It Gets Better -- Background
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How did the new "It Gets Better" video get made?
It Gets Better performance and filming on Nov 16, 2011
An original film created by the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus for the national It Gets Better project will be unveiled at “A Premiere Evening” benefit and celebration on January 29.
The film is the result of a unique collaboration between the Men’s Chorus and members of several local groups which came together last November 16 for a stirring musical performance at the University of Indianapolis, an event that was made possible by the University's Diversity Series. That evening, the Men’s Chorus, along with singers from several local church and university choirs and joined by a volunteer chamber orchestra, performed and recorded “The Promise of Living” from Aaron Copland’s opera, The Tender Land. The opera tells the story of a Midwestern high school student’s graduation and leaving home to begin her adult life. The lyrics of the piece evoke the power of a community coming together around a common purpose. The special performance included a 30-piece orchestra of volunteer musicians from Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. All recording, filming, editing, and post-production was provided by WFYI. It is our hope that this video will be an encouraging voice to those young people who are struggling with the pain and isolation of growing up without a supportive social or family structure. We hope that these young people can see that, as they struggle through their high school years, there IS a family and community waiting to welcome them with open arms and accepting them for who they are. We want to make them the promise that it DOES get better. |
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The promise of living with hope and thanksgiving
Is born of our loving our friends and our labor. The promise of growing with faith and with knowing Is born of our sharing our love with our neighbor. The promise of loving, the promise of growing Is born of our singing in joy and thanksgiving. ——from Aaron Copland's "The Promise of Living"
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What is the national "It Gets Better" project?
The It Gets Better Project was created to show young LGBT people the levels of happiness, potential, and positivity their lives will reach—if they can just get through their teen years. The It Gets Better Project wants to remind teenagers in the LGBT community that they are not alone—and it WILL get better.
In September 2010, syndicated columnist and author Dan Savage created a YouTube video with his partner to inspire hope for young people facing harassment. In response to a number of students taking their own lives after being bullied in school, they wanted to create a personal way for supporters everywhere to tell LGBT youth that, yes, it does indeed get better. More than a year later, the It Gets Better Project has turned into a worldwide movement, inspiring more than 30,000 user-created videos viewed more than 40 million times. The new film created by the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus will be a major contribution to the project from Indianapolis citizens. We invite you—and encourage you—to join the movement, take the pledge, and be with us as we celebrate this important milestone on January 29. Learn more at It Gets Better |
