Youth | Family | Charity
collaborative
writing PROJECT
YOUTH FAMILY CHARITY are three short films created via a collaborative group writing process during the inaugural WeOwnTV workshop in 2009. Young Sierra Leonean 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 is the first of three short films created via a collaborative group writing process. The script was based on shared video diary entries about memories from before the war touched the young filmmaker's lives. 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.
Cast: Abu Zagalo Conteh, Mohammed Conteh, Hanna Jimmy (Actor), Alhaji Jeffrey Kamara (Actor), Abdulai M'Bawa
Crew: Ibrahim Bangura (Sound), a WeOwnTV Collaboration (Producer), Lansana Mansaray (Director), Alhaji Sheku Sheriff (Camera), Yeali Thoronka (Art Direction), Fanta Jabbie (Sound),
FAMILY is the second fiction short that was develop collectively by the group. The story was compiled from video diary entries about the civil war. Interestingly diary entries from the group did not address the war itself, but dealt with the separation and loss of family. The film begins as Khadi (Fatmata Mansaray) jumps out a window to flee an arranged marriage. Forced and early marriage is something many young girls in Sierra Leone have experienced, especially those orphaned by the war and living in polygamous homes without their biological mother. Many who wound up fleeing these situations ended up on the streets, surviving as prostitutes.
Cast: Kadie Fatmata Mansaray, Sahr Mohammed Alie, Sexy ladies Mariama Bah, Fanta Jabbi, Yealie and Kanku Thoronka
Dancers: Ibrahim Bangura, Sheku Sharif
Bartender: Abdulai Mbawa
Extras: Salamatu Sankoh, Laura Fatmatta Kanu, Tyson, Abu Zed Conteh, Barmmy Boy
Director: Mohamed Tyson Conteh
Camera: Black Nature, Alex Reiser, Ibrahim Sorie Sesay, Banker White
Sound: Alluspa King Jr, Sheku Sharif
Site manager: Ibrahim Bangura
Costume: Hannah Chimmi
Editor: Banker White
CHARITY is the final short film developed by the group. It was created from video diaries about the present day. The film explores delicate family dynamics in desperate times and mirrors the mixed blessing of the massive influx of international support and assistance in Sierra Leone during the UN peacekeeping mission. Providing a window into the relationship between 2 brothers, torn by a gift which proves both a blessing and a curse, this piece touches on a larger struggle within Sierra Leone to maintain a national identity despite heavy international support in the post-war period. The Sermon in this film was written and performed by Arthur Pratt who in addition to his work with WeOwnTV is a pastor in the Freetown area.
Cast: Almamy Alluspa King Jr., Amadou Arthur Pratt, Mother Mami Koroma
Director: Barmmy Boy
Camera: Black Nature, Alex Reiser, Ibrahim Sorie Sesay, Banker White
Sound: Sheku Sharif
Site manager: Ibrahim Bangura
Costume: Kanku Thoronka, Mariama Ba
Editor: Banker White