Redlands teacher attends private screening invited by actor Daniel Radcliffe

It is not every day that you get invited by a mega movie star to attend a private screening of his movie on the big screen. Well Redlands resident David Salvaggio did.

He was one of many Trevor Project Circle of Hope donors invited by fellow donor and spokesman Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame to attend a special screening of Radcliffe's thriller "The Woman in Black," last month at the Bruin Theater in Westwood.

Salvaggio has lived in Redlands and is a high school teacher, political activist and free-lance writer.

"One day I received an email from the Trevor Project Circle of Hope organization and thought it would be something I would be interested in," said Salvaggio.

"I went to their website and studied it and realized that they are an educational resource organization."

The Trevor Project Circle of Hope was founded by the creators of the 1994 Academy Award-winning short film, "Trevor," a comedy/drama about a 13-year-old homosexual boy who attempts suicide.

When "Trevor" was scheduled to air on HBO in 1998, the filmmakers realized that some of the program's young viewers might be facing the same kind of crisis as Trevor, and began searching for a support line to be broadcast during the airing.

On the discovery that no such helpline existed, they decided to dedicate themselves to forming The Trevor Helpline.

This became the first and only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth (LGBTQ).

The actor appeared at the screening with a splashy entrance. He ran down the left aisle of the theater and gave a presentation before the start of the movie.

According to Salvaggio, Radcliffe welcomed the audience in his charming British accent, "This is my first film since Potter. Please feel free to scream, yell, get loud; it's all good."

"We screamed indeed during the chilling tale of a haunted estate in England," Salvaggio said.

"I am very impres! sed with him (Radcliffe), he has done PSAs for the Trevor Project voluntarily and is so sincere," he said.

"I respect him not only as an actor but as a spokesperson for civil rights. He is doing great things with his money, such as donating to this wonderful organization."

Any LGBTQ youths may call toll free 866-4U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) and for more information and educational materials, log on to TheTrevorProject.org

suze.knobler@inlandnewspapers.com 909-793-3221, ext. 319