At a press conference today in Los Angeles, Goodrem publicly announced her support for the anti-hunger initiative which has raised eyebrows around the world for its hard talk, stark images, and a television ad where Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons shouts directly into the camera that he is “Mad as hell!” about the global hunger situation.nn”When I began to understand the vast extent of hunger in the world today,” said Goodrem,” there was no way I could not get involved. The fact that a billion people on this planet are not getting enough to eat is simply unacceptable. And here’s a chance to do something about it.”nnAs part of her support, Goodrem appears as herself in the campaign’s intriguing new TV ad that juxtaposes the beautiful young singer with a homeless woman of the same age scrounging for food in a dump. Goodrem urges viewers to “join the movement” and sign the worldwide petition to end hunger at www.EndingHunger.org. The concept is based on bringing hunger to the personal level where individuals can empathize with the plight of the hungry, rather than see them as faceless statistics. The ad will hit the internet and television screens in Australia and beyond starting later this week.nn
Delta Goodrem Ending Hunger Campaign PSA for the United Nations from Visiontime on Vimeo.
Spearheaded by the United Nations in partnership with the Los Angeles production company Visiontime “The 1billionhungry project” operates on the premise that the dynamics of chronic hunger are already known, that the solutions to hunger are already known, but that most governments have never made food security a national priority.nnThe project was launched in May 2010, with the aim of collecting a million signatures in six months. It triggered a storm of public anti-hunger events, drew thousands of engaged fans to its Facebook page, and by the November deadline had attracted over 3 million signatures. The petition has been signed by farmers in Guatemala, Boy Scouts in Egypt, baseball players in Italy, agricultural workers in Nepal, and hundreds of thousands of individuals online. FAO says the petition will be presented to government leaders for a second time this coming autumn.nnIn its 2011 season, the project is expanding beyond the petition to offer followers new ways of getting active in the drive to end hunger. Video shorts, animations, podcasts, recommended books, live events, contests and news from like-minded groups around the world are gathered together at www.EndingHunger.org.nn”Delta Goodrem‘s powerful appeal is an amazing asset for us as we reach out to young audiences,” said Scott Grove, the project’s creative director and manager with the UN. “It is a privilege to work with someone who really believes in the cause she’s supporting. Delta and her team have been outstanding partners.” Grove went on to refer to the UN‘s Millennium Development Goals – a series of targets set by countries in 2000. “The first of these goals is to eliminate hunger and extreme poverty. That may sound impossible, but our message is this: we can end hunger in our lifetime. It is totally feasible if all countries, rich and poor, make it their priority.”nnDelta Goodrem‘s commercial for the campaign was produced by the cutting-edge Los Angeles-based production company, Visiontime, which is usually involved with Hollywood features like the the Oscar-winning film Syriana, Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven, and Duplicity. Helming the project was Italian director and DP Luca Fantini who was most recently behind the lens for the critically acclaimed documentary Living for 32. The clip was produced by Visiontime‘s Senior Producer, Aymen Khalifa.nnIn joining the project, Goodrem adds her name to a growing list of personalities from the worlds of art and entertainment, sports, and even politics who are taking a public stand. Among the most well known are Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon, Canadian singer Celine Dion, U.S. track and field legend Carl Lewis, Chilean writer Isabel Allende, Spanish footballers Raúl and David De Gea, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Italian author Andrea Camilleri, and many others.nnDelta Goodrem is signed to Universal records in the United States, and Sony Music worldwide. She is currently based in Los Angeles where she is recording her fourth studio album. Goodrem has achieved eight number one singles in her home country including all three of her studio albums reaching the top position. Her first studio album is the highest selling of the last decade in Australia and has produced the most number one singles ever from a debut album.nnCreditsnExecutive Producer: Scott GrovenProducer: Aymen KhalifanLine Producer: Daniela KonnDirector/DP: Luca FantininHair and Makeup: Glen NuttleynFirst AD/ACL Mathew SandersnDIT: Spencer HutchensnSound: Anton HaugabooknGaffer: Ron WilsonnStill Photography: Michelle DaynGrip: John HaffnernGrip: Ron WilsonnThe Other Delta: Anni Cyrus
