Rabbit Academy-Award® nominated directing team Sean and Andrea Fine, and executive producers Ryan A. Brooks, John Leguizamo, and Susan MacLaury, deliver a voice for homeless youth through artistic expression in the inspirational short documentary “Inocente.” “Inocente” reunites The Fines’ with the producers of the Academy Award®-nominated “War/Dance,” Shine Global, founded by Albie Hecht and Susan Mclaury. The film will air on MTV tomorrow, August 17th at 10p.m. EST.nnThe documentary centers on a young artist’s determination not to surrender to the bleakness of her circumstances. At 15, “Inocente” faces challenges that are staggering, but the hope in her story proves that it’s her dreams that define her rather than the hand she has been dealt. The short doc has received accolades at the San Antonia Film Festival and the Arizona International Film Festival and was also included at the Hot Docs International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival and the Melbourne International Film Festival. “Inocente” provides a new angle to MTV’S programming slate and reaches their demographic with a positive message of self-acceptance and self-discovery through the arts. nn
nnAfter discovering the staggering statistics that 1 in 45, approximately 1.6 million, children in America are homeless, The Fines became intrigued to tell the story of these disenfranchised children. Notes Sean Fine, “We wanted to tell one child’s story, to put a personal face to the statistics. By creating a human connection for the audiences to this largely ‘invisible’ issue, we hope to get them thinking about what they can do to make the changes necessary to help defeat this problem.” nnWhen the directing duo was introduced to the San Diego-based A.R.T.S. program (“A Reason to Survive”), they found a channel for uncovering this largely silenced voice. The nonprofit uses all art forms as a vehicle to create positive, long-lasting change in children and youth facing major life challenges—giving them not only a reason to survive, but also to thrive. After speaking to the program director, the directors flew to San Diego and spent five days sans camera with “Inocente” and immediately fell in love with her story. As The Fines began to let the camera roll, the story unfolded, telling not only a story of homelessness and art, but also a story about family and what it truly means to them to be homeless. They discovered that Inocente‘s experiences with A.R.T.S. has led her to transform her dark experiences into vibrant and colorful pieces of artwork that have the ability not only transport her from her destitute situation but also reach others whom her story may help.nnAbout RabbitnLaunched in 2009, Rabbit is a bi-coastal production company representing a diverse and unique roster of directors, producers, designers, VFX artists and brand experience builders. nnWe handle all aspects of production, from preproduction through delivery – across platforms, disciplines, technologies and genres – and have developed a creative ecosystem that allows us to draw upon top global talent to fit the needs of any project.nnAt Rabbit, the only constant is our commitment to learn, collaborate, and celebrate the power of creative thinking.nnAbout The FinesnAcademy Award®-nominated directors and three-time Emmy award winners. Sean is the director/cinematographer, and Andrea is the director/writer. For the last decade, they have been producing, directing and shooting documentaries for the finest outlets in television and film. They have worked in over thirty countries, from dangerous war zones to the Arctic Circle, to bring unknown human stories to the screen.nnThe Fines’ film “War/Dance” won the 2009 Best Documentary and Best Cinematography Emmy and was nominated for the 2008 Academy Award® for Best Documentary Feature. “War/Dance’s” direction, cinematography and story were honored with over eighteen awards, including the Sundance Film Festival’s award for Best Documentary Design. “War/Dance” tells the amazing story about the power of music to heal and transform the lives of children living in Uganda’s war zone.nnThe Fines’ unique style has been honored with numerous awards including Sundance Film Festival’s Best Documentary Design; National Emmy® Award; Hot Docs Film Festival’s Audience Award; Chicago Film Festival’s Outstanding Cinematography; Full Frame Film Festival’s Audience Award; The Haskell Wexler Award for Cinematography; Philadelphia Film Festival’s Best Director; Best Non-Fiction Film in Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival.Virginia Scripps Press Kitchen 310-392-6682
Union’s Tim Thornton-Allan Edits Santa’s ‘Naughty List’ for Toyota
We may not get a second chance to make a first impression, but when the opportunity presents itself to right our wrongs in time for Christmas, we should seize the moment. In a new holiday spot for Toyota, a little boy realizes he is probably on Santa’s “Naughty List” and resolves to do something about it. The spot was created via Conill Advertising, produced by MJZ, directed by Fredrik Bond, and edited by Tim Thornton-Allan of Union Editorial/Los Angeles and Marshall Street Editors/London. Watching a program on his iPad in the back seat of his dad’s Toyota Tundra, our young protagonist receives a warning: “If you’ve been naughty, Santa won’t bring you any presents.” The lad wastes no time: “Papa! Turn back!” he commands. Father and son proceed to make the rounds, stopping at school, the neighbors, and elsewhere around the neighborhood, to set things right and deliver apologies. The boy even goes so far as to make amends with his little sister - returning the head of a favorite doll. The child’s restitution has the desired effect, and on Christmas morning, he receives exactly the gift he’d asked for. Judging by what he does next, he may have his work cut out for him next year, but we can all just take things one “Naughty List” at a time. Read More