Celebrated Police Captain turned award-winning filmmaker Donna Roman (D.R.) Hernandez proudly announces that her crime documentary short film “A Call for Valor” will premiere as part of the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF). The eleven-minute film will play at the ImaginAsian Theater, 239 E. 59th Street & 2nd Avenue in New York City at 6pm on March 1st and is expected to sell out. The film has already earned a nomination for “Best Directorial Debut for a Documentary Short.”
Written, produced and directed by New Jersey native Hernandez in conjunction with her production company, Blue Force Films, “A Call for Valor” tells the story of veteran New Jersey Police Sergeant Ken Hogan and his brush with death. In 1994, Sgt. Hogan was ambushed in his police car by a man on a mission to kill himself and Hogan. Nineteen bullets were fired from the semi-automatic weapon, four of them penetrated Hogan's body with the last bullet lodging in his skull. Left for dead, Sergeant Hogan bravely implemented his well-honed plan to survive the dreaded armed encounter. The shooter later committed suicide as he was pursued by other officers. Viewers can watch a reenactment of the crime scene as well as poignant excerpts from the 911 tape recording, dispatcher Lolita Whiting, Dennis Doriety, St. Hogan's then Police partner and Sergeant Hogan as he reveals the shocking details of the attack and his plan to survive a near-fatal shooting.
The film focuses on survival and recovery. Sgt's Hogan's depth of courage, strong will to live and strategy for survival was exceptionally well implemented at the right moment. Ms. Hernandez who recently retired from the Police force after 26 years of service felt compelled to make the film after listening to the 911 police call radioed in to Communications by Hogan even after he was severely wounded.
In a recent interview for Independent Film Quarterly, Hernandez commented, “Sgt. Ken Hogan and I are police colleagues. His story is every cop's worst nightmare of being shot in the line of duty,” said Hernandez. “In early 2007, Sgt. Hogan allowed me to hear the actual 911 tape and view the crime scene photos from the day he was shot. I was amazed at Ken's ability to perform his duty and call Headquarters after being shot multiple times, bleeding profusely and facing the threat of death. I knew instantly that his miraculous tale of survival should be told. I am honored Sgt. Ken Hogan allowed me to tell it in "A Call For Valor."
According to NYIIFVF's Founder/Executive Producer Stuart Alson, “I was very touched by A Call for Valor. The film is an extraordinary example of courage and we are honored to give this visceral film the exposure it deserves. D.R. Hernandez is an impressive new talent and has the determination and creativity needed to succeed in the film industry. Alson went on to say "D.R. Hernandez is a confident woman, she is passionate and a true professional who is not afraid to take risks.”
For all interview and review requests, please contact, please contact publicity manager Briege McGarrity via email at BMcGarrityPR@aol.com. For further information about “A Call for Valor” and Blue Force Films, contact D.R. Hernandez at (973) 979-9207 or email her salsacop446@hotmail.com.
"A Call For Valor"
ImaginAsian March 1 at 6pm
239 East 59th Street at 2nd Ave, New York City
$12 tickets in advance - http://www.ticketweb.com
http://www.nyfilmvideo.com
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About D.R. Hernandez: Donna Roman (D.R.) Hernandez is a Latina filmmaker who was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. D.R became a Police Officer in 1980 and recently retired at the rank of Captain with the Caldwell Police Department after twenty six years of service. In 2005, Ms. Hernandez founded Blue Force Films, an independent film production company specializing in documentaries and the human psyche. Her propensity for story telling has resulted in three impressive films, the multi award-winning documentary “The Ultimate Betrayal: A Survivor's Journey that exposed her family's 40 year history of physical and emotional terrorism at the hands of her father. Her second film "Closure" is a short drama about the altered life of a police office who lost her sister an NYPD cop in the World Trade Center attacks and recently received the award for Best Dramatic Short at the NYIIFVF in LA. In June 2007, D.R completed "A Call for Valor" and is currently shopping it to the festival circuit and television distributors. A Call For Valor was selected for representation at the 2007 American Film Market held annually in Santa Monica, CA.
As a veteran Police Captain in 2006, D.R. was named the 1st Runner-up for the National Positive Force Award, a prestigious award for exceptional acts of heroism in the community.
About Blue Force Films: Blue Force Films is an independent film production company established in 2005 by award-winning Latina filmmaker and composer D.R. Hernandez, a former Police Captain from New Jersey, who began making dramatic films that concentrate on the human psyche.
Through the medium of film, the mission of Blue Force Films is to give audiences of all ages a selection of high quality and thought-provoking documentaries and docu-dramas that tell poignant stories with inspiring life messages. D.R. has been traveling the independent film festival circuit with her films and has begun post production on a feature documentary.
Chatelin Bruno 
