FAMILY-FRIENDLY MOVIE INSPIRED BY THE TRUE LIFE STORY OF BLIND FOOTBALL PLAYER TRAVIS FREEMAN COMES TO DVD & DIGITAL HD ON JANUARY 20, 2015

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13, 2015 — (PRNewswire) —   Following the nationwide theatrical release in the Fall of 2014, the family-friendly drama 23 Blast will be available on DVD and Digital HD on January 20, 2015.  The Dylan Baker Film is inspired by the remarkable true life events of Travis Freeman who played football for Corbin High School in the mid 1990's despite being blind.  Distributed by Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Inc. in association with Toy Gun Films, the DVD features a multi-part "behind-the-scenes" Featurette with Dylan Baker, The Travis Freeman Story, descriptive audio for the visually-impaired, bloopers reel and discussion guide, among others.

Having been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, NBC's Today and Dateline NBC, Freeman's story  was the winner of Heartland Film Festival's Audience Choice Award for Narrative Feature. 

23 Blast is written by Bram Hoover and Toni Hoover, directed/produced by Dylan Baker (Spider-Man 2 & 3, 13 Days) and produced by Gary Donatelli and Toni Hoover.  Executive producers for the movie include Daniel Snyder (owner of the Washington Redskins), Misook Doolittle and Brent Ryan Green.

The film stars Stephen Lang (Avatar, Terra Nova), Alexa Vega (Spy Kids, Nashville), Mark Hapka (Days of Our Lives, Criminal Minds), Max Adler (Glee), Bram Hoover, Kim Zimmer (Guiding Light, One Life to Live), Becky Ann Baker (Men in Black, Freaks and Geeks, A Simple Plan) Timothy Busfield (Field of Dreams, thirtysomething), Dylan Baker (Anchorman 2, Spiderman 2 & 3, The Good Wife), and Fred D. Thompson (Sinister, Law & Order, Die Hard 2).

"Faith Friendly for ages 12+"
Five out of five star review
The Dove Foundation ( www.dove.org)

23 Blast features Freeman, a typical teenager growing up in a small town in Kentucky,  who is a local hero on and off the field. In the fall of 1997, in the prime of his youth, he is unexpectedly stricken with an infection that destroys his optic nerve. He becomes blind overnight. Under the influence of parents who love him, a physical therapist who challenges him, a coach who inspires him, and a best friend who he cannot bear to leave behind, Freeman shows us what true bravery is by competing on the gridiron, helping his Corbin High School team advance to the state playoffs. 23 Blast follows Freeman and Jerry Baker, his closest friend, from the time they meet on the football field as kids through high school. Baker's attraction to the dark side of teenage temptations, beer and drugs, threatens to pull the friends apart. It is only on the football field where they truly connect.

"Inspiring and moving. A touching film for the whole family."
Nell Minow, Beliefnet.com

Depicting a story of hope triumphing over despair, of courage and faith overcoming fear and of victory prevailing over adversity, 23 Blast is designed to encourage and uplift audiences.

"This movie is so much bigger than me," says Freeman. "It represents the gift of a community coming together to help its own, and how faith manifests itself in many ways in the face of a tragedy; such as in hope, love, and personal courage."

"A triumph! Exhilarating, wise and genuinely heartfelt! It will make you stand up and cheer! Perfect entertainment for the whole family!"
Avi Offer, The NYC Movie Guru

23 Blast was shot entirely on location in Corbin, Ky. "We always said we wanted Corbin to be a character in it and you can't miss Corbin in this film," Baker said. "It's a town where a young boy went through such an awful, awful thing and the town comes off as somewhere they give the encouragement and support where a boy can succeed and go forward."

"Stepping behind the camera, versatile actor Dylan Baker makes an assured directorial debut, drawing spirited performances from his seasoned cast."
Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter

Freeman has been busy since his football days. He earned a Ph.D. and is currently an instructor of religion at the University of the Cumberlands in nearby Williamsburg, Ky.

Website:         www.23blast.com 
Twitter:          https://twitter.com/23Blast
Instagram:      instagram.com/23blast
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/23Blast#!/23Blast
Press Site:      http://23blast.onlinemediaspot.com/

For the latest news and updates regarding 23 Blast, please visit:  www.23blast.com.

23 BLAST – DVD

Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Inc.

Launched in January 2009, Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Inc. is the destination for productions that offer hope to audiences looking for inspiration in entertainment. It is committed to releasing films and television programming that are inspiring and redemptive. For more information, please visit www.oceanave.tv.

About Toy Gun Films

Toy Gun Films is an independent film production company run by Director/Producer Brent Ryan Green. For more information, please visit www.toygunfilms.com.

About Dylan Baker

With two Emmy, Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations, Dylan Baker brings a wide-ranging acting career, from Planes, Trains and Automobiles to Anchorman 2,  from Secretariat to The Good Wife, to directing plays and now film.  Having acted alongside such stars as Steve Martin, Robert DeNiro, John Candy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Lane, John Goodman, Tom Hanks, Juliana Margolies, Kevin Costner and Emma Stone, Baker goes behind the camera for the first time in 23 Blast.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Howie Simon
310-854-8198
Email Contact

Brian Carrillo
310- 854-8196
Email Contact

Press Site
http://23blast.onlinemediaspot.com/

 

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150113/168898

 

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SOURCE Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Inc.

Contact:

Ocean Avenue Entertainment, Inc. Web: http://www.23blast.com