Freedom Writers
Promotional movie poster for the film
Directed by	Richard LaGravenese
Produced by	Danny DeVito Michael Shamberg Stacey Sher
Written by	Richard LaGravenese, based on The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell and her class.
Starring	Hillary Swank Patrick Dempsey Scott Glenn Imelda Staunton
Music by	Msark Isham, will.i.am, RZA
Cinematography	Jim Denault
Editing by	David Moritz
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	January 5, 2007
Running time	122 mins.
Country	USA
Language	English
Official website
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Freedom Writers is a 2007 American film starring Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey. It is based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary by teacher Erin Gruwell. The title is a play on both the terms of "Freedom Riders", the black and white civil rights activists who tested the U.S. Supreme Court decision ordering the desegregation of interstate buses in 1961, and Freedom Fighters, as in somebody who fights for freedom. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (500x748, 42 KB) Freedom Writers poster. ... Richard LaGravenese is an American screenwriter and ocassional film director, born October 30, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York. ... Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. ... Michael Shamberg, formerly a Time-Life correspondent, is now a film producer. ... Stacey Sher is a film producer. ... Richard LaGravenese is an American screenwriter and ocassional film director, born October 30, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York. ... The Freedom Writers Diary is a 1999 book written by Erin Gruwell. ... Erin Gruwell (b. ... Hilary Swank (born July 30, 1974 in Lincoln, Nebraska) is an American actress. ... Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is a Golden Globe Award-nominated American actor who first became prominent in Hollywood during the late 1980s. ... Theodore Scott Glenn (born January 26, 1941) is an American actor known for appearing in supporting roles. ... Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton OBE (born on January 9, 1956) is an Academy Award-nominated English actress. ... For other persons named William Adams, see William Adams (disambiguation). ... RZA (IPA pronunciation: ; born , July 5, 1969) is an American hip hop producer, rapper and actor. ... David Moritz is an actor. ... Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and distribution company, based in Hollywood, California. ... is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Freedom Writers may refer to the following: Freedom Writers Foundation - a charitable organization started by Erin Gruwell and former students of Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California Freedom Writers - a 2007 film inspired by the true diaries of Erin Gruwell and her students Category: ... Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is a two-time Oscar winning American actress. ... Theodore Scott Glenn (born January 26, 1941) is an American actor known for appearing in supporting roles. ... Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton OBE (born on January 9, 1956) is an Academy Award-nominated English actress. ... Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is a Golden Globe Award-nominated American actor who first became prominent in Hollywood during the late 1980s. ... The Freedom Writers Diary is a 1999 book written by Erin Gruwell. ... Erin Gruwell (b. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Freedom rides. ... Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ... The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C., (large image) The Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States... Desegregation is the process of ending racial segregation, most commonly used in reference to the United States. ... The Contras were often referred to as Freedom Fighters by US President Ronald Reagan. ...

Soundtrack

See also: Freedom Writers (soundtrack)

Common has lent his talents to the soundtrack with "A Dream" (featuring will.i.am). The song was produced by Black Eyed Peas founder will.i.am. The soundtrack also includes the Tupac Shakur song "Keep Ya Head Up". Freedom Writers is a hip hop film score for the movie Freedom Writers. ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... A Dream is rapper Commons first single from the forthcoming Finding Forever album, released early as part of the soundtrack to the movie Freedom Writers. ... For other persons named William Adams, see William Adams (disambiguation). ... This article is about the American hip hop group. ... For other persons named William Adams, see William Adams (disambiguation). ... Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac, Makaveli, or simply as Pac, was an American artist renowned for his rap music, movie roles, poetry, and his social activism. ... Keep Ya Head Up is a song by Tupac Shakur, who rapped about the most critical situations of the ghetto and conveyed the times of burden to the public. ...

Instrumental sections of Sia's "Breathe Me" accompany the film's television trailer. Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (pronounced or SEE-ah) (born December 18, 1975), also simply known as Sia, is an Australian pop singer. ...

Rating

This film was given a final rating of PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for violent content, some thematic material, and language. The MPAA film rating system is a system used in the United States and instituted by the Motion Picture Association of America to rate a movie based on its content. ... The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is a non-profit trade association formed to advance the interests of movie studios. ... For other uses, see Violence (disambiguation). ...

Cast

• Hillary Swank as Erin Gruwell
• Patrick Dempsey as Scott Casey
• Scott Glenn as Steve Gruwell
• Imelda Staunton as Margaret Campbell
• April Lee Hernández as Eva Benitez
• Mario as Andre Bryant
• Kristin Herrera as Gloria
• Jaclyn Ngan as Sindy
• Sergio Montalvo as Alejandro
• Jason Finn as Marcus
• Deance Wyatt as Jamal
• Vanetta Smith as Brandy
• Gabriel Chavarria as Tito
• Hunter Parrish as Ben
• Antonio García as Miguel
• Giovonnie Samuels as Victoria
• John Benjamin Hickey as Brian Gelford
• Robert Wisdom as Dr. Carl Cohn
• Pat Carroll as Miep Gies
• Will Morales as Paco

Hilary Swank (born July 30, 1974 in Lincoln, Nebraska) is an American actress. ... Erin Gruwell (b. ... Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is a Golden Globe Award-nominated American actor who first became prominent in Hollywood during the late 1980s. ... Theodore Scott Glenn (born January 26, 1941) is an American actor known for appearing in supporting roles. ... Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton OBE (born on January 9, 1956) is an Academy Award-nominated English actress. ... April Lee Hernandez (born January 31, 1980)[1] is an American actress. ... Mario Dewar Barrett (born August 27, 1986) is an American R&B and pop singer. ... Kristin Lisa Herrera (born February 21, 1989) is an American actress. ... Jaclyn Ngan is actress. ... Sergio Montalvo is an actor in the 2007 movie Freedom Writers. ... Jason Finn is an American actor. ... Deance Wyatt is an actor. ... Hunter Parrish (born May 13, 1987) is an American actor. ... Giovonnie Samuels Giovonnie Lavette Samuels (born November 10, 1985) is an African American actress who was born in San Diego, California. ... John Benjamin Hickey is an American (born June 23, 1963 in Plano, Texas) actor with a career in stage, film and television. ... Robert Wisdom (14 September 1953- ) is an American actor. ... Patricia Ann Carroll (born May 5, 1927) is an Emmy Award-winning American actress. ... Miep Gies (born February 15, 1909, Vienna, Austria) is one of the Dutch citizens who hid Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis during World War II. She discovered and preserved Annes diary after Anne Franks arrest and deportation. ...

Trivia

• A slight reference is made to the Showtime series Weeds when Hilary Swank asks the students, "Who knows where to get drugs" and Hunter Parrish, who is a regular on the show, steps on the line.

• The idea for the film came from journalist Tracey Durning, who had done a documentary about Erin Gruwell for the ABC News program Primetime Live. Durning served as co-executive producer of the film.

This article is about the pay TV channel. ... Weeds may be: Weed, an undesired plant growth (weeds, plural) Slang for Cannabis, the herb used for its psychoactive effects, but also grown into hemp Weeds (television), the 2005 Showtime television series starring Mary-Louise Parker and Elizabeth Perkins. ... Hunter Parrish (born May 13, 1987) is an American actor. ... Erin Gruwell (b. ... ABC News logo ABC News Special Report ident, circa 2006 ABC News is a division of American television and radio network ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company. ... Primetimes logo Primetime is a general-interest American news magazine show which debuted on ABC in 1989 with co-hosts Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer and originally had the title Primetime Live. ...

See also

• One Eight Seven
• Dangerous Minds
• The Diary of Anne Frank
• Stand and Deliver
• The Principal
• Shackles

One Eight Seven (also known as 187) is a 1997 drama / crime / thriller film, starring Samuel L. Jackson, who plays a Los Angeles teacher caught up with gang trouble in an urban high school. ... Dangerous Minds is a 1995 drama film based on a biography written by, and about the life of, LouAnne Johnson that tells the true story of a retired Marine who leaves her career to become an English teacher at a well-off high school attended by bused-in students from... Cover of the diarys Definitive Edition, 1995. ... For other uses, see Stand and Deliver (disambiguation). ... The Principal is a 1987 film starring James Belushi and Louis Gossett, Jr. ... Fetters, shackles or leg irons are a kind of physical restraint used on the feet or ankles. ...

External links

• Freedom Writers - Official Website
• Freedom Writers at the Internet Movie Database
• Freedom Writers Production Notes
• eFilmCritic.com interview with educator Erin Gruwell and real-life Freedom Writer Maria Reyes on "Freedom Writers"
• 69% "Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes
• CelebrityWonder.com - Freedom Writers Trailers And Reviews
• 'Cinematical' interview with Erin Gruwell, Jason Finn, and Maria Reyes
• New York Times review of film
• Learning for a Cause, a Canadian educational organization of similar nature. Learning for a Cause has published a number of books written collectively in the classroom.