What an amazing 2 weeks I have just had. First we saw the movie at the Kansas City Premiere with the Hallmark Executives. Then we went to the LA Premiere with all the big name actors, writer’s guild members and Front of the Class team. Next was the Atlanta Premiere were we watched the movie with family, friends, and local actors. To top it off, I had a chance to see my movie, on my TV, in my lazy boy, in my jammies, in my own home like the rest of America saw it (with commercials).
I’m very proud of this movie. Jimmy Wolk and Dominic Scott Kay played me better than I play myself. Peter Werner (director) and the rest of his team put together one heck of a movie. Hallmark Hall of Fame is an amazing company and I could not ask for anything more. The 234th presentation of a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie was ten times better than I could have ever wanted.
The emails that have come POURING in is a sign of the impact this movie has made across our nation. The positive energy that came from the viewers is something I will forever cherish. The support of my friends and family is something I’ll savor. And the lessons we will all take away from Front of the Class shall be legendary.
Although some will say this is the end of an amazing experience, I believe this is the beginning of an incredible journey. My mission is to make a difference one day at a time. I hope that others will help me achieve this goal. With a positive attitude, a passion for life and never giving up…….we can all achieve our dreams like I have.
Thanks for tuning in to CBS to watch Front of the Class. The movie will be out on DVD in late January in Hallmark stores around the country. In the meantime, grab your book copy of Front of the Class now so you’ll have it around from many years to come.
Thanks for all the support and let’s continue the celebration.
Cheers
Brad
P.S. Yes Nancy and I do love Milli Vanilli !!!!!
December 9th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Mr. Cohen, until I watched the movie I had never heard of you or your incredible story. But when I watched it I was completely touched by your positive attitude to not let Tourette Syndrome not “win” I think your story is one of hope and courage and when we word hard and if we have faith and believe in ourselves we have the power to achieve anything even what we may think is darn near impossible. What a great lesson to teach your students as well as the world. Thank you for your wonderful story.
~Julie
December 9th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Brad,
We volunteered together at a TS camp in Texas a few years ago. Several of my campers have told me that you have made a great difference in their lives. A parent of a camper told me today that your movie has made her son’s school experience easier in the few days since the movie was aired. His teachers are planning on showing the movie to all of the students to help him to become ‘normal’. I am proud of you and your accomplishments and I am sure that all of your friends in Texas are too.
Great job! Keep up the good work of educating people about Tourette Syndrome.
-Rick
December 9th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Mr.Cohen,
I have a son with TS and Adhd, after watching your movie I can relate as the same situation
has happen to my son. His father a construction worker as your father left us because of
my son TS, and he was always getting punished for it. I cried throughout the movie as it brought
back memories, my son was in school when he got is first attach and he was of age 5 and the
teacher did not know what it was and they kept telling him to drink water. Now he is 21 and he
is still having a hard time, he does not want to go to school,and I keep punishing but can not punish to much as he gets aggressive. We leave in Canada and here it seems that people or society
do not understand and it makes it tough on him because of it. I wish that someone like yourself can
meet with him or write to him to make him feel that he can do anything he wants in life. He has the dreams just like you, but nobody gives him a chance once he fails at something.
December 9th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I had watched the incredible story of “front of the Class” and at times, it made me cry because of what you had gone though because of having Tourette Syndrome and how no one understood. It has touched myself in a way that I can look to at what I can do and that is I have a learning disability , and people do not know that I do and people have told me that, I cant ever do what i want to do which has always been to be a teacher someday. Your story, makes it so how people can do what they want to and not let their disabilities get in the way.
I am looking forward to reading your book about you and your incredible story!
Aimee
December 9th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I watched Front of the Class and of all the Hallmark movies, this one moved me the most. To become the teacher you never had – that shows an incredible drive to succeed. I never was one to exclude people because they were different but this movie hit the nail on the head. I didn’t have the punishments you had while in grade school or suffered the humiliation you must have gone through. (and I am so very sorry for those guys not understanding), it only felt like it was considered a social mistake to talk to me. The movie will be on DVD? well I’m going to buy it.
December 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Dear Mr. Cohen,
My mother and I watched the movie Sunday night and we loved it. I have recently been turned onto the notion of postive thinking as outlined in “The Secret” and similar books and I definitely think it was your positive attitude and refusal to give up on your dream that got you where you are today. Your story is so inspiring and proves that nothing is impossible! I wish I had a teacher like you when I was growing up! Thanks for sharing your uplifting life experience with the rest of the world.
December 9th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I loved this movies so much! It made me cry and that is rare for me in movies. When the movie was over I didn’t want for it to stop it was that great. I really want this to come out on DVD so I can buy it and I was wondering if and when it will. Once again I loved the movie and you are one amazing person Brad!
December 9th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I “bumped into” this movie channel surfing at a motel in Phoenix, AZ. I cried. It touched something in me, not sure what. Lost my wife and best friend in a car wreck 10 yrs ago. She was a “Nancy” too. Brad and Nancy’s meeting and romance was beautiful. His determination to do what he longed to do was inspiring. Too bad he couldn’t play “hide and seek” but…. That went with the territory.
Whoever acted the part of Brad was incredible. I went searching on the net to see where I could buy the DVD, but I guess I’ll have to wait like everyone else. A great movie. Thanks Hallmark.
December 9th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Yes, the movie will be out on DVD. Please sign up for the mailing list and we will update you when it comes out.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:23 am
How do I get copy of movie to show our children?
December 10th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Mr Cohen,
My son is 7 and has not been diagnosed with TS but has tics. He is in the second grade and has wanted to be a teacher since grade one. Recently the students in his class have been teasing and become frustrated with him because of his tics and the teachers are supportive but don’t understand much of tics or TS. My son has been to many doctors but no one has been able to help us learn how to cope with day to day life. Thank you for allowing your life to be displayed as it was the first time our son had seen someone he could identify with. He has a new spring in his step and says he wants to be a teacher again. We still struggle every day but we have a new found patience.
Lee-Ann
December 10th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Thank you very much for sharing your story. My son is 10 and has Asperger’s, which in his case also comes with ADHD, OCD, a tic disorder (some mild tics), as well as lots and lots of anxiety. As fate would have it, the movie started when he was supposed to go to bed, and when we saw what it was about, I let him stay up and watch it. He saw so many similarities between what you went through and what he went through as late as last school year, before finally being able to transfer to another school that had teachers who understood ASDs and all of the wonderful little quirks that go along with it.
He has a wonderfully gifted teacher in his new school this year that is making all of the difference in the world. The last school actually reported us to child protective services for his compulsive skin picking & compulsively cutting his arm hair and leg hair IN SCHOOL, as a result of school work-related anxiety (despite his diagnoses, they had previously refused to do the educational testing that would have confirmed his severe difficulties with written expression). This was also despite a known OCD diagnosis for which he was known to be seeking treatment. Despite the fact that the case was quickly closed, it made a big impression on him, and unfortunately it was not a positive one. 2 yrs ago, even a classroom aide would get mad at him for his tics & OCD symptoms, and despite the diagnoses, he was being told by the adults that he needed to stop as they thought he was doing it on purpose. No one was promoting understanding of his issues with his classmates. We didn’t want anyone to feel badly for him just to be understanding and not punish him for things that he needed help with our couldn’t control.
You know that just as anxiety makes tics worse, it also makes OCD symptoms worse. Even if a child is very intelligent, as he is, if they aren’t getting the help they need to get through learning difficulties, it will cause increased stress/anxiety. He also has other health issues (Eosinophilic Esophagitis w/ reactions to most food) that necessitate a G-tube, which has also caused difficulty in his previous school. That GI disorder was actually the only way he got an IEP(Other Health Impaired) a few years ago, not the Aspergers. Although they way schools handle various abilities/disabilities have come a long way from when you or I were kids, as you know there is still a long way to go.
It was very helpful for my son to see what you went through, and that although you had to work harder to overcome obstacles (as everyone has to do in life in one way or another), you are successful and well-adjusted. Your experiences have only made you stronger, which is what I am hoping will happen with my son as well. So far, it seems to be working out that way, and I have no doubt that your story will stick with him. Thank you again for sharing it with all of us. 🙂
December 10th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Brad
Congratulations on all your success. I hope you were pleased with the way the movie portrayed your life story. I enjoyed it thoroughly and thought it was great. Seriously, most made for TV movies don’t usually have that kind of quality and honesty to them. I’m glad we saw it of course but we wouldn’t have known about it if it weren’t for Jeff’s email. I don’t think CBS promoted the movie enough.
Congrats and much continued peace and joy.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I recently watched your movie for the first time. I’m currently a Jr. in college. I don’t have TS but I do have a learning disability. I struggled all the way through school; I always knew I was different than the other students. I was picked on and laughed at by many. However, I didn’t let anything hold me down. I pushed myself through school. I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was in the third grade. I knew I had to get through school and get into college before that dream could come true. Well I got myself through school and into college. I entered a university and got into the education program. This time last year, was the first time I was diagnosed with my disability. After I was diagnosed with the disability I was told by the doc and other teachers that a student with a disability like mine shouldn’t have even graduated high school without being diagnosed and having accommodations. As I am completing my schooling, I often run into to teachers and other adults who see my disability and think that I will not be able to get a job in a school. I often find myself thinking “maybe I can’t.” However, I keep telling myself that I can. As I watched your movie I related it to my life, I cried all the way through it. It made me realized that no matter what I can become that teacher I have always wanted to be and that I can’t let my disability “win.” Your movie was very inspirational for me!
December 11th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Dear Mr. Cohen,
I had the opportunity to watch the movie two days ago, and I absolutely loved it. I loved it for other reasons besides that it was a great movie with a powerful story and excellent casting/acting. I loved it because I could relate to so much of it and it struck such chords in me that I really have you and your incredible story to thank for the direction I’ll be taking my life for the rest of this month and into next year and beyond.
I don’t have Tourette’s myself, but about two and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with a medical condition called neurocardiogenic syncope, which pretty much causes me to be anywhere from mildly to severely lightheaded on a constant, daily basis. It hit me as I was starting my junior year of college. I was studying Secondary Math Education. It made attending and sitting through classes really difficult, and like you, I couldn’t really go to restaurants or movie theaters. I also could no longer drive, as dizziness and being behind the wheel do not mix. All this time, I have promised myself time and time again that I would not, under any circumstances, let the syncope bring me down, break me, and keep me from fulfilling my dream of becoming a math teacher. So I fought and fought, semester after semester, even as my field placements started up and student teaching was underway, I continued to overcome all the obstacles that made my studies much harder than they were for any of my peers. Only in this past month, thanks to chiropractic adjustments (the whole condition seems to have come about due to subluxations in my upper neck and lower back), have I begun to actually feel much better again.
But, not all has been happy and celebratory. Thanks to the movie, I realized that at some point during the summer, I had let the syncope win. I was no longer the ever-optimistic, determined, and stubbornly persevering guy I was before. Even though I had thought I was doing all that I could to get a teaching job, I now realized that I really wasn’t. I had succumbed to the condition and let it dictate my motivations. That ended the moment “Front of the Class” had ended on my TV screen. I’m very excited to say that I have been an absolute machine since Tuesday, putting together an updated portfolio and checking around for open teaching positions. While the syncope might still turn out to be permanent and never fully go away, I’m feeling well enough these days and again, thanks to the movie, I’ve got my optimism, drive, and persevering spirit back. From your story, I have regained the confidence to know that I can make it happen.
So, Mr. Cohen, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and the deepest part of my soul for sharing your story with us, both through your book and the movie. I shudder to think how long I would have stayed traveling down the path I was before Tuesday, but now I don’t have to worry because I’m back to being my true self again and I know it’s only a matter of time before I’ll be teaching in a classroom of my own, doing exactly what I know I was meant to do.
God bless you and your family, and happy holidays!
Sincerely,
Matt G.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Your mother is amazing and I only hope that my son (who also has TS) grows up with as much self confidence as you have – Thank you SO much for this movie, I think it is really the start of more awareness and compassion for those that have this often mysterious syndrome.
December 14th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Brad,
I have to tell you how proud I am that both Stephanie and Pierce had the privilege of being taught by you. Pierce and I watched the movie together and had fond memories of Waffle the rabbit. Steph had to work that night but a friend recorded it and she’ll watch it when she is home on break. I know she’ll cry when she sees the part about Heather. To think that she was in your first class at Mt. View and she’s now a sophomore in college! I remember meeting you the first time and thinking “O my gosh, he’s so young!!”. I’m so thankful that you had the perseverence to teach and more thankful that you were a part of my children’s lives! Thank you.
December 16th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Dear Mr. Brad,
Thank you so very much for allowing your story to be heard. I to have TS and have faced many trials and set backs similar to those you depicted in you show. And like you I have continued to move forward and place my life in God’s hands to move onward. I am a 46 yr. old female who is now going into my final semester in undergraduate college. Dispite my TS and visual difficulties I will continue to do my all to help others and learn and achieve the goals I have set out for myself. I am praying that by example I to can be an inspiration to others. that is my goal, to show others as you have that dispite our disabilities we can still achieve and thrive. I will be graduating this next May with honors from the college I attend with my head held high, trusting in the gifts that God has given me, and thanking him all the way. Thank you again for your message of faith.
Sincerely,
Julie B in Texas,
a fellow ticker with her head held high.
December 17th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Mr. Cohen:
I am still looking for a feature article or blog on Katherine Shepler, the person who did such a great job with the part of Heather. It is my understanding this was the first movie she had ever auditioned for, and whoever did the casting for this part did a marvelous job. It is also my understanding that Katherine has had some health issue in her life and could really understand the part of Heather. Look forward to lhearing more about her on your blog and in the movies in the future.
Thanks, great movie…May God continue to bless you land may you use this new exposure for His Glory.
December 21st, 2008 at 12:48 am
Mr. Cohen,
Thank you so much for having your life made into a movie seems to be so much eaisier for people to understand when they see it. My son has Autism and Epilepsy and TS. I had everyone in the family watch the movie so they can see for them selfs that it’s not that he doesn’t want to stop Tic’n it’s that he can’t with out such a struggle not to mention getting past all else he struggles with daily. Was so great to see someone suceeding instead of just heart ache and struggles. I told him after the movie see you can do anything you want in life as long as it’s what you put your heart and mind to. Thanks again.
april
December 25th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I would very much like to buy the movie. I stumbled upon the movie and it was a very touching and inspiring story. I also just recently noticed some similarities in one of my neices. She coughs almost constantly and has been diagnosed with ADHD and I just noticed a tic she has with her neck over the past 2 days while we were celebrating Christmas. I talked to my mother about this and would like her to see the movie as well. I would not have thought much of them other than her seeming to have attention seeking behavior but my husband also noticed the symptoms and asked me about them as well since we both saw the movie. I am anxious for my mother to see the movie. Do you know how I can make this happen?
December 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
CHEERS BRAD, THIS DINA BUNO AGAIN, THANKS TO YOUR MOVIE,MY FATHER SAW THE RESPONSES YOU HAVE GOTTEN AND THINGS INPROVED W/ US. IT HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL THAT MY FATHER AND I HAVE GOTTEN CLOSER SINCE DEC 7, 08 THE NIGHT OF YOUR MOVIE DEBUT. HE UNDERSTANDS MY ASPERGER’S SYNDROME , ADD AND TS A LOT MORE! HE IS NOW TELLING ME I SHOULD FINISH MY EDUCATION !I TAUGHT FOR 10 YRS AND THEN THE LOSS OF MY BELOVED HUSBAND TO CANCER 2YRS AGO. THIS HAD MADE THE TS AND OCD ALOT WORSE, I AM DOING TERRIFFIC W/ SOME MEDICINE. AND I FEEL READY TO HOLD MY UP AND TRY AGAIN!! I THINK I WANT TO CONTIUE MY STUDIES.DO THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR POSSITIVE ADDITUDE AND ON GOING PERSEVERANCE!!! HEY A LOT PEOPLE THOUGHT COLLEGE WOULD BE IMPOSSIABLE FOR ME ,BUT I SHOWED THEM ALL I WAS AN A ,B STUDENT W/ HONORS. I WANT GET A BACHLOR’S DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD I ALREADY GOT AN ASSOCCIATES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD ED . SO NOW I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE ITS ALL DO TO YOU AND YOUR MOVIE. YOUR AN INSPIRATION TO ME AND MY FAMILY!! I WILL BE BUYING THE BOOK THIS FRIDAY , CHEERS SINCERLY, DINA S. BUNO PS HAPPY NEW YEAR
December 31st, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Brad,
I saw your movie last nightand and it touched me deeply. I put off watching it for a while (my husband taped it) because, having a son with TS, the subject is still so painful and sensitive for all of us. Unlike you, his symptoms were mild, occasional motor tics in junior high and high school — we never suspected TS until a vocal tic emerged in late college after a very stressful time. My son has done incredibly well in school, literally at the top of his class — but the unpredicatability of TS wears on him. Your movie has given me renewed hope that people will become more compassionate and understanding about the syndrome and that my son may someday find his own Nancy. Thank your for sharing your inspiring story. You must have a pretty amazing mom.
January 14th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Brad-
I watched your movie in the beginning of December and I thought your story was absolutely amazing. I had never heard of Tourette Syndrome before watching the movie. Once i watched the first thirty minutes of the movie i pressed record and decided this is a great movie. I am a High School Student and its pretty funny because a week after in English we were informed that we would have to do a research paper on a Disease. Right then I wrote down what i was going to research, and it was Tourette Syndrome. Your movie has inspired me so much and i thank you. I am writing my research paper in honor of you. Thanks again.
Mike
January 16th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Thank you, I’m honored. Now my only request is that you get an “A!” Cheers
February 5th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
When will the DVD be released? I really want to show this to my Developmental Psych students on Feb. 23!!