"In It to Save Lives" Launches

On June 22nd, at the National Press Club in DC, over 170 people turned out for the launch of "In It to Save Lives", a new film I did with USAID and PEPFAR on male circumcision and its impact on reducing men's risk for HIV infection, particularly in East and Southern Africa. Read about the launch here.

A few days following the launch, Richard Branson (Founder of Virgin) posted it on his blog. You can read his post here. His posting has helped the video get widely circulated with nearly 800 views in two and a half days. I'll be writing a blog post for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation next week. Keep your eye out for it!

And below, you can watch the entire 16+ minute film. It comes with a resource packet at www.aidstar-one.com/vmmc. Feel free to share.

A New Film on Mobile Phones and Obstetric Fistula in Tanzania

In the last seven years of my work as a filmmaker, I've filmmed three short stories on a devastating women's health issue called obstetric fistula - a childbearing injury that leaves women leaking urine or waste or both, continuously, for the rest of their lives. I filmmed in Niger for "Love, Labor, Loss", in the DR Congo for "Mama Madou" and in Liberia for "Freedom from Fistula." (Links to these films are online.) In all locations, it was incredibly heartbreaking to talk to women who are so ashamed and psychologically distraught about their condition that they live their lives in total isolation, away from their communities and sometimes even their families.

The flip side of this tragic story is that a growing interest in the issue has resulted in many medical programs that offer free fistula repair services. And when a woman gets a successful repair, her life takes turns around and she can begin to live her life with dignity and purpose. It transforms her in every way possible. I've seen it over and over again and it's mindblowing.

Unfortunately though, in really remote places - like the places I've filmmed - women are so far from the facilities that provide the surgeries (and many cannot afford the transportation to the facilities) - they never seek help and live with their condition for the rest of their lives.

That's why it was so exciting for me to shoot this new film on how mobile phones are changing the lives of women living with fistula. In Tanzania, where I just spent over a month working on some exciting new projects for maternal health, there is a new program by the CCBRT hospital which uses a country-wide network of "ambassadors" (healthcare professionals, or other community leaders) and a mobile financing scheme by Vodacom (called M-PESA which sends transport funds by phone) to pay for a woman's transportation to the CCBRT hospital in Dar es Salaam. It takes only a few minutes - the funds are transferred from the hospital, the "ambassadors" visit a M-PESA agent to collect the funds, and the woman gets on the bus and makes the long journey to the hospital.

Once she is there, she receives free lodging, food and treatment.

This simple process of transferring money by phone has helped double the number of women receiving treatment at the CCBRT center and the hope is that it will help not only treat the estimated 2,000-3,000 new cases of fistula that occur each year in the country, but it will also allow the hospital to address the backlog of women who have been living with fistula (I filmmed two who spent over 40 years leaking!), in essence making fistula obsolete in Tanzania.

I can't really articulate how incredible it feels to be able to tell a more positive story about these women and this issue. For the most part, it's been a primarily heartbreaking story but this is allowing me to witness and document how technology is making progress for women and maternal health in an entire country. I'm really honored to be so closely involved in this issue and to see first hand the good work that so many people are committed to doing and the effect it is having.

If you want to learn more about obstetric fistula, visit UNFPA's Campaign to End Fistula at www.endfistula.org.

If you want to learn more about CCBRT and the great work they are doing, visit here.

Thank you to UNFPA Tanzania, CCBRT, the M-PESA ambassadors and all who helped make this project possible. I'm excited to start editing!

* We just received word that the film has been accepted to the inaugural GSMA Mobile Health Summit occurring in Cape Town, South Africa from June 6-9, 2011.

Brooklyn to Tanzania: "Mama Creator"

POSTED ON MATERNAL HEALTH TASK FORCE BLOG

As a documentary filmmaker who creates films with UN/NGO agencies, I get the luxury of walking in two distinct worlds. The socially conscious creative world and the humanitarian/development world. Both are infused with passionated, committed people, both strive for social progress and both experience the webs and flows that come with the success as well as the challenges in trying to make change in the world.

As co-founder of MDGFive.com I have been working to bridge these two worlds around the issue of maternal health. And this week, I have seen the power of that bridge during a workshop taking place in Dar es Salaam Tanzania and at the he Sauti za Busara festival (East Africa’s biggest music festival that occurs in Zanzibar each year and showcases more than four hundred African musicians over five days.)

With the support of the UNFPA office in Tanzania, I brought Brooklyn based artists, Maya Azucena (an award winning singer and co-founder of MDGFIve.com) and Okai (one of NYC’s most talented percussionists and emcees) to write and record a new song on maternal health in collaboration with some of Tanzania’s top musicians. This included “Mzungu Kichaa” (a Danish citizen who has lived in Tanzania for a large part of his life and speaks fluent Swahili), Lady JayDee (known as one of the most famous R&B singers in East Africa), Fid Q (a famous emcee and hip hop artist who works with NGOs such as EngenderHealth, FHI, USAID, and others) and Mrisho Mptoto (a well known TV personality and spoken word artist). The song was produced by Ambrose “Dungu” – known as Tanzania’s most prominent music producer.

As part of our workshop, I screened my film “Not Yet Rain.” Afterward, the UNFPA Representative in Tanzania, Julitta Onabanjo, sat with all the artists and presented to us the challenges facing women in pregnancy and childbirth in Tanzania. She answered questions from the artists who then took pen to paper to start writing the lyrics. It was an inspiring process to witness, especially between artists who have such different cultural and lingual references but share similar professional and musical inclinations.

After the workshop, the artists spoke about how interesting it was to be able to interact with an institution on such a unique level. We all agreed that having the sort of access and support that we received from the UNFPA Country Office enabled us to be more on point with lyrics that can touch on the important messages and ideas about maternal health.

The song that resulted is called “Mama Creator” which is sung in Swahili and English. At nearly 4 minutes long, it is an uplifting song with a memorable chorus and strong lyrics. Many who have heard it in Tanzania believe it has the ability to become popular with local radio stations because it has so many famous musicians and is such a strong song. We also see its importance in the mission of MDGFive.com in bringing it to an international level and engaging other artists around maternal health.

The test will come when we release the song and music video on our website and through local Tanzania channels on International Women’s Day (March 8th). I’ll be editing a mini-documentary about the creative process and producing Advocacy Packets that provide guidelines to organizations on how to attract and retain the involvement of creative communities in the maternal health movement. We then hope to return to Zanzibar for the Zanzibar International Film Festival to do a live performance of “Mama Creator” with all participating artists, show the mini-doc and host film and music workshops with other artists attending the festival.

My hope is that by bringing these two worlds together around the issue of maternal health, that we draw new audiences into the fight to make the world a better place for women.

Working with artists in Tanzania for MDGFive.com

I am currently in Tanzania with two Brooklyn based artists - Maya Azucena and Okai - and we are working with some of Tanzania's most well-known artists on a new song and mini doc for MDGFive.com.

Check out the article posted on the UN wire below. I'll post more soon - internet is spotty in Tanzania.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37502&Cr=maternal&Cr1

9 February 2011 – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has teamed up with a group of artists from the United States and Tanzania to raise awareness, through music, on the need to have better maternal health services in the East African nation, where deaths related to childbearing remain a serious challenge.
The collaboration, made possible with the help of the global network of artists known as MDGFive.com, just concluded a three-day music workshop with the production of a song calling for increased attention to maternal health in the country.

Goal number 5 of the eight globally agreed anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) calls for the reduction of maternal mortality deaths by three quarters, and the attainment of universal access to reproductive health services by the target date of 2015.

The music workshop featured MDGFive.com co-founders Emmy-winning filmmaker Lisa Russell and Grammy-winning singer Maya Azucena, and New York’s famous MC Okai, along with a group of Tanzanian stars, including Lady Jay Dee, Mzungu Kichaa, Mrisho Mpoto, FidQ, Sauda and Mama C.

The song produced at the end of the Arts and Advocacy workshop calls on world leaders to pay greater attention to the rights of women and girls, and urges the people of Tanzania to further empower, engage and encourage women as partners in development.

A short documentary film will also be produced featuring interviews with participating artists and maternal health representatives and highlighting the importance of uniting artists and activists around maternal health.

“UNFPA believes that artists have an important role in shaping opinions, informing the public and advocating for positive change,” said Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA’s representative in Tanzania.

“While the voices of the marginalized are often not heard, the voices of artists break boundaries and are heard by all, the young and old, community leaders and policy makers, opinion shapers and development practitioners,” she added.

YOUTH ZONES

Here is some information on my recent film, "YOUTH ZONES" produced with UNFPA and the Women's Refugee Commission. Check out the film above and our website at www.youthzones.org.


Youth Zones: Dealing with the Aftermath of Conflict or Natural Disasters

In conflicts and natural disasters around the world, young people, at a crucial stage of their development, are faced with profound challenges. Emergencies often steal their adolescence and force them to undertake adult responsibilities. The structures and institutions that should guarantee their secure, peaceful development – schools, family, community and health centres – have often broken down, leaving them with little, if any, support. Access to basic sexual and reproductive health services, including information on sexually transmitted infections and HIV, is often impossible.

Yet in the midst of hardship and deprivation, young people show tremendous resilience. They raise their younger siblings, form youth groups and organizations, put food on the table for their families, conduct peer education activities, contribute to peace movements, galvanize their communities and contribute in numerous other ways to positive change.

But many of their stories are never told, many of their voices are not heard.

However, a new film, Youth Zones, Voices from Emergencies, produced in association with UNFPA and the Women's Refugee Commission, documents the lives of young people affected by conflict and natural disaster in five countries.

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Lisa Russell, accompanied by spoken word poet Luke Nephew and youth activist Chernor Bah, facilitated discussions and conducted creative writing and poetry workshops with youth from Colombia, Lebanon, Liberia, Northern Uganda and New Orleans. The 25-minute film profiles youth who work as educators, peace activists, healthcare assistants and drama mentors in an effort to rehabilitate their communities after emergencies.

Filmmed in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Luo with English subtitles.

Happy Holidays 2010

As 2010 comes to a close, I wanted to take this time to wish you and yours a happy holiday season and to thank those of you who have supported me and my work this year. This has been a highly productive and inspirational year for me in which I have been lucky to work with amazing colleagues from both the development and creative worlds. It has been extremely exciting - scary at times! - in trying to find new ways to combine efforts to unite people and save lives. I couldn't do it without the support, trust and attention of so many of you so THANK YOU!



Here's to an even greater 2011!


Lisa

Highlights of 2010
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- June 2010: Accepted as one of 25 filmmakers for the prestigious CPB/PBS Producer's Academy at WGBH.

- June 2010: Curated and screened "Not Yet Rain" and "Youth Zones" at the "Cinema Corner", was a presenter on Christy Turlington's film panel and secured live entertainment for the historic WOMEN DELIVER conference in Washington, DC.

- August 2010: "Youth Zones" - a film profiling young people from Lebanon, Liberia, Colombia, Northern Uganda and New Orleans who share stories of struggle and resilience in the face of conflicts and natural disasters screened at the UN General Assembly for the launch of the International Year of the Youth. Produced with UNFPA and the Women's Refugee Commission (look for our revamped website in 2011.)

- August 2010: Featured (remote) presenter for the "Maternal Health Digital" panel at the Global Maternal Health Conference in New Dehli, India.

- September 2010: Launched MDGFive.com - a social media site that unites artists and activists for maternal health - with Grammy-winning artist, Maya Azucena, at the MDG Summit. With support from EngenderHealth, UNFPA, IpasWomen Deliver and Reality Digital.

- September 2010: Featured speaker/presenter at the UN Digital Media Lounge on "Reel Impact: The Power of Film to Change Lives" which was featured on the home page of Mashable.com.

- September 2010: Selected as a Special Media Guest for the TEDxChange summit sponsored by TED.com and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

- August/September 2010: Traveled to Swaziland and Kenya for the production of an AIDStar One project for JSI, funded by USAID.

- November 2010: Finalized film, "The Silence is Deafening" on preeclampsia for the Preeclampsia Foundation. Produced with the help of young filmmakers in Singapore, Tanzania, and Florida.

- December 2010: Finalized film, "When Peace Comes" on women, war and peace for UNIFEM (Part of UN Women) for the 10-year anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325. Produced with the help of a young filmmaker in Sudan.

- March 2010: Received Pepsi Refresh Mini-Grant for Urban Word NYC for a live recording of "LIFE FOR LIFE", a poem/song on maternal health which was featured in this MTV Commercial.

- February 2010: Launched UrbanWordLIVE - a live streaming of Urban Word NYC's Annual Teen Poetry Slam

- Screenings and Keynotes: Gene Siskel Film Center, Columbia University, Yale University, Middlebury College, Global Health Council Annual Conference, Unite for Sight Conference, National Abortion Federation Annual Conference, National Youth Leadership Forum.

2011 Projections
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- Develop and produce short film on use of mobile phones for maternal health advocacy.

- Build MDGFive.com as the "go to" site on arts/artists and maternal health. Solicit more creative content from professional artists for International Women's Day.

- Produce an "Arts and Advocacy" pilot project illustrating how UN/NGO agencies can attract and retain the involvement of artists in global health advocacy.

- Conduct training workshops for emerging filmmakers interested in development work both in NYC and Africa.

- Finalize spoken word/film "41" with award-winning poet and actor, Carlos Andres Gomez.

- Finalize music video for SLUMCODE Group, a youth artist collective from slums of Nairobi.

- Develop new film, "Travels of a Lyrical Ambassador" on the work and words of legendary emcee, hip hop artist, Toni Blackman.

- Begin writing script on life and work of Pete O'Neal.

- Finalize fictional script with Urban Word poets.

- Continue building linkages with professional filmmakers and musicians around the world on my contracted work.

- Continue fundraising for production funds for "The Parliament of One" and "Myth of the Motherland."

Wrapped new HIV/AIDS film

Greetings from Kenya!

Yesterday I finished my last shoot for a new film I'm doing on male circumcision and its impact it has on reducing HIV infections by 60%!  Initially, I had reservations doing the film, knowing it would be a controversial topic but the more research I've done and now after filmming in Swaziland and Kenya, I see how important this procedure is to compliment efforts to reduce new infections primarily in Southern Africa.

The untitled film is one I'm doing with AIDStar-One, an initiative of JSI which was funded by USAID.  I filmmed in Swaziland in August and in Western Kenya over the past week.  The film is intended to reach policymakers - National AIDS coordinators, USAID missions, etc - who make decisions about AIDS programming and funding.  Very important film!

Look for it in early 2011.  Learn more about male circumcision and HIV/AIDS by visiting the Male Circumcision Clearinghouse

Using Film to Change the World

On September 21st, right in the midst of the UN MDG Summit, the UN Foundation, Mashable and the 92Y put together a really incredible social media summit that allowed journalists, bloggers and activists the opportunity to engage in conversations around the MDG Summit and following General Assembly meeting which is usually reserved to high profile personalities and world leaders.

I was asked to sit on a panel called "Reel Impact:  The Power of Film to Change Lives" with FilmAid International's Founder and CEO, Caroline Baron.  In all the hoopla of the MDGs, I felt it was important to ask critical questions about the role of filmmakers - particularly Western filmmakers - in telling development stories.

The panel was written up and posted on the front page of Mashable.com - which is huge considering its reach and impact.  Tom Cruise even picked up and tweeted about it.  I was thankful as it gave me an opportunity to introduce two of my projects - NOT YET RAIN, my film on unsafe abortions in Ethiopia and MDGFive.com which is a new media initiative uniting artists and activists for maternal health.

You can view the article here and watch the video of the panel above.

Global Artists and Activists Kick Off New Media Initiative to Spotlight Global Maternal Health

On September 16th, MDGFive.com - the new media initiative I co-founded by Maya Azucena - went live!!!

We have a lot of people to thank - our sponsors EngenderHealth, UNFPA, Ipas, Women Deliver, Reality Digital and Governess Films.  To Fredgy Noel Michael for making an awesome promo video.  We also are in deep gratitude to our contributing artists whom you can learn about by visiting our Artists' Map on MDGFive.com.  And of course all our users, bloggers and supporters who are getting the word out.

You can read the full press release here.

Visit the site and make your own video for maternal health!

YOUTH ZONES to screen at UN General Assembly

Nearly two years in the making, YOUTH ZONES - a film and poetry project I did with UNFPA and the Women's Refugee Commission - is having a very big moment. A 4-minute clip of this 25 minute film that I shot in Colombia, Liberia, Lebanon, Northern Uganda and New Orleans will screen at the UN General Assembly on August 12th to help launch the International Year of the Youth.

22-year old Wissam Samhat, who is featured in the film will do the introduction. 

MDGFive.com on the move!

The issue of maternal health has been a focus in my film work for the past 5-6 years, and despite the number of incredible screenings, discussions, and conversations that have resulted, there is so much more that needs to be done to change the trends of women dying or suffering from complications due to childbirth or pregnancy. 

That's why I chose to produce MDGFive.com - in collaboration with Grammy-winning singer, Maya Azucena - as a means to bring new audiences into the global conversation taking place to improve maternal health.  I'm happy to report that a small idea that started last year is starting to blossom...and fast!! 

Not only did we receive our first corporate sponsorship from REALITY DIGITAL (an industry-leader in social media who produces online editors) who is offering us $90,000 worth of pro-bono site development and hosting services, we were also chosen to receive a mini-grant from the Pepsi Refresh Campaign to record "LIFE FOR LIFE", a maternal health song/poem to help launch our new initiative to unite artists and activists around maternal health.  You can find more information about the song and our activites below. 

My and Maya's interest is to utilize our collective networks with the creative and humanitarian worlds to attract new audiences (including young people and communities of color) to maternal health with this project.  There are many exciting events and opportunities for MDGFive.com coming along in the next few months (including the Beta-launch of the site at the Women Deliver conference in Washington DC in June.)  Some events are listed below.  We'll keep you posted on further developments.

Feel free to send me ideas, comments, referrals - they are welcomed and necessary to build the community we hope to build!  As always, thanks for your support!

Lisa

Curating CINEMA CORNER at Women Deliver

I'm really honored to have been asked by Women Deliver to help curate the CINEMA CORNER at their prestigious conference coming up in May.

In the last few months, I've been introduced to some amazing films covering women's health/maternal health.  It's been a pleasure getting to know the filmmakers.

If you're planning to attend the conference, come check out the CINEMA CORNER on Wednesday, June 9th. We'll be showing films in 30-minute slots.

See you there!
Lisa

A Special NYC Screening of "Not Yet Rain"

In an ongoing celebration of Women's History Month, we're hosting a very special screening of "Not Yet Rain."  Held at a luxurious venue in Times Square with performances by young spoken word artists from Urban Word NYC and the electrifying Grammy-winning singer (and partner in my new MDGFive.com initiative), Maya Azucena, you won't want to miss it.  It's my absolute favorite kind of screening - one that brings artists together for reflection and celebration.

It's free and open to the public but seats are limited. Please RSVP to notyetrain@ipas.org or our Facebook invite at http://bit.ly/azFJrN.

Many thanks for your support!

Lisa

Lisa Russell
Director/Producer
GOVERNESS FILMS
www.governessfilms.com

Vote for our project

We only need 17 more votes to advance to the next level.  Please support my new project, MDGFive.com:  A film and new media initiative to increase civic engagement to improve maternal health.

As always, thanks for your support...

Lisa

Seeking Creative Content for Global New Media Site

Dear friends and fellow artists,

I'm developing a new project in collaboration with various international agencies and artists that blends the creative world with the humanitarian world around the issue of women/motherhood/maternal health.

Briefly, it's a new media "mash up" site that houses license-free music, film and spoken word clips by participating artists representing diverse genres, cultures and regions around the world. Users of the site will be able to mash up these clips to create their own advocacy PSAs. The site will be programmed so that these PSA's can be forwarded to networks, policymakers and development institutions. It will be focused around the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and will be promoted extensively around the international community starting in the fall.

We're looking for creative content contributions of all genres, styles, etc by artists including filmmakers, musicians, DJs, poets, who work at the local and/or international level.

In exchange for your contribution, we will promote you, your work and your website, distribute your promotional materials at various events and strive to make linkages between two worlds which don't communicate with each other as often as they should, in my opinion.

If you or someone you may know is interested, please contact me at lisa@governessfilms.com and I''ll  forward more information.

Thanks!

"Not Yet Rain" for Roe v. Wade

Today is the 37th anniversary of Roe v Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case that made abortion legal in the United States.

I was born at a time when I didn't have to think much about women losing their lives from trying to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy.  But when I was in Ethiopia, shooting "Not Yet Rain", it became clear to me just how important is for abortion to be legal if we are going to be saving women's lives.

Please watch my short film at www.NotYetRain.org.  The trailer is posted below:

A new project: book/script on life of Pete O'Neal

On the night of my 39th birthday, I was in Tanzania getting ready for my flight back to New York and a wonderful thing happened.

I was at the United African Alliance Community Center, a community center that was founded by Pete O'Neal a former Black Panther Party member who has been living in exile for the past 40 years.  Since it was my birthday, he pulled out a bottle of whiskey and we spent the evening with him reminiscing about his life in Kansas City, running the International Black Panther Party in Algiers, leaving the US, his marriage to his wonderful wife Charlotte and all of the hoop-la and craziness that lead to the creation of the man many know, love and respect today.

Many know of Pete O'Neal - there is a great documentary film on his life in Tanzania (called "A Panther in Africa" - go see it -its online), and many students have visited as part of their study abroad program.  However, despite his highly entertaining and enlightening life journey, no one has publicly told his back story.

So, we decided to collaborate - initially a book that I want to turn into a screenplay. I'm in the middle of having a nine and a half hour interview with him transcribed and wanted to share some of it.

Here is the opening, where Pete introduces his name.  Even the introduction is hilarious.  Stay tuned for an update in March.

***

"My name is Pete O’Neal. Wait a minute my name is Felix Lindsay O’Neal Juniors specifically. My nickname is Pete. And the reason that is so, let me show you the brilliance of this.

This has to be the thinking of young black women in the 1940s. My mother was pregnant, and she said she had a friend that was pregnant. And they were gossiping young girls, nineteen years old: “I’m gonna have a baby,” “I’m wanna have a baby too!” “What are we gonna name them?” “Well let’s see. If they’re a boy, I’ll tell you what we’ll do. The first one that has the baby,” because they were pregnant around the same time, “we’ll name the boy ‘Pete.’ And then the second baby, we’ll call him ‘Repeat.’”

So can you imagine if you will? This poor child, this poor male, wherever on this earth he may be, laboring under the burden of the name.  But if he was, can you imagine this? “Repeat Johnson.” That is a hell of a thing idn’t it? Yes I said, “Thank God you had me first.”"

I am soooo excited to get moving on this project!!!!

Urban Word Live!!!

This year I'm really excited to try out some new technology. I'm partnering with Urban Word NYC - the nonprofit I spend a lot of time with that gives free workshops in spoken word poetry and creative writing to NYC teens - to do an online broadcast of their 2010 slam season.

That's right - you can watch the slam from the comfort of your own computer and its totally free. The preliminary slam starts February 28th.  Check the site for the rest of the schedule.

If you want to check out some of the most talented young social commentators (ie poets), please join our Facebook Fan Page at

here.

and visit our site at


http://www.urbanwordlive.com.