Composer Blake Neely And Director Ryan White Return To Sundance 2019 For The Premiere Of 'Ask Dr. Ruth'

Composer Blake Neely and Director Ryan White return to Sundance 2019 for the premiere of Ask Dr. Ruth, a documentary chronicling the incredible life of Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Celebrating her 90th birthday, Dr. Ruth recounts a heart-breaking yet inspiring past and her ground-breaking career at the forefront of the sexual revolution. "When I began writing the score for Ask Dr. Ruth, my immediate intent was to present her in a grand, almost royal way, as her story and her impact on the world has been immense," says Neely, who has collaborated with White on previous Sundance hit The Case Against 8, as well as the acclaimed Netflix series The Keepers.

Notable to the uniqueness of this film release, a percentage of the score's performance royalties will be donated to Education Through Music-Los Angeles (www.etmla.org) through the Royalties Reaches Kids program which composers, artists and film/creative professionals are able to champion the mission of keeping music in disadvantaged schools through the designation of their royalties. "In a first for film music, I worked with my performing rights organization, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI)" says Neely, "to allow for a major portion of the royalties earned from the performance and broadcast of this film to go to ETM-LA, an organization which puts music in inner-city schools to provide every child with this vital part of their learning."

"Our partnership with Blake and Dr. Ruth will allow his beautiful score to enable thousands of children to receive quality music education as part of the core curriculum," says Executive Director, Victoria Lanier. "With the nature of royalties, Blake's gracious allocation will continue helping us spread the benefits of a music education to kids across Los Angeles County in perpetuity - shaping the next generation of thousands of children."

Royalties Reaches Kids is also available to ASCAP and SESAC members and for more information on the program, or to sign up, visit https://www.etmla.org/royalties.

For more information on Education Through Music-Los Angeles, visit https://www.etmla.org

Education Through Music-Los Angeles believes every child deserves a well-rounded education that includes music and the arts. Founded in 2006, the mission of Education Through Music-Los Angeles is to promote and provide music in disadvantaged schools as part of the core curriculum in order to enhance students' academic achievement and their creative and overall development. ETM-LA partners with low-income area elementary and middle schools across Los Angeles County that lack the resources for school-wide music programs.

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