Billy Bob's Filmography
GIVEN A CHANCE . . . A
LITTLE GIRL'S JOURNEY (2004)
Distributor
Kim Marriner
Director
Kim Marriner
Character
Billy Bob Thornton as Himself
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Movie Quote
BILLY BOB: For more than fifteen years my friend John Ritter hosted
the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon. John knew firsthand
the difficulties people with disabilities encountered. His
brother Tom has CP. John realized through Tom that having a
disability was a medical label and not a definition of a
person’s character. It wasn’t the way a person walked
or talked that John saw; it was the beauty in their soul.
Plot
Dubbed an "adopt-u-mentary," GIVEN A CHANCE . . . A LITTLE GIRL'S JOURNEY is the story of
director Kim Marriner's daughter, Kassalynn "Kassie"
Marriner, who was born both drug-dependent and suffering from cerebral palsy. Marriner, a successful TV news writer and
reporter, and his wife Tami Lynn, an entertainment
industry personnel manager, adopted Kassie when she was an
infant. This documentary-- which follows Kassie's progress from
a childhood of tremendous challenges to her successful and
inspirational high school graduation (with a 4.0 GPA--you GO,
Grrrrl!),--chronicles the hurdles and joys of
adopting special-needs children. We meet
Kassie's family and friends, her Canine Support dog Dakota, see
interviews with medical experts, observe groundbreaking
treatment techniques (would you believe Dolphin Therapy?), and hear testimonies from the
late John Ritter, his brother Tom Ritter (who also has cerebral palsy), Henry Winkler, Nancy Dussault, and Tiffani
Thiessen. Most impressive of all are the stories of from
other families who have opened their hearts to deserving and
beautiful children in need. The film includes profiles of
children still looking for homes and families to call their own.
What Billy Bob Gets To Do
He narrates the film's introduction. Kassie takes
over from there, and she is one bright, articulate spokesperson!
Backstory
GIVEN A CHANCE . . . A LITTLE GIRL'S
JOURNEY was selected for the AFI Perspectives Film Festival in
Los Angeles. Director Kim Marriner reports to us that the
screening went very well, and that his film also played at the
recent "Women In Film" event in Los Angeles. Because John Ritter
(shown above with Kassie and another child on a UCP telethon) was so devoted to the cause
of cerebral palsy, and because he was a personal friend of
Kassie's, he was
slated to be the film's introducing narrator. His untimely
death in September 2003 prompted Marriner to invite Billy Bob to
step in for his dearest friend.
By
the way, Los Angeles locals can hear Kim Marriner anchoring the
news desk of KNX 1070 Newsradio on the weekends.
Relevant Links
Official Site
United Cerebral Palsy
Association
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