New Film Site and Trailer Launched!!!

It is difficult to convey the real-life impact of unsafe abortion in a way that does justice to women facing impossible reproductive choices in places where abortion is restricted and poverty determines health care options. How much more powerful and informative if these women were given a forum to speak for themselves?

Not Yet Rain, a short film by Lisa Russell in association with Ipas, addresses the issue of unsafe abortion through the voices of women who have faced these difficult choices. Not Yet Rain tells the story of Ethiopian women who are confronted with decisions about unwanted pregnancies. We selected Ethiopia because of the country’s great need and promise. Women in Ethiopia face a one-in-seven chance of dying from pregnancy-related causes. Unsafe abortion is a major contributor to maternal death and disability. However, hope for a brighter future is closer than ever for Ethiopian women. In 2006 a new law was enacted expanding legal indications for abortion, along with significant efforts to increase the availability of high-quality abortion care. Like the promise of rain when the thunder rolls, laws that ease restrictions on women’s access to abortion are a harbinger of change. Help us ensure that the promise is realized.

March 8th, was International Women’s Day, and a trailer of the film was posted on the website, www.notyetrain.org. The film will premiere in Washington, DC, on April 7, World Health Day, after which it will be available online for free. We are encouraging anybody who has an interest in women’s reproductive health and rights to organize showings in their communities to raise consciousness about the global problem of unsafe abortion. We are also preparing a toolkit that can be used to develop community events around the film, which will be available on the website.

Feb 4th Diallo Anniversary Film Shoot

Did you know that...at least 163 people have been killed by NYPD since Amadou Diallo?

In commemoration of the 10-year anniversary of the Diallo shooting and in light of the recent Oscar Grant shooting in Oakland, CA, documentary filmmaker, Lisa Russell is producing two spoken word films on police brutality based on award winning poet, Carlos Andrés Gómez's compelling "41" poem and 2008 Urban Word NYC Team (Alexis Marie, Jasmine Nicole Man, Kayan Jewl James and B Yung)''s chilling group piece, "Go Green."

In addition, families and individuals who have personally affected by police brutality will be sharing their stories for the film. The evening will close with advocacy and legal experts explaining young people's rights when confronted by police officers.

We are looking for folks who are interested in sitting in as audience members. This is open to people of all ages but young people are particularly welcome. There will be no compensation as we intend to use the videos for viral grassroots organizing around police brutality.

If you or anyone you know would like to be involved in this event, please email Lisa Russell at lisa@governessfilms.com.

Details below:

DATE: Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
TIME: 6:30pm - 8:30pm (SHARP!)
WHERE: The Point in the Bronx, 940 Garrison Avenue, (718) 542-4139
DIRECTIONS: http://www.thepoint.org/aboutus/aboutus.html
COST: FREE! But please support The Point by purchasing food and/or beverage at the event
RSVP: lisa@governessfilms.com

You can view amateur recordings of both poem by visiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rstSkUirbds and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGMzps-0QKA

In solidarity with:

Justice for Jake
October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation
The Point in the Bronx
Urban Word NYC
Governess Films

This is what editing looks like..

..seems like its all I've been doing for the past few weeks.