MediaRights: News

Pangea Day

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:30:00 -0500

Arts Engine is happy to support Jehane Noujaim and her wish to bring the world together through film. Join in the fun on May 10th and take part in Pangea Day.

May 17: FREE tickets for Film Distribution Class, New York, NY

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:59:03 -0500

Do you have a completed film that needs distribution? Are you almost complete with your project? If so, email us and tell us why your film is unique and special. If we pick your project, we'll offer you FREE admission (worth $350) to our Film Distribution Class on Saturday May 17th, at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City Email your entry to: info@PassionRiver.com We're only giving away 3 FREE tickets. Contest expires tomorrow, May 10th! Winners will be announced & notified on May 12th. Good Luck! For more info on the class, visit: www.MarketMyMovie.com

Arts Engine's Fiscal Sponsorship News!

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:55:07 -0500

Congratulations to Gini Reticker for winning the "Best Documentary Feature" award at the Tribeca Film Festival with Pray the Devil Back to Hell. Arts Engine is proud to be a fiscal sponsor for Gini and wish her continued success as she exhibits her powerful film. We also extend our praise for Daria Sommers and Meg McLaren, whose Lioness received the Center for Documentary Studies Award at the Full Frame Festival, in North Carolina, this past April. We also wish to welcome Ross Kauffman, Jeff Zimbalist, Isaac Brown, and Richard Barber to our stellar roster of fiscally sponsored filmmakers. For more information on our fiscal sponsorship program please contact Felix Endara at felix@artsengine.net.

Next DocuClub: May 21, 7 p.m.

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:19:50 -0500

Our next DocuClub screening will be on Wednesday, May 21, at 7 p.m., at Goldcrest Post (799 Washington Street, between Horatio and Gansevoort), in New York City's West Village. Our moderator will be Liz Ogilvie, Head of Programming for Docurama Films. Join us as we watch Personality by Vinay Chowdry and Sarita Khurana. In the film, a Bollywood background dancer tries to make it in the film industry in India. The young man moves from his village in northern India to Mumbai to achieve his dreams of stardom, only to find out that although he is talented, he lacks what is known as "personality," a euphemism for being light-skinned and confident in a newly globalized India. The film is in Hindi, with subtitles. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to: docuclub@artsengine.net.

Passionate about environmental issues?

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:11:52 -0500

I am seeking a passionate filmmaker that is interested in directing and producing a documentary that will raise awareness about genetically modified foods by focusing on organic and sustainable farming. You would gain recognition as the director and producer of the documentary, which you would have collaborative creative control. This is an amazing opportunity for you to apply and experiment with various filming techniques and styles. I would provide room and board and funding for some equipment (negotiable). Please contact me for more information at pittsfieldinterns@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Eric Nakamura's Shortlist

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:09:09 -0500

The Shortlist article series is your opportunity to learn about the films that inspire intellectual, artistic and activist leaders — leaders like Eric Nakamura. We asked Eric to share his favorite films and his thoughts on the power of documentary to change the world. So what films Eric Nakamura's Shortlist? Keep reading to find out.

Eric Nakamura

Who is Eric Nakamura? Eric graduated from UCLA with a degree in East Asian Studies. He got his start in magazine making through a stint at Larry Flynt Publications and working on numerous zines in the early '90s. In addition to publishing issues of Giant Robot, curating the art galleries and picking products for the shops, Nakamura has made an independent movie called Sunsets, shot photos for punk rock bands and designed t-shirts. Recently, Nakamura curated a museum show, "Giant Robot Biennale" at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, and continues to work on projects outside of GR for different communities and entities. Eric Nakamura on the Power of Film Documentaries are often creative, involved and are like dissertations in that they're filled with content about a subject that is often overlooked. They tell a real and often vibrant story which otherwise may never be told. Documentaries can lead to better understanding of others in almost any realm and, in cinema, might be the most important story-telling format. In 1997, while in the early stages of Giant Robot magazine, I got together with a cousin and wrote, directed, produced and edited a narrative film entitled Sunsets. Funded by us, it was a crash course into the world of cinema, film festivals and the marketing machine around it. Since then, I've delved into short subject documentaries as well. The effort it takes to make any film, which often times won't see much light on any day, is tremendous and expensive, and documentaries are often both of these, but also time consuming. Yet, the rewards are satisfying, often in the same way as writing a good story for our own magazine, which also takes time, research and getting involved with the subjects so you can tell their story accurately. Thankfully I have the experience in narrative, documentary and even journalism to know that documentaries are often produced, yield the least financial results and are often unseen. Although entities such as YouTube, Revver and many online channels are now giving a lot of weight and heed to short documentaries which often yield the best results in a three to five minute format. Eric Nakamura's Film Picks After Innocence: People who are locked up wrongfully when they're innocent has to be one of the greatest nightmares ever. Imagine losing all of your freedom for no reason and spending 30 years behind bars. We take our own freedom for granted and I think almost everyone takes the many who are wrongfully imprisoned for granted as well. See who's involved, who's being freed and how they adjust to their new lives. The best part about this documentary is that it's just the beginning. It's been rocking the judicial system. Another State of Mind: This is a punk rock documentary from 1984 and it features some of the best bands in America. Circle Jerks, Social Distortion, Fugazi and a few others make this a time capsule, but also captures the nation's ills toward punk rock in the early '80s, while now, it's commonplace. I saw this in the '80s and it was one of the things that turned me on to punk, documentaries and the DIY attitude. I remember it showed on television on a cable station. How it got there I have no idea. When We Were Kings: Muhammad Ali's experiences go far out of the realm of most athletes and most people for that matter. When I see this, which is just a portion of his life, I'm dwarfed by the grandeur of his struggles, his triumphs and how much more of a rounded person he was than just a boxer. The film captures so much of his personality and gives you just a partial insight into him. Can anyone be such a hero today? Fahrenheit 9/11: It's hard to get too preachy about this project. It's one point of view by Michael Moore who I'm not exactly a fan of since he puts a little too much of himself into every project. But maybe that's what makes them sell. It was important to have a documentary about the events and lives of those who were involved in 9/11. It was too large of a subject not to cover as a feature length film. The movies didn't quite cut it, although one can't deny that they're just as important. Michael Moore's look into it captures a side that much of us don't want to admit may be true. For that reason alone, I think it's important. But if it's all wrong, I'm still okay with his efforts to put together a project like this. The others often just fall off the wayside. Michael Moore has the power to make his films important. I'd give some honorable mentions to the conspiracy theorists who have made numerous documentaries which are available free online. If they get even one new point right, then they'll have made a great contribution. Woodstock: I've seen this many times. Why would I include it? I think for a kid like me, who was born in 1969, Woodstock is the originator of the Lollapaloozas, All Tomorrow's Parties, Coachella, etc. Its imprint on today's culture is powerful. The lifestyles, fashions and effort put forth to make the event memorable for generations to come: that's cool. It was made with care, effort, budget and it's a marker of rock 'n' roll. Its influences even make it into Wayne's World. Hoop Dreams: The idea of following basketball kids from junior high into their high schooling and even college is a daunting task, but this picture paints two pictures. One is of a kid with a clear path to success, and the other is of a kid who has to work hard to gain every inch. But who comes out ahead and how does he get there? This isn't a story of success. It's more about the process of what the dreams of kids are all about. An Inconvenient Truth: There's not too much to say but "wow." Somehow the "next President of the USA" became an Oscar winner with this documentary and made a better contribution to society than maybe any recent President. Finding a way to contribute and make a film that hopefully will change at least some peoples' viewpoints of our planet is maybe the ultimate gift. This could be the most important documentary ever made. Super Size Me: This film is funny, humorous and shocking. Morgan Spurlock eats himself into getting fat by submitting his body to the ultimate test: junk food in the Super Size variety. How he can eat so much is already a miracle, but to see his body change and the ill effects it had are what made this film a success. It's sort of like things you may have seen on Jackass, YouTube and a blog melding together into a documentary. Wings of Defeat: Kamikaze pilots who didn't die? This documentary tells the story of the forgotten pilots who were often depicted as being crazy zealots but were, in actuality, afraid to die. The picture tells the story of the war and the desperation of the Japanese military who chose to force young pilots into the ultimate sacrifice, even though it was a losing proposition. The film uses old footage reels and newspaper articles that you'll never see again. The living paint an untold story that will help people understand the psyche of what happened during World War II. Travelling with Yoshitomo Nara: One of the world's greatest contemporary artists, Yoshitomo Nara, is the subject and this film won't poke holes or dig up dirt from his personal life, but it will follow him and demonstrate his artistic process. It's heartwarming at times, and in others it's humorous. You witness this often lone artist grow as a person to collaborate with others. But in some solitary moments you see that he gets along best with children and animals.

May 4-5th: Seven free screenings of the seventh annual Media That Matters Film Festival in Indiana.

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:17:49 -0500

The Lotus Petal Cinema, located in Nashville, Indiana, will be screening the seventh annual Media That Matters Film Festival. Showtimes: Sun May 4 at 1pm, 3:30pm, 6pm & 8:30pm Mon May 5 at 3:30pm, 6pm & 8:30pm This is a FREE EVENT, limited seating on first come basis. Click here for directions.

May 20th Deadline: AFL-CIO's First Ever Online Video Contest to "Turn Around America"

Mon, 05 May 2008 15:29:06 -0500

"What's wrong with America and what will you do to change it?" That's the question the AFL-CIO is looking for you to answer in their first ever "Turn Around America" video competition. The contest will feature the winners in television ads in part to engage voters and 2008 political candidates in a national dialogue about what is necessary to get America back on track. The video contest, found at www.turnaroundvideocontest.com, is part of a larger AFL-CIO initiative to "Turn Around America" which will run through the summer. The "Turn Around America" initiative will feature major events in battleground states and build grassroots momentum to elect leaders who will fight for health care, good jobs and an economy that works for all. Participants will be invited to submit online videos in any creative form that will answer the question of how to turn around America. The contest will run April 10 through May 20 and winners will be announced in early June. The winning videos will be featured on national and local television. The categories include a national winner, who will receive $2,000 and the chance for the video to appear in national TV ads. City winners will win $1,000 and may be featured at AFL-CIO rallies and on local television. A "young activist" category will also be awarded to the best video made by someone between the ages of 14 and 25. The contest is open to the public. The judges include Gillian Grisman, director and producer of Grateful Dawg and Keeping Time: New Music from America's Roots; Robert Greenwald, director and producer of Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism and Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price; Barbara Kopple, director of Shut Up and Sing; and more. For official jury lineup and bios, visit www.turnaroundvideocontest.com/judges.php.

Call for Entries: Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program

Mon, 05 May 2008 14:05:56 -0500

NEW DEADLINES: JULY 7, 2008 and FEBRUARY 5, 2009 Each year, the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program awards more than $1.5 million in grants to support documentary films focused on contemporary social issues. Films supported have included My Country, My Country; Why We Fight; Born Into Brothels; Iraq in Fragments; The Inner Tour; The Devil Came on Horseback; and Everything's Cool. In a world where truth is stranger than fiction, we can help you tell the stories that must be told. If you believe that creative non-fiction filmmaking is vital to society, and you are an artist with passion for the work of storytelling, we want to hear about your project. Tell us what you see. For the rest of the story or to apply online, visit: www.sundance.org/documentary or www.sundance.org/DocSource

May 10th: Asian American short films at Brooklyn Museum, 2pm

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:10:48 -0500

The Brooklyn Museum's Elizabeth A. Sackler's Center for Feminist Art is hosting a screening of short films made by Asian American filmmakers. Curated by Arts Engine's Filmmaker Services Coordinator Felix Endara, the films include Media That Matters Film Festival winner Karen Lin's expansive visual interpretation of a Kelly Tsai spoken word performance, surrealist animation of Erica Cho, and experimental fiction of Larilyn Sanches and Riza Manalo, among others. A question-and-answer session follows the screening. Screening is free with general museum admission. Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11238

May 17th: Film Distribution Seminar and Workshop; NYC

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:04:58 -0500

Learn How To Get Distribution For Your Film Class: Distribution Seminar & Workshop Date/Time: May 17th, 2008, 9 AM - 5 PM Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), D- Building, Room D-207, 7th Avenue & 27th Street, New York, NY Fee: $350, $50 discount for MediaRights users, use coupon code "Iamcheezy2" Register at: Class Description: Learn the trade secrets and nuts and bolts of film distribution in this unique seminar and workshop taught by distribution executives with combined marketing and title release experience from over 350 titles. Join President of Passion River Films Allen Chou and Expert Film Distribution Consultant Josh Levin as they discuss each step for getting a film to the right distributor and media outlet whether theatrical, TV, DVD, or Internet. Allen and Josh will also teach topics that include: "The top 10 mistakes to avoid when making a film distribution deal", "How to develop a profitable film distribution plan"; as well as "How to find your audience and make money with Self-distribution and Non-traditional distribution models". Join these experts as they share the secrets behind the real world of film distribution and marketing in this unique and valuable seminar. At the end of the lectures, they'll also workshop your titles. This is normally a 2-day workshop, but the lectures will be squeezed into a 1-day only event. Before you hire a producer's rep, or sign your first distribution deal, you must attend this class- or else you could lose thousands of dollars on a bad deal! Distribution Executive Bios: Allen Chou is President of Sales and Acquisitions at Passion River Films, a NJ based company that distributes over 300 documentaries, arthouse films, and special interest titles for the US home video and international sales market since 1998. Many of his titles have landed retail shelf space in stores such as: Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Blockbuster Video, Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, Best Buy, and many more… In 2005, Allen established a distribution partnership with Netflix, resulting in the release of over 180 titles on their site; as well as other retail outlets. Internationally, he has attended Film and TV markets such as the American Film Market in Santa Monica, CA and Cannes Film Market in Cannes, France, where he marketed and licensed films and documentaries worldwide to broadcasters and foreign home video distributors. Recently he started the College Speaker and Public Performance Program; as well as the New Digital Sales and Electronic Delivery division. Allen Chou received his BA in Film from the University Of Maryland, and also attended NYU. Josh Levin is a film marketing and distribution executive who has brought more than 30 feature films to the US marketplace, including top award winners from Cannes, Sundance, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Tribeca. As Chief Marketing Officer for Film Movement, Josh learned how to get hard-to-place films in front of the eyes of filmgoers across the country “by any means necessary,” from theatrical premieres in New York City to library screenings in Butte, Montana — while also learning how to get filmmakers paid for their art. Working with films with tiny or non-existent marketing budgets is Josh’s forte. Since starting Gallant Films in 2007, Josh has also begun working in production financing and consulting. Josh got his MBA from Columbia Business School, and his BA from the University of Michigan. To register or learn more about this distribution seminar and workshop, visit: www.marketmymovie.com, or call 732-321-0711 ext 135 If you would like to help advertise for this class, we are more than happy to help you out with a greater discount. Looking forward to see you all there!!

Apply for the Brower Youth Awards!

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:00:30 -0500

We’re looking for individuals ages 13-22 with the power and persistence to create environmental change. The Brower Youth Awards honors six young people annually with a $3000 cash award and weeklong trip to the San Francisco Bay Area. Past winners have protected Native sacred sites from development, restored wetlands, spread awareness about threatened sea turtles, coordinated student networks pushing for a clean energy future, and more. Their impact doesn't stop there. They continue as environmental change agents, writers, organizers, visionaries, and speakers, supported by Earth Island Institute's New Leaders Initiative. Join them. Apply today for the 2008 Brower Youth Award at www.broweryouthawards.org. Applications for the 2008 awards are due May 15. But what if you're just getting started? You’ve got a great idea for a new environmental organization or project and you’ve got peers and supporters who are as dedicated as you are. What do you do now? The Youth Venture - Lorax Challenge can give you the support you need to launch your idea, including up to $1000. Earth Island Institute has partnered with Youth Venture and Dr. Seuss Enterprises to give youth in the U.S. and Canada ages 12-20 support to launch new environmental ventures. Find out more at www.newleadersinitiative.org; the deadline for Action Plan submissions is May 31st.

May 3: World Press Freedom Day at French Institute, New York NY

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:11:06 -0500
World Press Freedom Day Event Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008 Time: 1 - 2:30 p.m. Location: Florence Gould Hall The French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF) 55 East 59th St. New York, NY Description: Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, an Elder (www.theelders.org) and human rights advocate will introduce a panel of writers that will be moderated by Sameer. The writers will use selections from the WITNESS's The Hub to debate the role of writing and visual media to defend and expand human rights. This event is open to the public. The venue seats 400 so please invite friends and colleagues, family, etc. Cost: $12 per ticket. For more information visit: http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/2040/prmID/1376

Party Science: Hustle 101, an Exploration of Atlanta's HBCU Party Promotion Scene

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:32:34 -0500
By Jelani Harper Donte Murry is a busy man. The Morehouse College senior, who recently partnered with Michael Cooke to executive produce his first feature-length documentary, Hustle 101, has his hands full. He is simultaneously handling promotions for the film, running a website and writing an upcoming book—on top of juggling a full course load and planning to attend film school after graduation.
Twenty-one year old filmmaker Donte Murry.
Photo by Corbin Pickett
Murry's precociousness typifies the entrepreneurial spirit of Hustle 101, which provides an unflinching glimpse into the recent development of professional collegiate party promotions. The film dissects the typical material trappings that attract employees and patrons alike to "the lifestyle," while championing the much needed social work and corporate infrastructure necessary to fuel this lucrative phenomenon sweeping through college campuses nationwide. Jelani Harper: How did you come up with the idea for the film? Donte Murry: The idea originally came to me last spring to write a screenplay. That idea came from friends I had who were telling me the inside of party promotions, and some of these stories I would hear would just absolutely blow my mind. There were stories of how other promoters recruit people to their teams, dirty tricks that they pulled against each other, money being stolen. I was like "Wow, this has never been shown before, on any level." Whenever you see the black collegiate experience it's about fraternities or sports, but there are plenty of people who would say a lot of these major Atlanta University Center party promoters are looked at as kings. It's bigger than fraternities, it's bigger than sports and nobody's ever shown that before.
Hustle 101 DVD Cover
So you wanted to showcase this entrepreneurial spirit? I like to see young black men starting businesses and making money because some of these young guys really are making a lot of money. And they're getting a good experience on how to handle a business. These promotion teams are real businesses with LLC's and they structure themselves accordingly as they get more mature. Some of the companies that have been around for a longer time are really organized in the way that they operate, the way that they have a title and the way they distribute money and set aside a portion for future investments. I think it's good to see young black men doing that. How'd you go from the screenplay to a documentary? In May I ended up trying out for the show College Hill Interns. I made it as a finalist so they flew me out to L.A. When they flew me out to L.A., I was like "Man, this idea would be a good reality show, actually." So I was out there pitching the idea as a reality show and people liked it. But it was something that was so foreign to them they couldn't really grasp it. They were like, "We need something visual." I came back and made a pilot, although I wasn't able to land the pilot, people liked the footage so much they were like "You should make a movie." How effective was the Internet as a marketing tool for the film? Initially we had the movie up on our website and let people download it. And it was very successful for us. We had over 1,500 downloads in our first month because the word of mouth on us was crazy. It was January the seventh when we initially put it out there. It was just an experiment. We wanted to see would this really work because we had hyped it up, we had the trailers online, people from across the nation were hitting us up on Facebook and MySpace. So we wanted to see if we actually give them an avenue to watch this movie are people going to pay to watch it, and it worked. It was successful. Now we're selling DVDs and we're working on a distribution deal and all that good stuff. One of the most poignant moments in the film is when one of the promotion teams sanctions a fashion show to raise funds and awareness for AIDS victims in Africa. That was Pedro. When I first met him and first met Sky High Entertainment, he told me that when they were first starting he would see all these party promoters, and all it's about is money and women and how good they look. But he was like. "If we could get some pull, I want to use that pull to have an impact and raise awareness of issues." That's what he's doing and that's what he plans to keep doing. The film goes beyond the typical images of excess associated with the party lifestyle. There's a deeper meaning to it that I feel maybe only 15 to 20 percent of people see. Really what it was about, to me, was this follower mentality—this follow the leader mentality. I tried to get that across as best I could—how people get wrapped up into following a message and almost the cult-like status of it. To me what was so crazy about it was to see these kids that just wanted to be a part of something so badly. It was just like the same thing going all the way back to Hitler and the Nazis, or gangs or anything like that where people just do something just to be a part of something because they get caught up or wrapped up in the message. You mean the people who want to join the different promotion teams? Right. So you notice how we had the girl on there—and the thing is I can't wait to do a sequel because I can't wait to get this message across better—but for instance the girl, Courtnei, who was a part of the promotional team. You realize how excited she was. She was like, "We're not getting paid right now, but I love these guys" and she was going out and doing all kinds of stuff for them. And in the turn of one semester to see her at the very end she was like, "This isn't for me." And, like she said, somebody's going to jump in and fill her place. How has the public reacted to the film? Some people see the message that I said—the follower mentality. Some people see that these guys are hustlers; they're really doing their thing. And then some people are like, "Am I missing something?" And that's exactly how I felt before I made the film. I felt like, am I missing something? How are these people so hyped into a party that they'll pay 40 dollars at the door just because people have amped their name out so much? Throwing the money out, wearing the jewelry... everything is fake. Nothing is real. And that's another thing I tried to get across: it's all an illusion. That's why we had the guy at the end say believe none of what you hear, half of what you see. We interspersed that with the promoter talking about, "We're getting money, we're taxing them." That's something a lot of people see that I want them to get from the film. Aside from another Hustle 101, what other future projects are you working on? Another thing I'm working on that I feel really strong about, really passionate about, is a book called Brother to Brother. I see a lot of these books that are done by older black men where they try to reach out to young black men. Like the guy that did Letters To A Young Brother where he pulled in all these celebrities and had them give these messages of hope and whatnot. But the thing that I know from my community service and from being at Morehouse is that young men listen to other young men. Our words have a lot of relevance to each other because we understand a lot of the same things. So I'm working on a book where I'm taking 20 guys from Morehouse and we're all collaborating on this book called Brother To Brother, just to give a message of hope out to other young brothers out there.

Outreach Journal: Press Play Productions--Bridging the Gap Between the Classroom and Pop Culture

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:27:19 -0500
By Pamela Cohn. In today's television landscape, as has been the case for several years now, reality-based fare is ubiquitous. The Reality TV World site displays hundreds of titles of shows based on what people will dare to do when there are cameras around.
Jenna Arnold.
Photo by Kevin Vargas.
Jenna Arnold and Ryan Golembeske love to sit and watch shows like Project Runway and The Real World just as much as the next guy. But when the spark of an idea was forming in Arnold's mind many years ago about what she wanted to do with her life, her thoughts turned more to, what she calls, "edutainment." Their company, Press Play Productions, created a show called Exiled (Rites of Passage was its original title), which was recently greenlit to go into production and is premiering on MTV this spring. "I kind of always knew it was going to work and that it was going to sell because I never felt like we were the true creators. Rather, we were just the people that put all the puzzle pieces together," Arnold said. "I just feel like a messenger delivering this idea to its rightful owner—the American public, kids in particular. This show started developing when I was 12 in my eighth grade social studies class."
William and Ryan had a special bond. This is the first time William had photos of himself.
Photo by Kevin Vargas.
By tuning in each week, audiences will get to journey around the world, from Europe to South America, from the African continent to the outer reaches of Mongolia, in a show where MTV's popular Super Sweet 16 girls will experience a Survivor-type experience—in other words, there's sure to be loads of drama and lots of tears. In each episode, a spoiled Sweet 16 diva gets dumped into situations where she encounters life with indigenous populations up close: living with them and participating in some of their coming-of-age rituals which, usually, do not involve mansions, BMWs, cell phones and designer wardrobes. And while certainly meant to be entertaining, Arnold and Golembeske hope to enhance these escapades with some real learning and active outreach on the part of the youthful audience that tunes in every week, for that is the overriding ethos on which they founded their production company, now with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and a recently-opened branch in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I caught up with Jenna, a former Education and Media Specialist at the United Nations, in the midst of preparing for yet another location and production scout for their show. Among other things, we talked about the challenges she and Golembeske face as young executive producers working with one of the largest media conglomerates in the world. Pamela: How do you find navigating the massive corporate landscape of Viacom? Jenna:Look, the advantages of working with MTV are obvious: they're in 179 countries with a viewership of over a billion people. An extremely high percentage of young people around the world watch or know of MTV. And that includes young people that are surviving on less than a dollar a day. This is where our audience is. We have an opportunity to reach that 16-year-old in Kansas who doesn't turn off the water when he brushes his teeth, who just doesn't know about how wasteful that is, and probably doesn't really care. The challenges, of course, have been learning to play by corporate rules. It's a multi-billion dollar corporation with an extensive system already in place and that has to be honored. It can be difficult when you're trying to go into the depths of the Amazon. There are a lot of security precautions and you have to account for that in the production of a television show. They've been very supportive in wanting to do the whole education outreach approach. They are committed to, and totally behind, the public affairs component, to provide youth with a viable platform to make a difference. They recognize the hold they have on this demographic and I don't think they take that responsibility lightly. Neither do we. Pop culture and mass media have been the common mode of exchange all along, really. Policy gets tripped up in other things that have nothing to do with helping people or keeping people inspired. Hope is really an important incentive for people to keep getting up every day and working towards their dreams, wanting something better for the next generation.
Mama Josephine watching a trailer from the original shoot on Jenna's iPod, the first time she saw herself on video.
Photo by Ryan Golembeske.
What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep moving forward with your vision? I've always been passionate about educating people about global issues. And I've always been wowed by the power of media. A few years ago, Ryan and I had been discussing ideas for television shows right before the words "Press Play Productions" fell out of my mouth. They were all, essentially, for and about kids, these concepts. We wanted to also show the power of compassion, the power of friendship, and in particular, highlighting what might get lost in translation between cultures. What's your current association with the UN and how do you plan on utilizing that in the work you're doing now? The UN is helping us develop the outreach portion for each episode. Potentially, for future episodes, they'll help us identify locations and stories and assist us in getting into certain spots on the globe more easily than if we were on our own. My relationships there are with the senior chief officers and they're very interested in becoming involved with this. They've spent the past 30 years writing policy and legislation and, at this point, they're not convinced that it's working. I'm bringing a strategy to the table that may not really work, either, but they're interested in continuing to be involved to see where it might lead. How will Exiled's viewers be able to engage in the issues? What kind of an impact, realistically, can a television show have, even one on a major network? The idea is that kids watch the series and if they decide they want to learn more or they want to know how they can make a difference in some capacity, there's a whole online component which will exist on the Think site. There will be 25 NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) that are working on an issue that's raised in a certain episode. For example, for the pilot episode that takes place in Kenya, the audience will learn about girls' education and how vital that is; they'll learn that there are many communities lacking a sufficient drinking water supply. That, in turn, brings up the worldwide water crisis looming before us. But, of course, what the network really wants is a short episodic project that imparts some information in an entertaining way. "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." Yes, they'll be entertained, but at the end of an episode they might also discover that they've actually learned something! You have to entertain to maintain an audience—that's elementary. It's to educate, also. And, hopefully, inspire an impulse to do something. What do you hope to accomplish in the new media landscape of today and how do we need to change the ways in which we engage young audiences? The long-term goal for the television series is to help young audiences identify with peers that live beyond the American border. To my mind, both our national and international security depends on that, to be blunt. Having worked at the United Nations headquarters here in New York as an education officer for two years [Arnold was the youngest officer working there at the time of her tenure], and having sat in on many meetings about policy and legislation, I was never convinced that that was the direction of peacemaking. I see it happening on places like Facebook and Myspace and YouTube. We use media because it's influential, much more influential than international ratifications or laws or policies. It's definitely more influential when it comes to capitalizing on the nation's youth, their interests and motivations. There is this genuine sense among younger people that they want to help, that they want to make a difference, but they don't know how. Oftentimes, a seed has been planted inappropriately, whether it's in a classroom or in the mainstream media. What I want this show to do is help plant a seed that will make kids realize there's something beyond their own existence. There are people just like us all over the world; they just have different problems.