DreamWorks Pictures – The Help (Giveaway)

Coming to a theater near you on August 10, 2011 is the new film by DreamWorks, The Help. The Help is based upon one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best seller. The Help is a provocative and inspiring look at what happens in a southern town when the unspoken code of rules and behavior is challenged by three courageous women who strike up an unlikely friendship. 

The Help stars Emma Stone (Easy A – loved this movie!) as Skeeter, Academy Award–nominated Viola Davis (Doubt) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s,  who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed—even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times.

Deeply moving, filled with poignancy, humor and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the ability to create change.

The movie also stars Ron Howard’s daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, Oscar winner Sissy Spacek and Academy Award nominee Cicely Tyson.

I read the book. The book is awesome. If the movie comes even close to the book I have a feeling it’s going to be a box office hit.

Here are some fun facts about the film.

- Growing up in Jackson, Miss., in the 1970s, both director Tate Taylor and author Kathryn Stockett had maids (whom both refer to as their “co-mothers”) who cared for them while their mothers worked. Taylor’s “co-mother,” Carol Lee, has a small part in the film.

- The film was shot on location in and around Greenwood, Miss., and the citizens of Greenwood willingly pitched in to find period props for the film by digging around in their attics and basements, and many played extras in The Help as well. Even producer Brunson Green’s grandmother’s dress wound up in wardrobe.

- Local chefs were brought in to make sure foods used in the scenes, from fried chicken to congealed salads, were regionally correct and also correct for the times, and a conscious effort was made to make it all look homemade—not fancy or store-bought—to add to the authenticity of the film.

 - Cast members spent a whole day in a ballroom learning how to do period dances, including the bunny hop—taught by Sissy Spacek.

 - A dialect coach, hired to make sure everyone’s southern accent was perfect, flew into Jackson, Miss., to record accents for the actors.  Even the real southerners in the cast were coached in the proper way of speaking specifically for the Mississippi Delta.  

- Due to the intense summer heat in Mississippi, the filmmakers adjusted the schedule to shoot only indoors in the middle of the day. Exteriors were shot in the early morning and late afternoon.

I love the fact that they brought in a dialect coach to get the accent down perfectly. I have seen movies where people are suppose to have an accent or speak in another language where they fail miserably. I also think it’s pretty cool that they used real local chefs to create the food used in the film.

If you happen to belong to a book club and are looking for a book to read and discuss The Help would be the perfect choice. Not only can you read and enjoy the book but you can also see it in the theater after you are done reading it.

Here is the link to a .PDF file that you can download that contains delicious recipes, unique drink mixes, activity ideas and more.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ijz2fikrucdbc7w

You can learn more about the movie by visiting the official website, www.TheHelpMovie.com.

Here is the movie’s trailer to get your excited about the film. The Help is considered a dram and is rated PG-13.

In conjunction with the release of The Help I also have a special giveaway for my readers. The prize package includes…

- The Help t-shirt in adult female sizes of S, M, L, XL

- The Help pocket jotter & pen

- The Help fan

- The Help nail file/mirror

To enter please comment on a book that you read that you think could be turned into a great movie. If you want to elaborate further you could even tell me what actors you would love to see star in the movie too.

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional.

- Subscribe to She Scribes and/or Connect with Google Friend Connect. Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- “Like” The Help on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/TheHelpMovie.

- Follow The Help on Twitter, http://twitter.com/helpmovie. 

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about this giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Share this review/giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

- Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.

- Post about this review/giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on Auguts 10, 2011 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box) or a new winner will be chosen in their place.

Other fabulous giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated in any way for this post. I posted this for the benefit and enjoyment of my site readers. Any opinons expressed are my won. Disney will be providing the prize package.

Related Posts:

• Winnie the Pooh Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack Giveaway
• Disney’s Lion King on Blu-ray and DVD (Giveaway!)
• Win a copy of the new Winnie the Pooh movie soundtrack
• Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax Coming to Theaters March 2, 2012 (Giveaway – Ends 3/5/12)
• Special Star Wars Collectible Pens inside boxes of General Mills Cereals (Giveaway)