Saturday, October 13, 2007

Cemetery Kids

At the beginning of 2006, Samantha, Tiffany and Alex J.R (all 1st generation Canadians) went to the Philippines to visit their parents' homeland. There they were exposed to the harsh realities of the streets of the overpopulated city of Manila; witnessing children living amongst the dead in local cemeteries. Families facing extreme poverty built their homes around tombstones of the wealthy deceased.

After observing these shocking living conditions, they decided to return for the month of February 2007, to document this crisis and see what they can do to help.

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The documentary focuses on a 15 year old boy named Kevin, who was born
and raised in North Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Manila. The eldest of 7 children,
Kevin was forced to take on a great deal of responsibilities for his
family and act as a father figure to his siblings.

The simplicities of life unfold through his eyes as the filmmakers
accompany him through his daily routines. Where drugs, violence and
theft are the easiest routes for youth to take, Kevin found an
interest in music instead. Along with three other children (between
the ages of 8 and 15 years old), Kevin would meet three times a week
in a place called "The River of Joy" to play music together as a
band. All four children coming from different slum areas, use their
love for music and friendship as an escape to deal with their own life situations.

please take a second to check our teasers on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55hToLkrrWA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTJHImpM-_g


The purpose of the HOT SAUCE project is to create awareness of such surreal
environments and to inspire change for street children who are often
neglected and underestimated.

This is an independent project and to move forward we need your support and donations. One of the primary goals for the HOT SAUCE project is to eventually provide the children from North Cemetery with resources and programs (ie.music & creative arts) so they can have a chance to reach their full potentials.

Feel free to contact us:

cemetery.kids@gmail.com

Additional Info:
www.myspace.com/hotsauceproject

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Posted by Kurt at 3:03 AM | | Comments  

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Blood Diamond - review



Just watched this movie last night and decided to give my 2 cents worth.
Like many before it, Blood Diamonds takes some of the darkest truths in the world and delivers it to the laziest of people... Thats right, not even you reading this. The couch potatoes that surf the TV mindlessly looking to find an escape from responsibility.

How do I convince you that the diamond you just bought costs a 1000 people their lives... how can I convince you that the fuel you just filled your tank with was at the cost of 4 towns and 500 women and children...

Wait thats just it. The thing that worries me the most is that when people watch these movies, and see it as just another fiction, they become desensitized. And then what will we be left with?

Oh yes, the film in review paints a holistic picture of the problems in Sierra Leone in the early 90's, and similar problems faced in many other countries like Uganda at the moment. In fact, it goes the extra mile to have the viewer sympathize with the Blood diamond smuggler (played by DiCaprio), while exploiting the good intentions of a Jounralist (Jennifer Connelly). Overall this movie shows devastating truths locked in hollywood style explosions and emotional scenes.

For anyone that has been to Africa, you will have a much greater appretiation for its accuracy, for those that have yet to venture to this paradise, now is your chance.

"T.I.A." - This Is Africa.

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Posted by Kurt at 7:12 PM | | Comments  

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Barefoot Workshops

Barefoot Workshops is a media and music based educational organization where adults and youth are taught video, photography, music, and art as a way to document their surroundings, make change in the world and most importantly make change in themselves. With Barefoot, growing and learning as an artist means growing and learning as an individual.

http://www.barefootworkshops.com

A friend of a friend made the video in cape town, its really well done.
Reminds me of this girl Allison I met in Kenya in 2005 who gave public speeches about living with HIV AIDS. I still have her recorded on video. Her story is so powerful, it still echos in my ear.

I think the video movement is our chance to expose the world to media that they deserve to see, not the mainstream stuff that the MNC giants think we should watch. No boardroom discussion can create the epic story or tragedy of life as it unfolds around us on a daily basis.

Happy New Years everyone, May 2007 be YOUR year.

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Posted by Kurt at 12:00 PM | | Comments  

Accelerating Social Change through Video

Accelerating Social Change through Video
In 1999 the World Bank asked 60,000 people living on less than a dollar a day to identify the biggest hurdle to their advancement. It wasn't food, shelter or health care. It was access to a voice. By empowering people to tell their stories, video gives a voice to the voiceless, and to the people who fight for them.

Video Volunteers believes that media can provide marginalized people with a platform for voice and accelerate social change. In collaboration with Drishti Media Collective in Ahmedabad, India, Video Volunteers is working to create a global network of 100s of rural or peri-urban Video Producers who produce and share media across the barriers of illiteracy, poverty and media neglect.

Our core activity is establishing sustainable Community Video Units (CVUs) in partnership with leading NGOs. Each Community Video Unit (CVU) comprises up to 10 community members, primarily women, who produce one "Video News Magazine" each month that is shown back to communities using wide-screen projectors or local cable networks. In 2006, ten CVUs are launching in India. Collectively, these CVUs will produce one hundred videos in their first year alone, on issues of social justice, development and human rights, that will be seen by thousands of people in their communities, providing a local, national and global platform for voice.

Website: http://www.videovolunteers.org/

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Posted by Kurt at 10:46 AM | | Comments