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Dear Rita

Comments/Reviews

“Dear Janet, It was a moving, inspiring documentary. You accomplished the mission of getting everyone to care about this issue and wove the faces of so many different people into the film. Wonderful job.

Congratulations on such fine work.”

-Kathleen Dunn, Wisconsin Public Radio

“My name is Roxanne Steeber. Myself and 3 fellow mothers (Kathy DeRuyter her sister Mary Jo Mueller and my best friend Audrey Halfmann) drove from Sheboygan Wisconsin to Washington D.C. for the MIllion Mom March.

It was what we told our family we wanted that year for Mothers Day. I will never for the rest of my life forget what that trip or especially what that warm Sunday morning felt like.

When we walked up from the Metro on to the Mall and saw all the people not just Mothers who were there for the same purpose as us. To get some changes and or some laws past. Not to take the guns away from law abiding people. But to keep them safer around children and away from those who would use them in a reckless or unlawful manner.

Watching Dear Rita made those feelings all come back. It was very well done.Hopefully it will help bring us to those changes this country so desperately needs. I would also like some information on were I could see or buy the other two movies that were made by New Moon Productions on the Million Mom March and the gun issue. Thank You for your time and keep up the good work.”

-Roxanne Steeber

“Watching "Dear Rita" on Monday on Channel 10, I was so moved.

The family and all in their circle (teachers, children,etc.) are to be lauded for sharing their story with all of us. I can not even begin to imagine what the death of Rita must have been like for all of them. I do know that by sharing with us the beauty of the life of their child, sister, granddaughter, student and friend, that one of the strongest points made was the senselessness of acts that are committed with guns.

If each of us can speak up a little louder when laws are pending, support community groups that help children grow up with a sense of value, make the family unit stronger, find good role models , we may make a dent in the problems of society.

I am dedicating myself, personally, to find a way that I can speak out. I don't know what it will be yet, but it is for "Rita" and all the others. Thank you for the production."


-Katharine Ann Ulat

“Many congratulations on your documentary. It was so well done.

What I personally liked best about it was that you made Rita and her family so real that by the end I felt they could be members of my family. I think this, in particular, is what your documentary has to offer since it's easy to live in denial and to think, "it can't happen to our family".

Thank you for this powerful contribution to a cause I consider a priority. I'd just about given up on this one but your documentary has given me some renewed hope. I hope you spend your day basking in the warmth with which the documentary and its message were received.”

-Rochelle Riley

“Both Dear Rita and your Website are GOLD and will be a positive step in our effort to hold youth accountable and to reduce crime.”

-Patricia Koehler, Ethan Allen School


“It was great! Just talked to someone who watched on TV--she thought it was great also. Go for the national--it deserves it! Also let us know timing and any redo's here. I would love to let League of Women Voters folks around the state know."

-Jan Martin

“I just caught the last half of Dear Rita on Monday night. I must commend you for producing one of the best documentaries I have ever seen, and I've only seen half of it. I'm not normally so effusive but I believe this work needs to be entered in next year's Academy Award competition. I would very much like to see the entire documentary. Can you tell me if it will be repeated soon or whether I may purchase a
copy of the video.

I am a teacher at The Milwaukee High School of the Arts; I teach advanced journalism in our Creative Writing Department. Your film would be a great, inspirational, teaching tool for my class, many of whom are aspiring to be documentary film makers. I believe that through studying "Dear Rita" they would better understand all of the steps that go into researching, writing, and producing such a work, either in print or in video. I'm also going to be a bit presumptuous in asking if you or any of your team would be available to talk to my class about the process of filming "Dear Rita." We have recently been studying how being a police and fire reporter can provide one with the material for feature stories and films of the
stature of "Dear Rita."

Your film would really bring home that point and provide the motivation and inspiration they need to make this future a real possibility for them.

Sincerely,


-GlenScott Copper
Milwaukee High School of the Arts

“Hi janet it's me andrea, cindy's cousin monday night i felt so bad, i wanted to be there for the showing i couldn't get out of work early enough, but i did get alot of positive feed back, from co workers
who watched it.

they said it dosen't affect you that much until it happenes to some one you know and that is so true ..you can't believe it's this close to home.. i went to pass out flyers at work they already had them. they said someone sent them.. anyways the point is they were alredy up and i wore rita's shirt that day and people were saying how an innocent life could be taken for anothers stupidity.

i was thinking while they were talking to me you know some one should make the inmates watch that before they get out of prison so they could see what they put families through. and one day it may happen to them if they continue in there ways.

It's so weird it happened a year ago, and it seems just like yesterday... the video was beautiful - how sad that we have to watch her making headlines this way instead of happy headlines...

I cannot tell you how much you have helped our family out, just being there for them so they could have someone to talk to and to let out how they feel and for that , i am ever so grateful to you and your staff ..I canot thank you enough..”

-andrea (Felipe)

“Janet, Your production of Dear Rita was a first rate professional presentation. I watched the entire show but had to busy myself with other things and avoid listening when Rita's mother described the wrong order of losing a child. I know that perspective all too well.

Also most telling was Rita's sister's revelation that things like this don't happen to people like us. The essence of the family came through in your movie. You did a wonderful job."

-Dianne (Spector)

 


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