TFI New Media Fund

Well, we just submitted our application to the Tribeca Film Institute’s New Media Fund with a public platform of our Cross Stitch Project, entitled See Me. We have a great idea and are a perfect fit, but getting the grant is a long shot. The good thing is that we are now in a great position to apply for the Power to the Pixel Pixel Market.

“The TFI New Media Fund provides funding and support to non-fiction, social issue media projects which go beyond traditional screens – integrating film with content across media platforms, from video games and mobile apps to social networks and interactive websites. We’re looking for projects that activate audiences around issues of contemporary social justice and equality around the world and demonstrate the power of cross-platform storytelling and dynamic audience engagement.”

Cross Stitch Project pilot has started – next, funding

Using new media technology, The Cross Stitch Project is connecting teenage girls from Calcutta, India and Atlanta, Georgia to share ideas, creative and design skills, learn global enterprise and cross-cultural communication skills.  The students will design and produce garments and with the proceeds support secondary education and vocational training for girls in Calcutta’s slum communities.

GOALS:
Our primary goal is to raise awareness about the global issues of gender and economic inequity in education and generate funds to support grassroots organizations working in India to keep impoverished children in school.

Our secondary goals reflect the needs of the two communities involved:

United States goals:
•    Generate global relationships
•    Foster service in public schools
•    Provide first hand cultural studies education through the arts
•    Encourage global feminist solidarity
•    Empower young people to fight gender discrimination
•    Raise funds for and participate in grassroots social change
•    Support advanced workshops with professional interaction in public schools

India goals:
•    Provide first hand cultural studies education through the arts
•    Improve English skills through direct interaction
•    Provide technology skills training for marginalized young women
•    Bridge the digital divide through media workshops and computer skills training
•    Generate global relationships
•    Build feminist solidarity and empower young women to fight sexism
•    Raise awareness about gender inequities in Indian education and support change in the community

The Bengali Detective

picked up (or remake rights picked up) at Sundance

http://www.babelgum.com/channels/180737/clips/5003014

The Cross Stitch Project

We are leaving for India again to set up the Kolkata portion of the Cross Stitch Project. To read more about our cross-media documentary and educational program, check out crossstitchproject.org.

This week’s In Media Res – Transmedia: New Platforms

Follow this week’s theme I organized featuring:

Monday October 11, 2010 – Janet Murray (Georgia Tech) presents: Inventing New Conventions for Digital Storytelling

Tuesday October 12, 2010 – Henry Jenkins (University of Southern California) presents: Harry Shum Jr: Dancing With and Without Glee

Wednesday October 13, 2010 – Chuck Tryon (Fayetteville State University) presents: Learning from The Elders: Crowdfunding, Transmedia, and Documentary

Thursday October 14, 2010 – Christina Dunbar-Hester (Rutgers) presents: 646-833-0759

Friday October 15, 2010 – Jeff Watson (University of Southern California) presents: Games of Nonchalance

Transmedia: New Platforms [October 11-15, 2010]

Education through Empowerment doc has begun

 

powdered chalk rendition of the goddess of education, Saraswati

 

I just returned from 2 weeks in India working as a producer/camera/pa/accountant on our documentary. The project took many twists and turns and continues to do so as Phoebe, director and Charlene, cinematographer are still winding their way through all the places poor children reside in India. Follow us on this travel blog
http://followingtea.tumblr.com

The story of empowerment through education is still solidifying, but we will announce our project in early November 2010.

Kickstarter Campaign Successful

The film I co-produced,  “Grounded by Reality” was chosen as one of the 12 finalists and will be premiered during the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto on May 2nd.  Our subject, Jessica Blinkhorn, is a very skilled artist and is also living with disability that is degenerative and fatal. She has spinal muscular atrophy–a form of muscular dystrophy–as did her two siblings so there was little opportunity or money for travel.  We started a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds to get Jessica to the premier and it has succeeded. We will continue to document Jessica going to Toronto and acting in a horror film with her sister, Erica, an aspiring actor.

Even though we were successful in raising the funds to take Jessica to Toronto, any extra that is given will help support her transition from school to the work force.
Ehttp://www.kickstarter.com/projects/342525077/grounded-by-realityneeds-to-fly-help-us-launc