BROOKLYN GIRL PRODUCTIONS 8491 W Sunset Blvd, Suite 311 West Hollywood, CA USA

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2 From Silence to Sound is an intimate and powerful portrait of courage and the dream to hear. -Adrian Belic, Academy Award Nominee Justin s success story (a double implant at that!) is more than rare, it is, in some ways against all odds, which is what makes From Silence to Sound so tremendously heartwarming and uplifting. -Alan Berliner, Emmy Award Winner & 2007 Sundance Film Festival Juror It is spellbinding to witness Justin s transformation from frustration and anger to gratefulness and wonder. It is the ultimate story of beating the odds and you can t help but cheer at his victory. -Camryn Manheim, Emmy Award Winner & Golden Globe Award Winner "It's not very often that you are able to watch a miracle happen before your eyes. Justin's journey is filled with struggles and obstacles, but his life is filled with a richness of spirit and an enormous amount of heart." -Kristyn Burtt, TV Personality From Silence to Sound transcends one young man s struggle to triumph over a disability. It is an unblinking look at a family that is searching for a way to heal. -Tyler Craft Cormney, Writer

3 *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* WEST HOLLYWOOD, California Start off the New Year with a miracle. The muchanticipated release of the award-winning documentary film FROM SILENCE TO SOUND is coming to DVD on Thursday, January 8 th, 2009, from Brooklyn Girl Productions. FROM SILENCE TO SOUND will be available at an SRP of $24.99 (1- Disc DVD). The FROM SILENCE TO SOUND DVD will include bonus features including the theatrical trailer and, exclusive to the DVD, behind the scenes interviews with director Chase Matthews, producer Jenine Mayring, and executive producer Jack Polachek, as well as a Q&A session after the Los Angeles premiere with Justin Garrett himself. FROM SILENCE TO SOUND is an inspiring film that tells the miraculous story of Justin Garrett, a man who has been profoundly deaf since birth. On March 13, 2006, Justin made history as the first recipient of a bilateral (double) cochlear implant in Oklahoma. Director Chase Matthews was drawn to the story immediately. Justin is such a likeable guy, you root for him from the beginning. Producer Jenine Mayring comments, " FROM SILENCE TO SOUND is a film that resonates with a diverse audience. Having an extensive background in the deaf community, one of my goals for this project was to ensure that the entire film, including the trailer and the DVD bonus features, be subtitled in English. By doing so, it became accessible to both hearing and deaf audiences worldwide." Mayring is a former American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and instructor whose credits as an ASL consultant include various films and hit TV shows, such as ER and nip/tuck. FROM SILENCE TO SOUND won the Best Documentary USA award at the Everglades International Film Festival and was recently nominated for Best Documentary at the International Film Festival South Africa. The film had its world premiere at the prestigious Palm Beach International Film Festival in Palm Beach, Florida. Total running time: 48 minutes, English subtitles. Executive Producer: Jack Polachek, Producer: Jenine Mayring, Director: Chase Matthews. Official website:

4 From Silence to Sound Logline & Synopsis Logline On March 13, 2006, history was made in Oklahoma. Witness the miracle. Short Synopsis In the United States, more than 20 million people are either deaf or hard-of-hearing. Justin Garrett is among them. And yet, for Justin, where there used to be silence, now there is sound. This is his miraculous story. Long Synopsis In the United States, more than 20 million people are either deaf or hard-of-hearing. Justin Garrett is among them. Justin s parents discovered that their son was profoundly deaf at age two. With that diagnosis, their idealistic dreams for him shattered. Not long after that, so did their family. As a young adult, Justin's audiologists recommended a cochlear implant. If the surgery went well, it would enable him to hear. An unsuccessful surgery, however, would mean a lifetime of irreversible deafness. In a miraculous turn of events, Justin was then approved for a bilateral (double) cochlear implant the first time in history a man from Oklahoma would undergo such a procedure. On March 13, 2006, this state-of-the-art surgery changed his life forever. Join him on this incredible journey as Justin seeks a new life in the hearing world.

5 Biography for Chase Matthews (Director/Co-Executive Producer) Chase Matthews captured audience s attention as the host of Nickelodeon s popular game show U Pick Nick. In addition, he has performed in over 50 plays and musicals, as well as in several films and television shows. He was the creator, writer, and producer of the sitcom pilot "A.D.D.T.V. with Chase Matthews," which he also starred in. He produced and directed the one-man show Cry Like a Man starring comedian Willie Barcena, and co-wrote and directed the one-woman show Chrysallis with Anita Vasan. Chase was the Managing Producer of over 100 episodes of the television show Heartbeat of America, starring William Shatner. Chase also works as a joke writer for some of the top headlining comedians in the country. He currently lives in Los Angeles. Biography for Jenine Mayring (Producer) Born and raised in the Big Apple, award-winning multi-hyphenate Jenine Mayring began her career as a stage actor. Today, she is President and Founder of Brooklyn Girl Productions. Jenine has won numerous awards including a Davey Award and a Telly Award. Her producer/director credits range from theater in New York to films and commercials in Los Angeles. She recently directed a national TV commercial for NBC. SIMONE, a psychological thriller that she wrote, produced and directed, is currently in post-production. Jenine produced the award-winning documentary From Silence to Sound which tells the miraculous story of the first deaf man to receive a bilateral cochlear implant in Oklahoma (Best Documentary USA, Everglades International Film Festival). A former American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and instructor, Jenine s credits as an ASL consultant include the hit TV shows ER and nip/tuck as well as various films. Jenine earned her bachelor s degree in Theater Arts (Acting & Directing) from the State University of New York at New Paltz (alma mater of John Turturro) in only three years. Prior to that, she graduated with honors from the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School with a major in Graphic Communications. A certified SCUBA diver, four-time marathoner and published writer, Jenine lives in West Hollywood.

6 From Silence to Sound Director s Statement (Chase Matthews) At the end of February 2006, I received an that changed my life. My cousin's husband, 27 year old Justin Garrett who had been deaf since birth, would be making history in Oklahoma by receiving a bilateral cochlear implant (an operation in which both ears undergo surgery simultaneously). "Four weeks after the operation," it read, "the implants would be turned on and Justin would be able to hear as well as you and I." I was blown away by the news and couldn't get it out of my mind. I remember thinking, "I would LOVE to be there to see Justin hear for the first time!" On March 5 th, 2006, while watching The Academy Awards with my best friend and producing partner, Jack Polachek, a promo came on for a new TV show called "Medical Miracles." Jack suggested submitting Justin's story to the show. I immediately started thinking of whom I could contact at the show to get his story told. Then I remembered how much of a control freak I am as a director. I wanted my family shown in a good light and for the story to be told in its entirety. I was in pre-production on another documentary, when suddenly I had the thought to make a documentary on Justin so the whole world could witness the miracle! There were many problems with my idea. First, I live in Los Angeles, California, while Justin and his wife, Davina, live in Owasso, Oklahoma. Second, Justin's surgery was TEN days away! Third, I had no money and no budget! The odds were stacked against me. It seemed impossible and hopeless, but I knew Justin's story had to be told. I started by asking Justin and Davina if they would be interested in doing a documentary and having cameras surrounding them during one of the most important moments of their lives. They loved the idea. Next, I knew to really tell the whole story, I had to hire a film crew and fly everyone there to shoot his life before the surgery so we could tell the story of his life before the implants. We also needed to shoot his surgery, him coming out of surgery, the activation of the implants (four weeks after the surgery) and a follow up several months later so the viewing audience could see his progress. This was all ONLY if the procedure worked. Even with a minimal crew, I knew the equipment, flights, hotels, rental cars, food, etc. would all add up fast. We needed money and we needed it fast. I put together a quick budget and presented the idea to Jack Polachek (Executive Producer) who first had the idea to film the story. Jack said he would love to finance the movie, but didn't think he had all the money with such short notice. Later that day, I had a meeting with Jack during which we devised an inexpensive plan. Jack agreed to pay for the entire production! We created a budget, secured financing, hired a crew and got all of the travel accommodations and shooting schedule together and were on our way to Oklahoma in less than a week! As soon as I got home from the first trip, I hired Jenine Mayring (Producer) to come on board. I had known Jenine for years and knew she was more than capable. She also happened to be a former American Sign Language interpreter, which helped us communicate with Justin MUCH easier! Working on this film has been the most rewarding thing I have ever worked on as an artist. It made me realize that we all take so much for granted. We can all be so much more thankful for all that we have, including our hearing. I hope this film will remind us of that. I would like to thank the brilliant team of artists that helped me tell Justin Garrett's story. I would also like to say a very special thank you to my two partners Jack Polachek (Executive Producer) and Jenine Mayring (Producer). Without the two of them and their many personal/financial sacrifices, this story would not have been told.

7 From Silence to Sound Credits Music by Joe Kraemer Edited by Dean Mongan Director of Photography Dean Mongan Co-Executive Producer Chase Matthews Executive Producer Jack Polachek Produced by Jenine Mayring Directed by Chase Matthews Assistant Director Camera Operators Post Production Sound Sound Editor Rerecording Mixers Voice Over Artist Associate Editor Color Correction Sign Language Consultant Transcription Services Subtitles Production Consultant Writing Consultant Entertainment Attorney Transportation Coordinator Catering Jenine Mayring Dean Mongan Jenine Mayring S.A.Y. Music & Sound Jennifer Ricciardi Steven A. Yeaman Jennifer Ricciardi Chris Trueman Jenine Mayring Perry Payne Perry Payne Jenine Mayring Frank Peterson Reporting Service Perry Payne David H. Jeffery Sandra J. Payne Joseph P. Costa, Esq. Dan Boster Linda Fisher Melissa Lockhart 2007 by Brooklyn Girl Productions, Desperado Productions & DeMat Productions All Rights Reserved Music 2007 by Spindlekix BMI All Rights Reserved

8 From Silence to Sound Justin hears the piano for the first time, played by his wife Davina. Cochlear implant surgery. Director Chase Matthews Producer Jenine Mayring