WeOwnTV is a collaborative media education project for disenfranchised youth and young adults that promotes self-expression as a way to explore our shared humanity and build a foundation for the future. Working with the young filmmakers in Sierra Leone, WeOwnTV produces collaborative work ranging from narrative and documentary to music videos and promotional videos.
Quoting Arthur Pratt, WeOwnTV: Sierra Leone manager, "We the loose ends, the have nots, the people living in the gutters, the people who will never make it in life, we have come together to create our own family, to have own identity—to create our own space." Serving as inspiration, the footage represents a collection of standout quotes, interviews and creations from the young filmmakers that began to create their own space during the August 2009 WeOwnTV Intro to Filmmaking workshop.
more »Youth is the first of three short films created via a collaborative group writing process. WeOwnTV youth filmmakers led the writing, pre-production, location scouting, costumes and production for each of the films. Research focused on shared video diary entries highlighting memories from different time periods: before the war, during the war and present day. The scripting process began by identifying thematic through-lines in these entries and developing selected stories through active discussion. Youth was created from shared entries from before the war touched the young filmmakers’ lives.
more »In the summer of 2009, the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars headed to New Orleans to record Rise & Shine, the follow up to their acclaimed debut album, Living Like A Refugee. With producer Steve Berlin of Los Lobos at the helm and New Orleans guests: Trombone Shorty, Washboard Chaz and the Bonerama Horns adding NOLA spice, the band created a beautiful musical statement that is both true to their Sierra Leonean traditions and roots and to their sense of optimism and musical exploration.
more »This collection includes video diary entries from the young filmmakers reflecting on their memories of the war. It closes with a beautiful and thoughtful video diary entry by WeOwnTV In-country Manager Arthur Pratt (B-roll footage of practicing in the rain was shot by students). An intimate introduction to the participants of the August 2009 WeOwnTV workshop, this video is representative of stories from a broad range of young Sierra Leoneans.
more »Talented vocal trio, Blessed Sons, perform an original song celebrating the election of President Barack Obama. WeOwnTV production crew met the Blessed Sons during their January scouting trip to Sierra Leone. Sadly, Kalman, one of the members of the group died unexpectedly in May 2010—an incredible talent and wonderful spirit. Rest in peace Kalman.
more »Black Nature introduces WeOwnTV and the inspiration for its creation. The video follows the team traveling to Sierra Leone in early 2009 for a scouting trip to select collaborators for an upcoming filmmaking workshop. The team met a wide range of participants from young media professionals and students to ex-combatants, street kids and child prostitutes. The trip concluded with the selection of 18 young women and men to take part in the program, excited to learn and thrilled with the opportunity these new skills will represent in their lives. Included are highlights from their interviews.
more »This short film was created during a storyboarding exercise and is one of the first collaborative group projects completed. It was shot entirely on the Flip video camera. Alluspa King Jr., who plays the cripple in the film, suffered from polio as a child. He shares stories of being accused of causing bad luck and being a witch when he was younger. This theme is revisited in a later film produced by the team titled Charity.
more »Included is a collection of Flip cam footage from the first day of WeOwnTV's August 2009 workshop in Lunghi, Sierra Leone. For a majority of the participants, this was first time they had ever held a camera of any kind. Fueled by the new medium, creativity began to flow. No sound or narration was added in post (with the exception of opening music); all voiceover comedy was performed live by the student filmmakers.
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