Just a reminder that tomorrow, July 1st, fifteen New York City public high school students will premiere their film Discovered
–a digital "machinima" film produced in Second Life that explores the
powerful issue of child sex trafficking through the fictional story of
one Mexican teenager.
Discovered is the final product of a
year-long, intensive digital filmmaking program called the Virtual
Video Project (VVP), an after-school program conducted by Global Kids,
Inc in NYC. The students gathered regularly during the past year to
learn about film production, human rights, and virtual worlds,
culminating in a serious issue machinima film produced entirely by the
youth filmmakers.
Come to the premiere of Discovered to meet the
youth filmmakers and discover how digital film can be used for global
issue awareness and civic engagement.
Event Details:
When: Wednesday, July 1st, 6pm-8pm
Where: Sony Wonder Technology Lab [550 Madison Avenue at 56th St.]
What: Meet & Greet Filmmakers, Premiere of Discovered, and Q & A with students
For more information, see http://www.DiscoveredMovie.com or please contact Shawna at 212-226-0130 x 143 or email: shawna@globalkids.org.
The full text of the News Release follows….
Contacts:
Sofia Oviedo, Global Kids, 212-226-2116, sofia@globalkids.org
Arti Sheth, Global Kids, 212-226-0130, ext. 106, arti@globalkids.org
For Immediate Release:
Global Kids Youth Leaders Premiere Animated Film Discovered,
Exposing the Global Tragedy of Child Sex Trafficking
New York, NY, June 29, 2009 – On July 1, 2009, fifteen New York City public high school students will premiere their film Discovered (2009, discoveredmovie.com),
a digital "machinima" film produced in Second Life that explores the
powerful issue of child sex trafficking through the fictional story of
one Mexican teenager.
Discovered is the final product of a year-long, intensive
digital filmmaking program called the Virtual Video Project (VVP), an
after-school program conducted by Global Kids, Inc. in New York City.
The students gathered regularly during the past year to learn about
film production, human rights, and virtual worlds, culminating in a
serious issue machinima film produced entirely by the youth filmmakers.
The students, ages 15-18, represent a range of high schools from
the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, including Hostos-Lincoln
Academy, James Baldwin School, University Neighborhood High School, the
Academy of American Studies, New York City Museum School, and Bryant
High School.
Event Details:
When: Wednesday, July 1st, 6pm-8pm
Where: Sony Wonder Technology Lab [550 Madison Avenue at 56th St.]
What: Meet & Greet Filmmakers, Premiere of Discovered, and Q & A with students
GK Press Contact: Arti Sheth, 212-226-0130, ext 106, arti@globalkids.org
Hundreds of thousands of women and girls every year are forced
into sexual slavery, a crime that happens in Asia, Latin America,
Africa, Europe, and in communities all around the United States.
Discovered is a fictional account, but it is based upon research
conducted by the VVP filmmakers with the feedback and input of experts
on child sex trafficking from organizations such as ECPAT-USA (End
Child Prostitution and Trafficking), and individuals from Mexico.
While the problem is daunting, the Global Kids teen filmmakers
wanted to put a human face on the issue, and to leave the viewer
energized to do something to help end sex trafficking. The VVP youth
led every single stage of film production, from costuming the
“avatars,” writing the script, voice acting the various roles, filming
the scenes, choosing background music and effects, and editing the
footage together. Global Kids and the young filmmakers plan to stream
the video in Second Life, disseminate it online, and submit it to
numerous film festivals to further expose the work.
The Virtual Video Project is part of Global Kids’ Online
Leadership Program (OLP) and made possible with funding from the John
D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the New York City
Department of Youth and Community Development.
About the Online Leadership Program
Global Kids’ Online Leadership Program (OLP), now in its ninth
year, integrates the use of the Internet into GK’s programming. The OLP
equips youth with the skills necessary to use the Internet as a tool
for research and social change and develops online resources for
educators and young people to promote civic engagement and global
literacy. Discovered was created in the virtual world of Second Life, a
“virtual world” that offers a three-dimensional environment where
online participants are represented by avatars. Second Life has
millions of users and a growing non-profit community. To access the
OLP, please click here: olp.globalkids.org
About Global Kids, Inc.
Founded in 1989, Global Kids' mission is to transform urban youth
into successful students and global and community leaders by engaging
them in socially dynamic, content-rich learning experiences. Through
its leadership development and academic enrichment programs, Global
Kids educates youth about critical international and domestic issues
and promotes their engagement in civic life and the democratic process.
Through professional development initiatives, Global Kids provides
educators with strategies for integrating experiential learning methods
and international issues into urban classrooms. Over ninety percent of
the high school seniors who participate in Global Kids’ leadership
program graduate from high school. To access the Global Kids website,
please click here: www.globalkids.org
* * *