We have not seen much of Ralph Wilcox lately, the Southwest Georgia Film Commission Director. He has not forgotten southwest Georgia, but he has been in Atlanta for the past two months involved in an aggressive grassroots campaign effort to promote the opening of his full-length feature film, Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story---which was shot entirely in Southwest Georgia.

Lena Baker holds her place in Georgia history as the first and only woman in the state to receive the electric chair. She was executed in 1945 and pardoned posthumously in 2005. Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story opened Friday, March 13, to a sold-out audience at Movies ATL in Atlanta. A chartered bus load of Southwest Georgians attended the opening, along with some of the students from the HennyPenny Training Program who also motored up to Atlanta for the occasion. Lodging accommodations, food, and travel were provided for the students by Ralph Wilcox.

For the weekend of March 13-March 15, Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story was Movies ATL top grossing movie followed by Race to Witch Mountain, Madea Goes to Jail, and Last House on the Left. Because of its exceptional performance, Hope & Redemption: The Lena Baker Story was shown a second weekend at Movies ATL, and four additional theaters in the Atlanta area have added it to their list of shows for March 20 and beyond.

HennyPenny students and staff members attended a private reception which was held Thursday, March 12, at The Mansion on Peachtree in Buckhead. There were 450 people in attendance, including most of the principal cast from Hope & Redemption: Tichina Arnold (Lena Baker), Beverly Todd (Lena's mother Annie Baker), and Michael Rooker (Sheriff Haney). Peter Coyote, who plays Elliot Arthur, sent his best wishes as he was out of the country on a job assignment. Many other crew members and supporting cast members also attended the reception and opening.

Since Ralph Wilcox has been away, he has constantly shared his vision of economic development for Southwest Georgia using the film and television industry as the vehicle with any and all who would listen. The listeners have been many as some are planning to travel to Southwest Georgia to tour the studio, see the wonderful locations, and experience the southern hospitality that will await them.

Because of the rave reviews that Hope & Redemption has received and the quality of the work that it exemplifies, numerous production companies are interested in bringing their projects to Southwest Georgia. The goal is to keep promoting the film until it is released nationwide.

One person who attended the opening wrote the following statement: "This is a wonderful film! Any filmthat moves you to tears has done something! What an important story that needed to be told!"

Wilcox said, "Stay tuned for Part Two."