"Freedom Writers" is based on "The Freedom Writer's Diaries: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them," written by teacher Erin Gruwell and her students.
Based on true events, "Freedom Writers" is the story of Gruwell who was a first-year high school teacher assigned to teach students considered to be at-risk or unteachable. Gruwell introduced the students to the works of Anne Frank and Zlata Filopvic to try and teach them tolerance. The students responded by keeping their own diaries about violence and other negative influences in their lives. Those diaries are the basis of the book.
Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, and Jersey Films' Danny DeVito will be producing the film. Swank will executive produce the movie, as well as star in it, after she completes work on "The Reaping" for Warner Bros.
SOURCE: Variety
