The adage Think globally
act locally does not apply to a pair of Ohio University filmmakers. Rather, Andrew Carlson and Steven Ross took their project to the most global of stages: the United Nations.
The two are working on a documentary about political change in Liberia, where an interim government was installed last fall after 14 years of war.
Last month, the pair presented a 10-minute synopsis of their footage so far, entitled Liberia's New Hope, to the United Nations' International Conference on Reconstruction of Liberia. Carlson, a graduate student in international development studies, said the experience was surreal.
It was the only media shown during the event he said. He added that he was glad to be involved with the conference, which raised $520 million in international support for Liberian reconstruction. I was really overjoyed that the international community came to Liberia's aid as they did he said.
Carlson also was pleased that he and Ross, a film professor, were able to film the U.N. session, which included Secretary General Kofi Annan and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Carlson said U.N. officials told him that it was good for the assembly to see images for once rather than just hear speeches.
From what I understood
the idea of showing a video at a conference where typically people would be making verbal presentations is not that common of a thing
Ross said. One of the things you look for as a filmmaker is 'Are people paying attention?' The room was certainly silent.
He said the crowd was particularly responsive to footage of innocent
beautiful young boys talking about using AK-47s and serving in the military.
Carlson and Ross plan to complete the full-length documentary in early 2005. They, along with OU graduate student and Liberian native Manfred Ashiboe-Mensah, traveled to the capital, Monrovia, for 10 days in October after Carlson began planning the project in the spring. They documented the sense of hope surrounding the inauguration of Liberia's transitional government.
They intended to assemble a film from the 40 hours of footage recorded then, but they recently decided to expand their focus and return to Liberia about a year after their first trip, probably during next Winter Break. This time, they will stay for several weeks and spend time in the countryside talking to refugees.
We have so much footage of people talking about what they hope happens
Ross said. He said on the next trip they would try to put together a sort of cinematic progress report on the effectiveness of the new government in achieving those goals.
(Now) we have a greater sense of what we want to cover
Ross said. There is a human dimension to this story that needs more depth.
Photographs taken by Carlson during the October trip will be on display until mid-April at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 1/2 W. Washington St. Owner Chris Pyle said the photos were right up our alley
in line with the shop's theme of social justice. In the past, Donkey has hosted events supporting African aid organizations such as D.A.T.A. (Debt AIDS Trade Africa).
Those interested in obtaining a copy of Liberia's New Hope can contact the OU Institute for the African Child at 597-1368.
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