Over the Wall Foundation

   Youth Drug Abuse Prevention and Intervention

   "Changing our future one kid at a time"

Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 1, 2008

Los Angeles, California

On Friday, August 1, 2008, Over the Wall Foundation inked a deal with Emmy award winning producers at CBS News to produce a feature 

documentary film on teen addiction. Over the Wall is a non-profit organization, which teaches youth drug abuse prevention and intervention in 

schools and youth groups across the country. The company is lead by former prison convict turned author and public speaker, Craig Farris, 

who entered the public service arena in 2004 when he published his first book entitled: Drugs, Kids and Crime: 

Surviving Our Drug-Obsessed Culture.  

The film deal arose from Farris' appearance on two Time-Warner public access talk shows through which he attracted the attention of producers 

at CBS.

Principle photography begins Saturday, August 2nd and with a completion date of September 1st 2008. The film is being edited by 12-time Emmy 

award winning Editor, Steve Shlisky and is slated for entry into the Sundance Film Festival September 5th.

Executive Producer: Over the Wall Foundation

Written and Directed by: Craig Farris

Producers: Steven Lange

Filming: Mike Cox

Editor: Steve Shlisky

Associate Producer: Donnamarie Recco (Analyze This, Analyze That, Auto Focus)

Voice Overs: Franko Ayala

Legal: K&L Gates, Los Angeles

Financial Services: Richard Neumann

Budget: $152,000

Funding: 60% funded

Projected Gross: $5.4 million

Schedule: Principle photography- August 2, 2008

                Post production- August 15, 2008

                Completion- September 1, 2008

Contact Info:

Craig Farris

323-710-1685

craig.farris@yahoo.com

June 6, 2008

Yucca Park

Hollywood, CA

Craig Farris taping with Time-Warner talk show host, Ester Martinez at Yucca Park in Hollywood, California. Ester has an Emmy for her work in news and hosts a public access show called Es News y Mas, and produces news for CBS Television. Yucca Park was chosen as the site for this taping because it used to be a cesspool of drug dealers, users and gang members. In 2005, City Council President, Eric Gracetti revitalized the park and turned it into a safe haven for young children and families. Ironically, Craig used to do drugs in this neighborhood many years ago, but is now running a foundation to prevent drug abuse and is building a relationship with Garcetti's office.   Also in the interview was Richard Neumann, CFO for the Over The Wall Foundation.
 

Ester can be reached at:

Ester Martinez Clark
esnewsymas@gmail.com
 

For Immediate Release:                                                                                               Contact: craig@otwf.org

August 6^th, 2007 Los Angeles, California

Ex-Con Author and Public Speaker Topic of Interest       

With City Council President’s Office

Former prison convict Craig Farris, a native resident of Los Angeles has once again come to the attention of City authorities. But this time it’s not because he broke the law. While incarcerated in May of 2000 Farris penned a book on youth drug abuse prevention and addiction entitled, Drugs, Kids and Crime: Surviving Our Drug Obsessed Culture, which, has been selling briskly to L.A. schools, colleges, non-profits and bookstores.

Farris spent 15 years cycling in and out of the California prison system for crimes ranging from robbery to auto theft, which, he claims, were all a direct result of his addiction to drugs and alcohol. While incarcerated Farris sought treatment and wrote Drugs, Kids and Crime, then founded the company, Over The Wall Inc, which now publishes his book, as well as the books of other imprisoned authors.

Robin Bradley Kar, Associate Professor of Jurisprudence and Law, and Deputy Director, Loyola Center for Interdisciplinary and Comparative Jurisprudence at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles said this: "The work Mr. Farris is doing has the potential of helping a lot of people in our community.  He has an incredible story and message, and is uniquely qualified to speak to the youth who most need this message.  Indeed he can speak to many who would otherwise be unreachable.  He also has an extensive knowledge of the functions (and dysfunctions) of the prison system that many lawyers and legal officials would be remiss not to hear."

Farris is now a frequent and recurring guest on www.Letstalkrecovery.com , an  L.A. based internet  radio talk show which focuses on recovery from addiction and spiritual issues.  Actress Donnamarie Recco, who’s co-starred with actors like Willem Dafoe and Robert DeNiro now hosts LTR, and said, “His book absolutely moved me at my core. He’s an enormous human being, one of my favorite people and we love having him on the show.”

The author’s work has attracted the attention of city leaders like the office of City Council President Eric Garcetti. In a June 28^th email to Farris, Field Deputy Allejandra Morroquin said,  “My recommendation is that we begin establishing a working relationship with you where we can get to know your work better. If you have any upcoming workshops or events where you will be speaking, I or any one of my colleagues would be happy to attend.”

Farris' next speaking engagement will be in Van Nuys, California before the L.A. Unified School Districts Board of Advisors on September 21st, at 9:00 a.m..

For Immediate Release:

Inglewood California, Monday, May28^th, 2007

Ex-Con Author Gives Drug Abuse Prevention                

Seminar At Inglewood High School

Craig Farris, former prison convict, and Author of a book on youth drug abuse prevention will be speaking on the topic to a group of students and teachers at Inglewood High School Tuesday, May 29^th at 12:00 p.m.

Farris spent over fifteen years cycling in and out of the California prison system for crimes like robbery, forgery and auto theft, all of which he claims arose out of his addiction to drugs and alcohol. While in prison Farris sought treatment and penned a book about addiction entitled: Drugs, Kids and Crime: Surviving Our Drug Obsessed Culture. He is now an award winning public speaker on the topic and his book is in national distribution and is stocked in school and public libraries.

Farris plans to give a copy of his new book to every student in attendance at the seminar courtesy of a grant from Broadway Federal Bank of Inglewood. Clark Smith, Branch Manager of the bank secured the grant and plans to be there to award Farris with the check. You may learn more about the Author, his books and work by emailing Craig at:

craig@otwf.org or by calling him at (323) 710-1685

For Immediate Release:

From Prisoners To Publishers!
                                             

Over The Wall Inc Publishing and Productions is being considered as the subject of a documentary film. Over The Wall is is the brainchild of two California prison inmates, Craig Farris and Steven Lange who founded the company in 2004 to publish the literary works of incarcerated Authors.  The two inmates found support in Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Rodger Noe who landed initial investment capital for the company and helped Farris and Lange publish, market and distribute their first four titles, all of which are in national distribution with Ingram and Emory-Pratt,  and are carried on Amazon.com.

Their first release was a youth drug abuse prevention book by Farris entitled,  Drugs,Kids and Crime: Surviving Our Drug Obsessed Culture, which sold 1,000 copies before the intital print run was even ordered!  The book is now selling briskly to California schools and youth groups, and Farris is scheduled to speak on the topic at Inglewood High School sometime in May, and on Let's Talk Recovery Radio with Donna Marie Recco May 2nd.

craig@otwf.org or (323) 449-1014