Freestyle's GENIUS ON HOLD Doc to Premiere in LA & NYC in March

By: Tyler Peterson Feb. 01, 2013

Freestyle Releasing announced today that they have set March 1st, 2013 as the theatrical release date for GENIUS ON HOLD, the revealing documentary written and directed by Gregory Marquette ("Innocents"). The film was produced by Walter T. Shaw, and co-produced by Diana Ross-Shaw and is narrated by Academy-Award Nominee Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon," "Robot & Frank").

At the heart of GENIUS ON HOLD is the story of Walter L. Shaw-a brilliant inventor with an astonishing list of telecommunications patents to his name including call forwarding, touchtone dialing, speakerphone and voice recognition. His ground-breaking designs should have earned him great fortune and lasting fame, but for one thing-the power, greed, and oppression of AT&T, the largest, government-sanctioned, telecommunications monopoly in the United States which blocked him from realizing his dream. Punished, imprisoned, and eventually destitute, Shaw was drawn to the only organization that would reward him for his talent-the mob, whose bookies used his "black box" and "blue box" to run their gambling operations and evade the Feds. His son, Walter T. Shaw, embittered by his father's destruction, turned to organized crime and became one of the most notorious jewel thieves in American history. All to get back at the system that destroyed his family -- but at what cost?

"Freestyle Releasing was immediately moved by the incredible story of Walter L. Shaw, a man whose name we should all know," said Mark Borde, Co-President Freestyle Releasing. "We hope to finally bring this brilliant inventor the recognition he deserves."

"Genius On Hold is a labor of love for my father," said Walter T. Shaw. "My dream is through this documentary that people will finally understand how my father's inventions are a part of their daily lives."

GENIUS ON HOLD debuted as an official selection at the Palm Beach International Film Festival and Soho International Film Festival this past year.
For more information go to: www.whoiswaltershaw.com

Shaw has been in the spotlight lately as the founder of the 'Save America's Cinemas (www.saveamericascinemas.org) campaign to support the digital transformation of local, independent movie theaters. Save America's Cinemas is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Agency dedicated to providing financial assistance in saving many localized American cinemas from closing as they are unable to afford the required high digital conversion costs from 35mm equipment.

Freestyle Releasing is a full-service, theatrical motion picture distribution company that specializes in representing independent companies, major studios, and mini-major studios for the purpose of exhibiting their films in a first class theatrical release. The founders and Principles of Freestyle Releasing, Mark Borde and Susan Jackson, are highly regarded and experienced motion picture veterans with a combined total of over a century of respected work in the industry.