Notice anything different? Of course you do…WeOwnTV has a new look and that’s only the beginning. With the success of last fall’s workshop, the WeOwnTV team has been busy planning for the next phase of our work in Sierra Leone and we are excited to share this news with you.

New Website to Go with Our the New Logo
In July, we are re-launching www.weowntv.org (as of this “updated” post – we are launched). One of the main goals of WeOwnTV is to develop a digital platform to exhibit the work completed by the young filmmakers in Sierra Leone and the new site is built with this focus. Once launched fans of WeOwnTV will converse with the young filmmakers, view new work and learn more about how the project is growing thanks to your contributions and support.

Big News: WeOwnTV to Establish a Media Center in Freetown
In two weeks, the team is headed to Sierra Leone to open the doors of a Media Center for its faculty and young collaborators in Freetown.

The WeOwnTV Media Center will offer classes in film and television production, computer skills, social networking, journalism and scriptwriting. Once course work is completed, qualifying students and graduates gain access to production and post-production equipment and studio space. WeOwnTV graduates will have a place to continue producing their own documentaries, fiction films, music videos and public service announcements—having a positive impact on themselves, their community and the world audience.

We Need Your Help: The WeOwnTV Media Center will serve as an important educational and creative hub in the heart of Freetown, Sierra Leone. However, we need your help to make this a reality. To establish and operate the center for one-year, the budget is $40,000. We are thrilled to have recently been awarded the prestigious “Freedom to Create Grant” and $10,000 has been allocated towards our goal; which means WeOwnTV is now hard at work to raise the additional $30,000 this summer.

We have truly appreciated your continued support and encouragement to date and ask that if you are able, that you consider a donation to the establishment of the Media Center—every donation counts toward raising our goal of $30,000 this summer. To join us in the launch of the Media Center in Freetown,  make a tax-deductible donation TODAY (with support of our fiscal sponsor BAVC).

Got equipment? We are looking to setup the Media Center with Mac laptops; cameras; tripods; boom poles; mics and other filmmaking equipment. If you have leads on equipment, please contact Banker White: banker@weowntv.org to discuss.

The team looks forward to sharing with you news of the Media Center’s opening and the launch of the new website www.weowntv.org very soon.