Freedom Writers is a 2007 (2007 in film) drama (drama film) film starring Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey. It is based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary by teacher Erin Gruwell who wrote the story based on Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach (Long Beach, California), California. The title is a play on the term "Freedom Riders", referring to black and white civil rights activists who tested the U.S. Supreme Court (United States Supreme Court) decision ordering the desegregation of interstate buses in 1961.
The idea for the film came from journalist Tracey Durning, who made a documentary about Erin Gruwell for the ABC News program Primetime Live. Durning served as co-executive producer of the film.
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Producer: Danny DeVito,Michael Shamberg,Stacey Sher
Eproducer: Jenifer Gardener,Tracy Durning,Nan Morales,Dan Levine
Aproducer: s
Writer: Richard LaGravenese, based on The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell and her class.
Starring: Hilary Swank,Patrick Dempsey,Scott Glenn,Imelda Staunton,Jason Finn (Jason Finn (actor)),Kristin Herrera
Cinematography: Jim Denault
Editing: David Moritz
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Released: January 5, 2007
Runtime: 122 mins.
Language: English (English language)
Budget: $21 million
Gross: $43,090,741