Posts filed under 'Documentary'

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.

Meet WeOwnTV youth filmmaker Fatmata Mansaray. Her spirited voice is captivating as she shares that as a child the war brought her heartbreak and devastation. Witnessing the death of family members and the violent rape of her sister, she was taken captive by their attackers and forced into servitude as a rebel wife for six years, until she was able to escape. She is hopeful of the positive impact WeOwnTV can have on improving her life.

Meet WeOwnTV filmmaker and educator, Arthur Pratt. An early partner of WeOwnTV, Arthur is the in-country “face” and serves as manager of WeOwnTV: Sierra Leone. A respected leader in his community, he has longtime commitment to working with underprivileged youth. Arthur is a compassionate and deeply motivating mentor. Passionate about community theater’s ability to provide a foundation for exploration and a safe place for youth to feel connected, Arthur gifts the youth of Sierra Leone with the ability and freedom to share their stories.

The portrait film introduces Mohamed Bangura, a.k.a. Super Kayt a single dad and a builder by trade. Having found refuge in a space under the bridge, Super Kayt begins each day by lowering a ladder kept above, for his family’s safety at night. He rises at 6:00 AM to deliver his children to school, work a full day and shop for food; he then arrives home to cook dinner, followed by eating time and math lessons dimly lit by flashlight. Finally, the ladder rises for the night.

Written and directed by WeOwnTV’s Arthur Pratt, this three-minute film is about talented blind musician, Sorie Kondi. He is the only blind person who walks the streets of Freetown on his own and knows every area in the city. Married with four children, Sorie Kondi uses music to make money and leave an inspiring mark on the world.