The directing duo DarkFibre–who recently joined Pictures In A Row for representation in the U.S. market (SHOOTonline, 9/27) while continuing to be repped in the U.K. by Blackjack Films–has rolled out an online film called Unwatchable as part of a controversial campaign in conjunction with UK’s Save the Congo.
Approximately five minutes long, the short is an allusion to the atrocities being committed in the Congo every day over “blood minerals.” The film aims to highlight the link between these minerals imported from the Congo used in electronics, in particular mobile phones, with the use of rape and murder as weapons of war in the country. Shockingly honest and open about the terrible crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by armed gangs (which includes the torture and murder of more than 5.5 million men, women and children since 1998), the film is hoping to alert people to the number of Congolese raped and murdered every day.
Unwatchable graphically portrays the true story of a Congolese woman, Masika, who with her family is brutalized at the hands of armed militia. She and her daughters are gang-raped, while her husband is savagely mutilated and murdered. There is, however, a twist in the course of the plot, as the powerful re-enactment switches the setting from Central Africa to an idyllic rural setting in England. It forces viewers to consider how they would react if this violence were occurring in their backyard. The film has generated controversy and media coverage since its debut, and can be seen at www.unwatchable.cc.
Dark Fibre consists of Ishbel Whitaker and Marc Hawker who earlier served as creative directors at BBH London…..
Favorable Jury Verdict For Docu Short The Thing That Happened, a documentary short directed and produced by director Andrew Walton, won the Grand Jury Prize for best documentary short at the United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) in Palo Alto, Calif last month and had its N.Y. premiere at New York’s Documentary Festival in early November.
The 20-minute documentary profiles the Hope North Secondary and Vocational School in northern Uganda. Founded by Okello Sam, a victim of rebel attacks, the school is a refuge for children caught in the crossfire of Uganda’s civil war–those who were orphaned, forced to be child soldiers, or left in abject poverty. The film focuses on the many challenges facing Hope North’s teachers as they try to help the children build a positive future.
Walton, a commercial director repped by Identity, produced The Thing That Happened independently with the help of private donors and fiscal sponsorship from non-profit Arts Engine. The director raised $10,000 to cover travel costs for himself and DP Jeff Stonehouse to spend three weeks filming at the school in Uganda, and collaborated with others who donated time and resources including The Whitehouse, Identity, Gramercy Post, Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys, and musician Michael Rohatyn….
People in the News Editor Tom Aberg has joined Fast Cuts, Dallas. Aberg is known for having maintained his own shop, Tom’s Easy Way, for 22 years. His credits include spots for MasterCard, the Dallas International Film Festival, Publix, Neiman Marcus, and the Texas Lottery….Dallas-based Post Asylum has hired Jessica Smith as editor. Smith brings more than eight years of creative editorial experience to Post Asylum. She most recently served as an editor for 3008 in Dallas and prior to that was employed with Fast Cuts….
