Disease of the Wind Documentary Premieres at the Motion Picture Association of America

Tragedy of measles in Africa chronicled through the eyes of eight students and actress Jane Seymour

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, September 10, 2003 — Disease of the Wind takes viewers to the heart of Africa with Jane Seymour and eight Los Angeles-area middle school students to chronicle the tragedy of measles and the race to eliminate the disease. The documentary, directed by James Keach, premieres Wednesday, September 17, at the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), 1600 Eye St. NW. A 6:30 p.m. reception precedes the 8 p.m. screening and Q&A session moderated by Debbi Jarvis from WRC-TV NBC, which includes host Jack Valenti, president, MPAA; with Marsha J. Evans, president and CEO, American Red Cross; and Timothy E. Wirth, president, United Nations Foundation. James Keach, actress Jane Seymour and two of the students who are in the film will be in attendance.

During a seven-day humanitarian journey to Kenya with the American Red Cross, viewers get a glimpse of the crisis and the hope of a continent riddled with this deadly disease. Jane Seymour and the students learn first hand that measles kills one half million children each year in Africa, while affecting even more lives. In contrast, the optimism and hopefulness the Kenyans displayed throughout the visit touched and amazed Seymour and the students.

“Not only does this film follow an untold story of Africa’s leading vaccine-preventable killer of children, but does so through the eyes of youth who, for the most part, have never been on a plane, much less been to rural Africa. The impact of measles and Africa on these kids is the unique and astonishing part of the film. Their lives are visibly changed as the trip progresses,” said Gerry Jones, vice president, International Services, American Red Cross.

Actress Jane Seymour joined the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet in February 2001 and spent her time supporting the Measles Initiative, the American Red Cross-led program which plans to eliminate measles from Africa through continued mass measles vaccination campaigns over five years. Seymour volunteered to travel to Kenya in June 2001 to take part in the Initiative’s largest vaccination campaign to date.

“In our travels we saw the Measles Initiative at work firsthand. We witnessed schoolchildren singing songs about measles and putting on community plays where a ‘devil’ character representing measles teaches mothers and fathers about the importance of vaccination. Most importantly, we talked to families about their daily lives and how measles affects them. I actually heard that some mothers won’t name their children until they have had measles because so many children die from it in early childhood,” Seymour said.

The film was written and directed by James Keach, who also suggested inviting the students to join Jane on the mission. The producer is Nicolas Hippisley-Coxe who used film crews from the United States, United Kingdom and Kenya to create the documentary. The film is a family affair as Jane is the host; James directed the film; brother, Stacy Keach, narrated; sons, Kalen Keach and Sean Flynn, assisted with photography; and brother-in-law, Donald, created the music.

By the end of the week, nearly 13 and a half million youth, or 97.9 percent of Kenya’s children received vaccinations, saving 18,000 lives and taking an important step in combating the spread of infectious disease in an increasingly small world. As the young Masai poet says at the film’s end, “Perhaps if we shed these words of age, color, tongue or creed; the pleas and the cries of the African child, the world will consider and heed.”

BACKGROUND:

The Measles Initiative

The Measles Initiative is focused initially in Africa, where there is the highest risk of death from the disease. The Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to control measles deaths in Africa by vaccinating 200 million children and preventing 1.2 million deaths over five years. Leading this effort are the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization. Other key players in the fight against measles include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and countries and governments affected by measles. For more information or to make a financial donation, visit www.measlesinitiative.org.

As of December 2002, more than 80 million children in 16 African nations have been vaccinated against measles through the Measles Initiative, saving 272,000 lives. For more information about the Measles Initiative, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org. To make a financial contribution, call 1-800 HELP NOW or to make a secure online donation, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org.

Disease of the Wind

Director: James Keach
Producer: Nicolas Hippisley-Coxe
Genre: Documental, Kenya 2002
Runtime: 58 minutes
Sound: Dolby Digital (SRD)
Cast: Jane Seymour, eight
Los Angeles-area middle school students

For more information visit http://www.measlesinitiative.org/wind.asp

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you wish to attend the event or would like to schedule a time to talk to Jane Seymour, James Keach, students in the film or other distinguished guests, please call as space is limited.

CONTACTS:

Amber Allman, National American Red Cross, office 202-303-4497, cell 202-439-0636
Carrie Martin, American Red Cross, National Capital Area Chapter, office 202-303-4459
Julie Irby, National American Red Cross, office 202-303-4264, cell 202-439-0722