Huckleberry Finn in Summer camp!

Welcome to the magical musical freedom seeking world of "Huckleberry Finn"...a truly beautiful performance by the kids at a summer camp in New Jersey...
The kids made me wonder what freedom was all about..
Is it something you can smell?
Is it something you can touch?
Is it something you can taste?
well,I have started thinking about it...do you have an answer to that?

The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes!!

This is what gives me hope about the forth coming generations...

Wings of Evolution at Sathyam Cinemas, Chennai

Hey folks, in Chennai there are 2 hot things happening. One of course, Chennai itself, with its scorching heat and the Other is our Exclusive Screening of 'Wings of Evolution' on May 18th, 2008, at 9:45 a.m at the Seasons Theater of Sathyam Cinemas, one of the biggest multiplexes in South India. Currently, preparations are being made with ticketing, posters etc. We'll have a post-screening panel discussion , the details of which have not been finalized. Will post an update soon. Folks in Chennai, rsvp to attend. Till then, keep beating the heat.

Wings of Evolution - Post-Film Screening

Wow, this has gotta be the longest break in our blog. Surprising none of us had the time and energy or even the slightest inclination of writing something.
But hey, here it is finally, after our screening at the South Asian International Film Festival 2007.
"Wings of Evolution" screened on October 6th, 2006 at 2:30p.m at the Rubin Museum of Art, NYC. Before the screening we had a filmmakers lunch at Rialto's, NYC - just a networking event I'd say. Nothing extraordinary but we met a few of the directors/producers who were mostly from other states. We also met filmmakers from the Pune film institute.
Anyway, as for the screening itself, we were standing outside the theater and till about 2:20p.m or so, we hardly had people coming in. Just 1 or 2. But by 2:30, the theater had about 35-40 people were sitting in. Not a bad number I'd say but not the best either.
Many of our friends, that is, some of you readers - didn't or couldn't turn up because of excuses, excuses - and we are supposed to understand. Hmmphh!
Ok anyways, we got some good response/feedback from the audience. Also, some suggestions as to what could be done to improve. We have someone who's interested in showing the film to a school audience in NY. So we are working on it. Hopefully sometime early next year.
The above is a pic of the post-screening discussion moderated by Richa from the SAIFF staff.
Alright then, will get back on the other sundry news soon. Watch out!

CHILD LABOR -The fight to end slavery today!

Courtesy: DroppingKnowledge.org

Hazardous working conditions and long hours is an everyday reality for 14 percent of the world’s children. Using children for cheap labor is a common practice in many countries. Some of these children have never attended school or dropped out after a few years, and many are forced to work in the sex industry.
Believing that every child has the right to education and playtime, thousands of people from every corner of the world marched together to say no to child labor in 1998 under the banner of “Global March Against Child Labour”. The international community responded by Click here for more...

Doc. Film 'Wings of Evolution' Completed

Hi all
This is news from two weeks back. Our second documentary film, 'Wings of Evolution' on a revolutionary system of education for homeless and underprivileged children is now complete and ready to go. We are just getting it DVD-ready for film festivals and possibly other screenings in the near future. The trailer and preview clips should be out in a couple of days. So watch out!

Puff the magic dragon

Here is one of my favourite folk song that has taught me a little bit of singing. The song takes us to our childhood time and i hope you all enjoy it.

Library Creation

Recently we were discussing about creating a book through Accessible Horizon Films, sort of a learning tool for the kids at Siragu Montessori School. In fact, we were even thinking of building a library source for them. Although this is in the very basic stages of development, we need ideas on what topics to cover. We suggested comic books like Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle, Archies, etc which are an effective way towards cognitive development in English, the language and its grammar. There is no specific genre of books or topics you can suggest, just that we have to be creative to pick topics/books that can help in overall development of children aged 3-10. So if anyone has any ideas, please feel free to share them with us.
The goal: Create a library of books, resources for Siragu School, so by the end of a year, they will have something to go to, for creative/knowledge acquisition.

Wings Of Evolution - World Wide Postcard Sharing

This is a clip from our New Documentary film "Wings of Evolution" on a school for homeless children in India. This clip shows the Postcard painting workshop where children on one part of the globe draw/paint postcards for children in other parts of the globe, thereby promoting peace, diversity and understanding in the long term.

The Peace Tree

I would like to introduce you all to one of our Filmmaker friends who we met at the IFFLA 2006. Talking about like minded individuals who want to create a world of Love with the help of children, we never cease to find such dedicated people who work for that cause.
Apart from being a filmmaker, Mitra Sen is also a dedicated schoolteacher in the Inglewood Heights Junior Public School, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
You can check out her website for details about her concept THE PEACE TREE.

www.sandalwoodproductions.com/peacetree/

We spoke to Mitra after the screening of her film THE PEACE TREE and she too believes that children, with the love and innocence they hold, have the ability to transform this world and make it a better place. Simple, yet determined she gives us the hope that it is possible to change the world by directing children in the path of love and harmony.

I got to be in touch with her recently and we are looking forward to doing something creative with her and help get all the children of the world together. We hope that the children of the world will all unite with love someday and know each other and with the help of the Internet, we can make this world easily accessible to anyone in any corner of the Planet.

We are positive that with the help of good intentions, children’s love and cooperation from like minded individuals, we can make this world a wonderful place to live and coexist with Nature!

Also check this link…

www.thepeacetree.blogspot.com