After The Storm

Images

Poster Picture of "After the Storm"

Cast of Once on this Island

Website

http://www.afterthestormfoundation.org

Topics

Arts & Culture: Theater
Human Development: Children, Education, Poverty, Shelter & Housing, Urban, Volunteering, Youth
Human Rights: Civil Rights
Information & Media: Culture
Politics: Activism, Civil Society

Project Geography

US: Louisiana, New York
International: North America

Identity Niches

African American, Caucasian, Children, Youth/Teen

Budget

Raised to date: $400,000.00
Estimate to complete: $20,000.00
Total Estimated Budget: $420,000.00
The budget numbers above are accurate as of 07/15/2009

Status

Distribution

Media Type

Video

Project End Use

TV

Key Personnel

Hilla Medalia
Director/Producer
A Peabody Award Winner Israeli Producer and Director. The founder and owner of kNow Productions, a production company focusing on "projects and films that matter." After joining the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) she began her academic career in the United States where she earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University (2001 and 2004). She then worked in various positions including senior producer of the award-winning documentary 39 Pounds Of Love. The film won the 2005 Ofir Award (“Israeli Oscar”) and was released in U.S. (Landmark) theatres in late 2005 and made it onto the Academy Award short list for best documentary film.
Medalia received a 2005 Regional Emmy Award for her student documentary project Condition: John Foppe (program feature - public affairs category) and the 2004 Angelus Award for directing the student film, Daughters of Abraham. Her first feature documentary TO DIE IN JERUSALEM screened around the world and has garnered many prestigious awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Emmy Award nominations. The film screened in multiple festivals around the world including the Jerusalem Film Festival, Edinburgh Film Festival, Fipa Biarritz, where it won a jury award. The film was broadcast in the United States as an HBO feature and has aired on television around the world including YES in Israel. Medalia’s new film, After the Storm, a collaboration with Priddy Brothers, has opened in June 2009 at the prestigious Los Angeles film festival.

James Lecesne
Executive Producer
Lecesne has created several one-person shows, including the critically acclaimed “Word of Mouth”. Directed by Eve Ensler and produced by Mike Nichols, “Word of Mouth” won numerous awards for best solo performance, including The NY Drama Desk Award, The Outer Critics Circle Award and The LA Theater Weekly Award.  His live action short film, “TREVOR”, won an Academy Award in 1994, and inspired him to start “The Trevor Project”, a non profit organization that operates the only 24-hour suicide prevention helpline for GLBT and Questioning teens. Over the past ten years, the Trevor helpline has literally saved thousands of young lives. Working with young people in Cambodia, Tibet and Bosnia, Mr. Lecesne created “The Road Home: Stories of Children of War”, which premiered at The Asia Society in NYC and was presented at The International Peace Initiative at The Hague. This theatre piece for 8 actors was instrumental in bringing worldwide attention to the plight of children who were living in the midst of war. He also adapted Armistead Maupin’s “Further Tales of The City” as a mini series for Showtime Network (Emmy Nomination) and is currently in development with a mini series of Michael Cunningham’s “Flesh & Blood”. Also in development is the feature film “Simply Halston”, to be directed by Daniel Minahan for Killer Films. Lecesne recently wrote one of the final episodes of the popular TV series, “Will & Grace”. As an actor, Mr. Lecesne has been featured on “Sex & The City”, in the Off-Broadway revival of “Boys in the Band”, in the original production of Caryl Churchill’s “Cloud 9” and as the star of the Off Broadway play, “Extraordinary Measures”, written and directed by Eve Ensler.

Outreach/Engagement Plan(s)

The documentary film is an extraordinary vehicle for bringing the plight of New Orleans’ young people to the public’s attention. The need for such attention is apparent; four years have already passed since the Katrina disaster, and the New Orleans community is still struggling to piece itself back together, financially, socially and culturally. Collaborating with BCAFA (Broadway Cares/equity fights AIDS) and MTI (Music Theatre International), my outreach attempts will focus on audiences that may be inspired by the film and subsequently effect change starting projects in their own communities and raising funds for New Orleans youth. These audiences can be found at community centers, libraries, churches, human rights/ social equality organizations, Economic and Social Policy organizations, psychology/trauma-related organizations, education & arts organizations, cultural & film centers, African American organizations, students groups, schools and universities – psychology, sociology, theater, film departments etc. The goal is to create a core audience for the film that could be the force behind further distribution and promoting its themes.

As the After the Storm campaign and film deal with rebuilding communities through the arts, the outreach efforts focus on communities, educational institutions, cultural and art organizations and individuals. Reaching out to youth groups, such as junior and high school students, along with university students is one of the most important goals. I aim to encourage young creative minds to utilize their energy and talent in socially aware projects, as manifested by After the Storm. Thus, distribution within schools and universities, among students and educators is vital. We are collaborating with MTI (Music Theatre International), the company that licenses all shows to high schools and community theatres around the country. They are already supporting us in reaching this market.

We plan to utilize several non-traditional outreach methods. First and foremost, attempting to reach supportive individuals and communities, I’ll be working on grass-root and viral marketing, distributing the film and its ideals through online support groups and websites, such as Facebook, Myspace, Tweeter etc. Creating extensive web visibility of the film may very well be the most crucial challenge in spreading its goals and ideas. As part of my web efforts, I plan on expanding the film’s website, converting it into a site where individuals and communities could communicate regarding After the Storm related projects and initiatives. The goal is to eventually transform the website into a networking tool for art and theatre students, educators and community organizers who spread the After the Storm spirit in their career and volunteer work.

Secondly, We’ll work to develop an “After the Storm: Art in Action” study guide, a multimedia screening, discussion and action packet to offer to junior high-school and high-school drama instructors for use in classrooms. This packet will feature a DVD of the movie, discussion guide and suggestions for community action. Ultimately, I hope to partner with drama teams across the country to raise funding for rebuilding New Orleans community youth centers.

Thirdly, we plan to execute a high-school and university screening tour featuring several of the key characters in the film, focusing on art and theatre classes. These class sessions will include practical seminars in addition to standard Q&A and will be oriented to project development with the students and educators.

Finally, we'll execute a U.S community screening tour, exposing parents, young children and local activists to the possibilities in their own towns, as well as raise funds and support for the help needed in New Orleans. The goal is to have 2,010 screenings of After the Storm between September 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010 throughout the continental United States.

Funders

Location