Chely Wright – Wish Me Away – Film Documentary

More postscripts on our amazing time in Nashville. On Friday night, besides having creative folks from the Nashville music industry present, we had several Nashville people

who are IN the film present at the first screening. Legendary producer Tony Brown, who produced several of Chely’s hits said he thought the film was fantastic.

Blair Garner, syndicated country radio host, jumped up during the Q&A and invited Chely to be on his radio show–that’s huge!! It was also a thrill for me to meet songwriters like

Carolyn Dawn Johnson, who wrote “Single White Female.” BMI hosted a private party after the screening which we appreciated so much and which really validated the film and Chely as the pioneer she is.  It’s never easy to be the first, but we know this film is creating history and will help others to come out in the future.  We have received some comments from straight people saying the film could make people “re-evaluate their thinking.”  More to come…………..Bobbie

Our decision to do a sneak peek of Wish Me Away at the Nashville Film Festival was scary, brave and inspired.  Friday,  April 15th was grey and bleak. Thunder cracked the sky and tornado warnings hovered. The red carpet was replaced by a white tent. But the audience was not deterred. Sold out, standing ovation doesn’t even begin to express how well received this film was by the people who came. They walked in curious and skeptical; they walked out deeply moved, with a new understanding of Chely – who she was and what she went through. Any doubts about her motives – like selling records and reviving her career – were finally and forever put to rest.

It was a beginning, but only a beginning. There is a lot more to do to change hearts and minds, not just within the Nashville music industry, but in their audience. After all,  as Chely has repeatedly said, “They know who their market is.”  That’s why we are more determined than ever that this film reach the widest audience possible.

Thank you for your support. This is a film made by a community of passionate people with a mission, who know the time is right and are ready to do whatever it takes. News of our next big adventure coming soon.

xoBeverly

Chely Wright took another memorable step in her public coming-out as a high-profile lesbian by walking the red carpet at the Nashville Film Festival with fiancée Lauren Blitzer on Friday night (April 15). The occasion was a sneak-preview showing of ‘Wish Me Away,’ the documentary film which chronicles the events leading up to last May, when the country singer first announced to the public that she is gay.

The sold-out screening was attended by fellow country artists Carolyn Dawn Johnson (writer of Chely’s No. 1 hit, ‘Single White Female’), Rodney Crowell and SHeDAISY, and during Q-and-A session with Chely and filmmakers Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf after the film, the singer noted that she had received a supportive e-mail from Faith Hill, who was unable to attend.

To read the full article, click here.

Bobbie and Beverly discuss their Chely Wright documentary “Wish Me Away” at the Nashville Film Festival	Chely Wright talks about “Wish Me Away” at the Nashville Film Festival

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AUDIENCES GET A SPECIAL SNEAK PREVIEW OF WISH ME AWAY
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT CHELY WRIGHT
FIRST COUNTRY MUSIC STAR TO COME OUT
AT NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL APRIL 15

Homecoming For Wright Who Returns To Nashville
With Filmmakers To Face Country Music Industry

New York, NY, April 4, 2011 — Award-winning filmmakers Bobbie Birleffi and Beverly Kopf announce their feature length documentary Wish Me Away will get a sneak preview at the Nashville Film Festival on Friday, April 15. The film is a personal and intimate look at Chely Wright, the first country music star to come out as openly gay, despite what some people in the industry have referred to as a career-ending decision.

“There is poignancy and relevance in screening this film publicly with Chely in Nashville,” says Birleffi. “We carefully and respectfully present the industry and community in Nashville not as a monolith of homophobia, but as a creative and successful business that markets to a predominantly conservative audience.” Adds Kopf, “We wanted to show the complexity of responses and acknowledge that this is a difficult issue for some, but there’s a reason that Chely is the first – and still a year later – the only out artist from the country music world. Some people have been supportive and accepting of Chely, but some have not.”

In the midst of a tumultuous political climate that has incited polarizing debates about the civil rights of the LGBT community, Wish Me Away documents both the public and very private moments as one of America’s celebrated public figures bravely chose to risk all that was important to her – family, relationships, career, success, fans and image – to live her authentic life. The film charts her pursuit and rise to fame in Nashville, a hidden network of secrets and lies, her emotional unraveling and eventual rebirth.

“It’s still to be determined how my career will take shape, but the crucial thing to me is that there is a need for progress and I have a chance to be part of that progress. The country music industry does play a role in the film and I think it’s important for this story to be seen in Nashville. I’m hopeful that the message of the film will inspire, open minds, trigger new conversations, and resonate with local audiences,” says Chely. “Again, most importantly, this film is for the kid that we know is out there right now, who is feeling hopeless and alone, who might have a gun in his mouth because he is afraid to come out or has been taught that he is damaged goods.”

The filmmakers were fortunate in receiving support from and access to industry insiders including legendary producer Tony Brown and singer/songwriter/producer Rodney Crowell as well as Bill Cody, the WSM radio DJ. However, when they approached some of the industry’s top stars, friends and colleagues of Chely’s, to appear in the film, it turned out to be a real challenge. What remains to be seen, is how the path of Chely’s career will change and which audiences will embrace her. As Crowell predicted in the film, “Rather than Fire and Brimstone, I think she will just get iced out in some way… I told her she will lose some country fans.”

Since coming out, Chely Wright has become a leading gay rights activist.  She continues to perform her music in small venues, but to date, has not received any significant invitations to collaborate or perform from the country music world.

Nashville Film Festival presented by Nissan takes place April 14-21 at the Regal Green Hills Stadium 16.