of Franklin County Gold Award for volunteerism and loyal contributor. Aaron's record of service goes way back, including in 1995 when he received the International Lion Rotary Club Speaker Award in Rome, Ohio.
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ROB UNDERHILL, director/producer, The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened.

Rob is a film and TV director, producer, writer and editor. His films have been in competition at over 200 film festivals worldwide, including ST. LOUIS and SEATTLE (both *Academy Award-qualifying* film festivals), OAXACA (Mexico), SUNSCREEN (Academy-sponsored) and CANNES (France), have received over 90 awards including for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and have scored rave reviews from top film critics like Mark Bell of FILM THREAT and Anne Brodie in CRITICIZE THIS!

Featured on the National Public Radio shows, THE STATE OF THINGS with Frank Stasio andTHE STORY with Dick Gordon, Rob’s work is regularly subject in newspapers, radio, TV-news and more.

Rob's work has received endorsements from major public figures such as US UN Ambassador Andrew Young, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and former North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue. Carolina STYLE Magazine recognized Rob as one of 25 "Most Stylish People" influencing positive change in the Carolinas through his films. He is a RAWards Indie Art Award recipient for Best Regional Filmmaker. He was the featured Speaker at the 2015 graduation commencement exercises for the Department of English at North Carolina State University.

His work has aired on the ASPiRE network and other national US and European TV outlets. Visit his website at www.RobUnderhill.com; *like* his Facebook for regular updates at www.facebook.com/RobUnderhillProductions.
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WILL WILLIAMS, producer/actor, The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened.

Will is an actor, writer, producer based out of Raleigh, NC. He is executive producer of the narrative film, No Child (2015). He has been featured in commercials for Pepsi and Angry Orchard Hard Cider. He has worked on USA Network's hit series Royal Pains and also was the 2013 model for Volvo National's packaging campaign. Will has also been in multiple independent films. In 2012 he released the short but impactful book, Happier Ever After. Will's objective is to act in and produce films that inspire others to better the lives of themselves and those around them.
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WILLIAM EDWARD HUNTER, singer/songwriter, "God Bless America," The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened.

William Hunter is the world record holder for deepest vocals. His singing and songwriting career extends over 63 years. He is a US Army veteran, having served in Vietnam. He was a Franklinton city police officer and then a child abuse investigator, retiring after 26 years of service. He has served on numerous Franklinton city boards and committees. His rendition of "God Bless America" he lends to the Jack Johnson Story production and will revisit it, singing it live for the cameras in the film. He has played major roles as an actor in A Christmas Carol, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and other productions at Louisburg College and Littleton Theatre.
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JOHN EDWARD PERRY, plays Jack Johnson, The Jack Johnson Story: The Night It Happened.

John Perry was born in Franklinton, North Carolina, in 1956, as one of nine siblings. At a young age he learned to street box before moving to Pottsville, Pennsylvania. There John played football and his was the first freshman team in Pottsville Highschool history to go undefeated. John also ran track, played basketball and never got pinned as a wrestler. In the early 70s, John pursued boxing, and he attended the famous Training Camp ran by then heavyweight boxing cham