SIERRA LEONE | Rally for War Survivors Who Want to Be Filmmakers
Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 08:50PM FLICKS | Banker White, WeOwnTV.org, HELO Magazine, June 2011
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Dear HELO fans! We are pleased once again to have the work of Banker White, Black Nature, Arthur Pratt and so many others of WeOwnTV.org and the associated Refugee All Stars featured here on HELO. They have four days left as of writing to reach their fundraising goal on Kickstarter, so please help out!
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Since 2009, a group of young Sierra Leoneans have been working together as a film/video collective called WeOwnTV (which roughly translates to “Our Own TV” in Sierra Leonean Krio). The program grew out out of a workshop run by the filmmakers behind the Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars documentary.
During a scout trip for the workshop they met Arthur Pratt, a local pastor and community leader who works with street kids in Freetown. He is a fascinating, passionate, talented individual and they wound up hiring him as an instructor.
After the workshop, Arthur Pratt continued to work with the participants to formalize a production entity under the name, WeOwnTV. Their work was raw and righteous. Many participants are orphans, ex-combatants or former child prostitutes who are also powerful orators.
The results are powerful. Their work is raw and righteous. They are helping rebuild a national and cultural identity that is necessary to support their country’s fragile new peace and democracy.
The year 2011 marks Sierra Leone’s 50th anniversary of independence and there is a lot to celebrate. Independent media and artistic expression are crucial cornerstones for a devastated country like Sierra Leone to build a peaceful future upon and youth-led groups like WeOwnTv are now thriving in the country.
Their program was founded on the guiding principle that no one is more qualified to tell Sierra Leone’s story than Sierra Leoneans themselves. WeOwnTV represents what is possible when a team of dedicated young leaders witness the role media can play in building communities and transforming lives, combined with support of grassroots organizers, youth media organizations, and committed funders.
WeOwnTV has had a great start to the year. The students are now producing an hour a week on the national television station and just hosted a local film festival in Freetown. The film festival is the first major festival and awards ceremony for local filmmakers since the war ended.
This year the group is producing both narrative and documentary films that explore the idea of independence and rebuilding a positive national and cultural identity. The producing initiative is called "Picturing Independence: A Positive Revolution." Picturing Independence has already received the honor of being selected as one of the programs officially endorsed by the Sierra Leone 50th Anniversary Committee.
Find out how first person story telling is changing the way the world learns about peace and survival from our film makers. As a treat, we are offering a first viewing of WeOwnTV production's newest film, Family, to be run by HELO Magazine immediately following this story. Tune in!
Check out the video, learn more about the project and come support the campaign here. Four more days to reach our goal!
WeOwn filmmakers and fans celebrate Freetown's "We Own Film festival." WeOwnTV.org
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