Post Updated January 28, 2022: Brett Culp’s keynote address has been rescheduled from its original date to Monday, February 7 at 12:30 p.m.
We recently announced Cynt Marshall as our opening keynote speaker for TCEA 2022, and we are now excited
to announce Brett Culp as our closing keynote! If you’ve not heard of Brett Culp, you are in for a treat. We are so very excited to have him join us this year because, well…he is genuinely original. How is he original,
you ask? Great question!
Who Is Brett Culp?
In a nutshell, Brett is a filmmaker who is passionate about using his films to bring people together. Not only that, but he is also a social entrepreneur who wants every individual to be an empowered leader in their own way. Brett founded the Rising Heros Project after completing Legends of the Knight, a feature-length documentary, and made the most unexpected decision about marketing and screening this film. Let’s dive into this decision and explore his other projects.
Legends of the Knight
Legends of the Knight weaves together the uplifting true stories of individuals who have overcome devastating obstacles, unselfishly given to the community, and embraced their inner superhero.
https://www.risinghero.org/legends
Check out the trailer for this film:
Not only is the film an inspiration, but Brett’s unprecedented decision to take a different path for distribution was also inspiring. Instead of using traditional means for distribution, Brett chose to offer the film to local theaters worldwide, with proceeds going to charity. In other words, Brett spent $0 on marketing, $0 on advertising, didn’t have a paid staff, and his film was screened in 110 cities, raising $100,000 for charity. Why did he do this? He wanted communities to use his film as a way to bring people together under a shared vision. And it did! Showings were planned by volunteers in communities who stepped up to organize. Each screening benefited a charity of their choice. This experience changed Brett’s view of leadership and filmmaking and also changed the communities who screened the film.
Rather than thinking as a traditional filmmaker, his projects are collaborative efforts, pulling diverse groups of people into dialogue and ultimately leading to stronger communities and greater impact.
https://brettculp.com/about
This was the beginning of The Rising Heroes Project.
The Rising Heroes Project
The Rising Heroes Project produces films and other projects made available through partnerships with Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and Hulu. Community leaders and not-for-profit organizations can bring people together for screenings using these digital platforms for local events and fundraising efforts. Examples of charities and organizations that have benefited from screenings are:
- Ronald McDonald House
- Make-A-Wish Foundation
- St Jude’s
- Boys and Girls Club
- MDA
- Special Olympics
- Children’s hospitals
Brett Culp’s Films
We’ve already introduced you to Legends of the Knight, so let’s take a look at his other films!
Look to the Sky (2017, available on Amazon or Apple TV)
What inspires hope? This film explores ten true stories of hope and what’s possible when young people “find the superhero within.”
A Voice That Carries (2021)
How do dads’ voices impact their daughters? This film looks at the relationship between fathers and daughters and comes with a challenge. Not only does it empower fathers, but it also spotlights how we all play a role in supporting young women.
Brett Culp the Speaker
Brett is an acclaimed filmmaker, and he is also a well-known, empowering, and inspiring speaker. This short video gave me goosebumps. I want to leave you with this, and I hope that you believe it!
Check out other videos of Brett here.
Come to TCEA 2022 to hear Brett speak, to join with your TCEA community, and to be uplifted. Fill your bucket with us! We know how challenging things are this year, and we appreciate you and the million things you do for your students and their families, your colleagues, your schools, your districts, and more every day. You make a difference, and we really can’t wait to see you at TCEA 2022. Register before November 20 to get the lowest registration rate!