Tag Archives: Film

Obama’s Energy Agenda / Mideast Protests / Rebuilding Haiti

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President Obama outlined a bold energy agenda in his State of Union address. The U.S. urges governments in the Middle East to engage with protesters. The Afghan parliament opens in Kabul. We’ve got a report on how financial institutions must polish their public images. Many U.S. cities are hosting Iranian film festivals this winter. And, finally, another look at photo galleries on the rebuilding effort in Haiti.

Obama’s Energy Agenda
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President Obama sees a future in which Americans will drive electric vehicles and get their power from wind, solar, biomass, natural gas and nuclear plants. In his State of the Union address, Obama called for heavy investment in clean energy to help the United States transition to a stronger and more sustainable economy.

Winning the Future with Renewable Energy
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President Obama speaks about how innovation and investment in clean energy technology can help protect the environment while creating new jobs and growing the economy. 

U.S. Urges Engagement with Mideast Protesters
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The Obama administration urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to “actively respond” to the concerns of younger populations who are voicing their protests in the streets. 

Afghan Parliament Opened
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The Afghan parliament opened on January 26 in Kabul, and the Obama administration calls this “a significant milestone” for the country’s democracy and its people. The United States “joins the Afghan people in celebrating today’s achievement and we encourage the Afghans to begin an inclusive dialogue on electoral reform,” says National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer.

In Business, Reputation Matters
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Many companies know they need to maintain a good reputation to do or improve business, but rarely have they faced the kind of reputational challenges as financial and related industries do today, experts say.

Iranian Film Festivals in U.S.
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Several U.S. cities are holding Iranian film festivals this winter, allowing Americans to see what Iranian filmmakers have to say about their country.

A young boy at a shelter in HaitiPhoto Gallery: Rebuilding Haiti, One Year Later
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One year after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, the United States continues its commitment to help the Haitian people build back better. Housing remains a critical issue, and USAID has partnered with several organizations to build transitional shelters. Explore this photo gallery about the rebuilding process. At right, a young boy peeks in at his mother in their newly constructed transitional shelter in Carrefour, Haiti.

A Recovery Prescription || Afghan Refugees || Iranian Art

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Federal Reserve Chairman Benjamin Bernanke has a prescription for economic recovery. The Obama administration is offering new help for Afghan refugees. The U.S. Treasury Department delays a report on Chinese currency.  U.S. and Mexican authorities are taking new steps against methane, carbon’s evil cousin. Pirates present a threat to maritime enterprises worldwide. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon calls for cooperation on food security. And meet an American film maker with an eye for Iranian art.

Ingredients for Recovery
Sustained expansion of the U.S. economy must ultimately be driven by exports and growth in consumer spending and investments, says Federal Reserve Chairman Benjamin Bernanke. “Overall economic growth has been proceeding at a pace that is less vigorous than we would like,” says Bernanke, right.

Helping Afghan Refugees 
The Obama administration has pledged an additional $1 million dollars to help rehabilitate areas of Pakistan that have been affected by Afghan refugees. The funds will go to improve social services and infrastructure for both Afghan refugee and local Pakistani communities.

China Currency Report Delayed
The United States Treasury delayed publishing a report on China’s currency policies until after the Group of 20 advanced economies meets in Seoul November 11. The U.S. has been concerned that China may have been manipulating its currency, the renminbi or yuan, against the U.S. dollar to gain an unfair trade advantage.

The Other Greenhouse Gas
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has teamed with Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and 36 other countries to renew the push to rein in emissions of methane, a colorless hydrocarbon gas with a heat-trapping capacity 20 times that of carbon dioxide.

Piracy, a Global Threat
Maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia is a global challenge and the international community must step forward to help, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson says.

A Call to Ensure Food Security
At the 36th annual Committee on World Food Security, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon echoed a call by U.S. leaders for a comprehensive and cooperative approach to ensure food security for the 925 million hungry people in the world.

Exploring Iranian Women’s Art
American Filmmaker Robert Adanto says he is fascinated by the Iranian art featured in his new documentary Pearls on the Ocean Floor, but even more by the women who have created that art and their view of the Iranian society in which they live — or which they have left behind. Adanto, right, says, “For me, just the act of creating — of painting, of sculpting, of dancing — that’s humanity at its best. It’s our elevated self,” and that the female Iranian artists he features in his film are creating at great odds.

 

Democracy at the Oscars

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France recently handed out its Césars, the United Kingdom had its BAFTAs, and now the United States gets the chance to hand out its Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards. The festivities take place in Los Angeles, but the ceremony is truly an international event. Actors, actresses and other film industry personalities from around the world are always among the nominated, and countries up for best foreign film include Argentina (The Secret in Their Eyes/El Secreto de Sus Ojos), France (A Prophet/Un Prophète), Germany (The White Ribbon/Das Weisse Band), Israel (Ajami), and Peru (The Milk of Sorrow/La Teta Asustada).

How does this all relate to democracy? Well…the Academy does provide viewers with a printable ballot (PDF, 247KB) of the various people and films nominated to win a coveted Oscar. They also have a printable list, which could serve the same purpose. If you plan on watching the ceremony this weekend, make it an exercise in democratic behavior by downloading ballots for you and your viewing partners. Vote for your favorites and see how they do. Ok, so you and I don’t actually get to select the winners, but we can still have fun watching, cheering, and — yes — voting from home.

Summer Film Series: Brazil

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In just a few short weeks, the six winners of the Democracy Video Challenge will travel to the U.S. to visit New York City, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles.

Anna IsraelTo get ready for their trip, we’re featuring a different winning video each week for the rest of the summer. First up was the winner from the Philippines. This week it’s winner Anna Israel from Brazil, whose video is called, “In a democracy, we’re all parts of the same body.”

And remember to join Anna this Friday, July 31, for a webchat, when she’ll talk about her film, her life, and her thoughts on democracy. You can submit questions to her in advance in the comments portion of this blog (questions in English, French or Portuguese will be accepted), or by going to the chat room. Simply enter as a guest, and leave your question in the chat box provided. We look forward to chatting with you on Friday!

Webchat with Anna: https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/americagov

Watch Anna’s Video:

[video href="http://www.america.gov/multimedia/video.html?videoId=26642421001"]

Summer Film Series: The Philippines

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Regular readers of By the People know all about the Democracy Video Challenge. It’s the contest that asked filmmakers from around the world to submit a three minute video that completed the phrase, “Democracy is…” The Challenge received over 900 videos from 95 different countries, and the public voted for their favorites on YouTube.  The six winners will travel to the U.S. this fall to visit New York City, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles.

DVC winner Aissa Peñafiel and her fellow filmmaker, Juan Miguel OcampoTo get ready for their trip, we’ll be featuring a different winning video each week for the rest of the summer. First up is the Philippines and filmmaker Aissa Peñafiel’s video, ”Long Live the Fearless Man.”

Join Aissa this Friday, July 24,  for a webchat.  She’ll talk about her film, her life, and her thoughts on democracy. You can submit questions to her in advance in the comments portion of this blog, or by going to the chat room. Simply enter as a guest, and leave your question in the chat box provided. We look forward to chatting with you on Friday!

Webchat with Aissa: https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/americagov

[video href="http://www.america.gov/multimedia/video.html?videoId=26639757001"]

Zambia and the Democracy Video Challenge

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[guest name="Sara Veldhuizen Stealy" title="Deputy Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy, Lusaka, Zambia" biography="Sara Veldhuizen Stealy is the deputy public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia. “Field of Dreams” is her favorite movie because it combines three of her favorite things: Iowa, baseball and the idea that you should follow your dream even if others think you’re foolish.                                                                                     " image="http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/3234/Week_3/061609_Stadium_90.jpg"]

I love movies. Oscar night is my favorite holiday and I try to see all the nominated films. Moving to Zambia last year hampered my ability to see as many as usual before the big night, but it didn’t deter me from settling in on my sofa at 1 a.m. for an all-night viewing of the red carpet and ceremony.

[image src="http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/3234/Week_3/061609_DemVid-Challenge-Kick-off_300.jpg" caption="Zambian filmmakers at the Democracy Video Challenge kick-off event in November 2008." align="left"]Around the same time the Oscars were taking place, some very special Zambian films were being lauded as well: the Zambian entries in the Democracy Video Challenge. When we launched the contest locally, I tried to temper my excitement with realistic expectations: Zambia is a developing nation with limited technology and bandwidth. Local film and television are nascent industries. If we received one submission, it would be a victory.

When the deadline arrived, Zambian filmmakers had submitted nine films. We didn’t know it at the time, but that was the most of any country in Africa. They ran the gamut from documentary-style explanations of democracy to mini-epics to a simple, dialogue-free representation of democracy as a fruit smoothie. One outlined the history of democracy in Zambia, while another compared the essence of democracy to water and yet another posited that democracy today falls far short of what the ancient Greeks meant it to be.

Technically these short films could never compete with a special effects-laden summer blockbuster. But I find myself returning to YouTube to watch them again and again because of what they represent: Filmmakers overcoming challenges of technology and resources to express themselves, taking a chance, and putting their opinions out there for the world to see and judge. It requires bravery to create something and share it with others.

[image src="http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/3234/Week_3/061609_Democracy-Video_300.jpg" caption="Chargé d’Affaires Michael Koplovsky and other members of U.S. Embassy Zambia toast filmmaker Chansa Tembo with fruit smoothies" align="right"]
Not everyone believes the arts are important to democracy, but I think vibrant creative expression goes hand-in-hand with vibrant political expression. I’d argue that these films are representative of Zambian democracy itself: Zambia is proud of its peaceful, even quiet, history, even if it means being lesser known than its infamous neighbors. As a young democracy, it is learning how best to express the will of the people and take its place on the world stage.

The nine Zambian filmmakers didn’t arrive grandly at our ceremony in limousines and they didn’t leave with expensive swag bags. They came in public mini-buses and left having shared their creation with a wider audience. They continue to refine their craft and learn from famous filmmakers and each other. I believe their ambition will be a boon to the Zambian film industry and maybe even democracy. And maybe, someday at 1 a.m., I’ll see one of them on the red carpet at the Oscars.

Do you think the performing arts are an important element of democracy? What about performing artists – particularly international celebrities – who adopt political causes? Do their efforts legitimize or undermine serious issues?

Zambian Chansa Tembo’s film “Democracy is Like a Smoothie” was one of six winners chosen by the online voting public in the Democracy Video Challenge. You can watch all of the winning videos, including the winner from Zambia, on the Democracy Video Challenge website.

Bootlegging Threatens Nollywood

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Nollywood (the Nigerian film industry) now eclipses Hollywood (the American film industry) and Bollywood (the Indian film industry) as the world’s most prolific maker of films. According to figures from Nigeria’s National Film & Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Nigeria’s film and video industry regulator, more than 1,500 feature films were shot in that country in 2007. That’s at least 400 films more than the number shot in India and almost three times as many as filmed in the United States.

This is great news for Nigerians. Their film industry produces romances, gangster flicks and crime dramas that continue their celebrated, centuries-old tradition of storytelling in a new medium. And, as an important benefit, film and video generate more than $250 million a year in revenue. That’s comparable to the nation’s cocoa processing industry.

While $250 million is an impressive figure, the number could be higher, much higher. Intellectual property piracy runs rampant in Nigeria, and the overwhelming majority of films and videos produced there are bootlegged. I’ve heard from Nollywood insiders that they fear a piracy rate of more than 90 percent. Nollywood films have a significantly different distribution system than American, European or Asian films. Films bypass theaters and go directly to DVD. They are produced primarily for in-home viewing. This, coupled with widespread corruption, is the perfect breeding ground for costly intellectual property infringements. How much money could Nollywood generate if its industry wasn’t being constantly hijacked?

I spoke with Geoffrey Onyeama, assistant director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization and a Nigerian national, about this problem years ago. I more recently read an article in the Nigerian newspaper THISDAY that Onyeama is still fighting to raise awareness of intellectual property protection in his native country, not only for the film industry, but also in the pharmaceutical, research and cultural sectors.

“Nigeria has vast opportunities to diversify its economy,” said Onyeama. “Nigeria’s strategy should be to increase our intellectual property assets by strengthening the necessary institutions, giving them the autonomy to operate and enacting legislation to achieve these objectives.”