Dec 16, 2011 Posted by camila on Dec 16, 2011 in Uncategorized | 0 comments The holidays always make us think of certain traditions and staples – the juicy turkey, Santa hats, roaring fireplaces, a Christmas tree, and the mountain of presents under that tree. But for so many people around the world, the holidays are not filled with family, fun, and festivities. For some, this time of year is defined by strife and we have the opportunity to alleviate some of those difficulties.
This year, we urge our friends and followers to make a donation to a charity you care about in the name of someone you love – give someone the chance of a better life in 2012! Not sure where to donate? We’ve rounded up some national and international charities that are making strides to make our world a better place:
V-DAY
V-Day is coalition of activists hoping to end violence against women across the world. The organization raises awareness of rape, incest and batter against women and girls through a variety of campaigns and performances. To find out more about V-Day and to donate, please visit: http://www.vday.org/about
POLARIS PROJECT
The Polaris Project was founded by two Brown University students who, upon discovering that sex trafficking was occurring in their own neighborhood, set out to end sex slavery of women, men and children. Polaris Project maintains a national hotline to aid those in dire situations, as well as providing training and technical assistance. Find out more about their programs and donate here: http://www.vday.org/about
RAINN
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network offers an abundance of assistance and programs to survives of these atrocities and works within government to pass policies that protect those most in need. For more on RAINN’s projects and to donate, check out: http://www.rainn.org/about-rainn/mission-statement
EAVES FOR WOMEN (The Poppy Project)
Eaves for Women is a UK-based charity that provides housing and assistance to vulnerable women. One of their most crucial branches is known as The Poppy Project which offers accommodation and support to women who have been trafficked into sexual slavery. Set up in 2003, the Poppy Project currently houses up to 54 women but due to budget cuts and limited finances, this important charity is at risk. Please visit their website to learn more: http://www.eaves4women.co.uk/index.php
CATW
The Coalition Against Trafficking of Women – International is a global non-profit that works tirelessly around the world to end the sexual exploitation of women. Since their establishment in 1988, CATW has implemented reform and fought for human rights in some of the most dangerous corners of the world. Find out more and donate here: http://www.catwinternational.org/donate.php
UNSEEN(UK)
This British NGO was set up to combat all types of human trafficking, focusing specifically on the sexual exploitation of women in the EU. Unseen offers therapy, medical assistance, legal protection and educational programs to survivors of trafficking, as well as a variety of preventive measures to end human trafficking. Read more here: http://www.unseenuk.org/donate.php
All photos from the BG shoot, for more check out our Flickr page!
Dec 13, 2011 Posted by camila on Dec 13, 2011 in On Set | 0 comments You may remember that a few months ago we asked you for your help in getting our awesome camera assistant a plane ticket so we could get him (and our camera equipment) from Singapore to Nepal.
You all responded with such enthusiasm and generosity that we were able to toss Basil on a plane and fly him to meet the rest of the crew in Kathmandu!
Since you all helped get him to us, we thought you’d enjoy a peak into some of the shenanigans Basil got up to during production:
Of all the friendships Basil made on set, I have a feeling this one will last a lifetime!
Basil enjoying the scenic vistas in Nepal
It’s hot. It’s creamy. What is it? We have no idea either.
For more photos of Basil and the rest of the crew, check out the Flickr page!
Nov 23, 2011 Posted by camila on Nov 23, 2011 in Nepali Culture | 1 comment One of Brave Girl’s foremost shooting locations, Pokhara is also one of Nepal’s largest commerce and tourist centers and a historical bastion of the country’s past.
Pokhara is Nepal’s second largest city behind Kathmandu and is also called the Tourist Capital of Nepal because of its appeal to travelers. Situated amidst mountains at an altitude of 827m, three of the ten highest mountains in the world can be viewed from within the city limits amidst the beautiful panoramic views of the Himalayas. Pokhara is blessed with a tranquil atmosphere and beautiful countryside surrounding the city center. Located on the shores of a calm lake that reflects the idyllic city and its mountainous backdrop, Pokhara’s scenic beauty is one of its biggest lures.
Historically, Pokhara was a crucial trading point along the India-China trade routes, however, since the decline of use of those trade routes, the city has come to rely more and more on tourism to make up for its revenue. The combination of nature and history make Pokhara a richly unique travel destination and its location as the gateway to the trekking route Round Annapurana also makes it popular with the sporty and outdoorsy types. Pokhara has a stunning lakeside, known as Baidam, along its Phewa Tal lake where many lodges and inns are located.
Pokhara also has a wealth of beautiful, historical temples for visitors to explore, including Bindhyabasini, Bhadrakali, Sitaldevi, Gita mandir temple and Bhimsen temple. Barahi, another popular visitor site, is located on the tiny island in the midst of Phewa Lake and is only accessible by boat.
The Tourism Year 2011, as declared by the government of Nepal is hoping to have about hundred thousand tourist visiting Nepal and Pokhara is one of the first choice of tourists. Lakes, Mountains and the scene that can be viewed from Pokhara is awesome so the main tourism field is considered as Pokhara and the country is economically benefited from this tourism sector. But due to the negligence of government towards Pokhara, the people in there themselves are taking certain action to develop Pokhara by hook or crook. The people in there really love their hometown. Actually Pokhara has got most of the facilities and infrastructure mostly developed by the people in there.
Nov 1, 2011 Posted by camila on Nov 1, 2011 in Uncategorized | 1 comment Our little movie has been receiving some big PR recently! In case you missed it, here’s a list of some of the excellent publicity we’re getting:
My Republica
Nepal’s My Republica tells the story of how the film was born, the development of this nascent idea, and gives readers a glimpse into what it’s like to be on-set as Brave Girl comes together!
The Himalayan Times
The distinguished Himalayan Times published a piece about Brave Girl and our director Erin Galey’s motivations for creating this film. The article also discusses the film’s plot and goes into some of the hi-tech equipment used during production.
Tisch Asia Blog
Our director’s old Alma Mater, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts – Asia, posted a great piece about the making of Brave Girl on their blog. One of our producers, Brett Joffe (also a Tisch Asia alum!) discusses getting the film together – from funding to location scouting to dealing with the daily chaos that is production.
(More from Tisch Asia here)
Saw something cool about Brave Girl? Wrote something cool about Brave Girl? Drop us a line!
Oct 21, 2011 Posted by camila on Oct 21, 2011 in Nepali Culture, Uncategorized | 1 comment While Americans are busy loading up on candy corn and fake spiderwebs for Halloween, the people of Nepal have their own festival coming up at the end of the month called Tihar. The name Tihar means “festival of light” because of the many candles that are lit for each day of celebrations both inside and outside the house. The festival is not only a celebration of many Hindu gods, but of many revered animals such as the crow and the dog. Tihar is the most dazzling of Hindu festivals with villages and home brightly lit with candles and lights all over.
Tihar lasts five days and occurs in autumn just after Dashain on the thirteenth day of the waning moon in October. This year, it falls between October 25th-30th (just in time for Halloween!). The festival celebrates a variety of gods, goddesses and animals over the course of its five days, starting with Kag Puja, the Worship of the Crows. Kag Puja involves many offerings of sweet dishes on the roof of people’s houses to avert grief and death in their homes. The cawing of the crows is a symbol of impending death so the offering of food is an attempt to appease the crows and ward off death. The second day of Tihar is called Kukar Puja, the Worship of the Dogs, which are believed to be the messenger of Lord Yamaraj. On this day, worshipers offer gifts of garlands, teeka and food to the dogs to acknowledge the relationship between humans and dogs.
Day three is Gaj Puja – the Worship of the Cows. In Hindu lore, the cow is the surrogate mother to humans and so they worship her on this day with garlands, fruits, and other gifts. The evening of Gaj Puja is Laxmi Puja, the worship of Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. The goddess is said to enter the house of the brightest house (remember all the candles that are lit?) and give her blessings to the family to make them healthy and prosperous. Laxmi is the wife of the god Lord Vishnu. She sits atop a lotus and, as she was formed from the ocean, she holds the power of the seas. During the night of her worship, she is said to fly around with her owl to see how people celebrate her!
The fourth day of Tihar involves three different pujas – Goru Puja, Gobardhan Puja and Maha Puja. The puja you celebrate depends on a number of cultural and regional factors. Most people follow the first option, Goru Puja, which is the celebration of Oxen. Followers of the Hindu god Krishna perform Gobardhan Puja while the Newar community celebrate Maha Puja on the eve of this day. This final Puja is the Worship of Self and coincides with the Nepalese new year (Sambat) to ensure prosperity for the coming year.
Tihar’s final day is called Bhai Tika, a celebration where sisters put “tika” on the foreheads of their brothers to ensure a long life and as a thank you for the protection they provide. When sisters give the “tika,” brothers give money as a return. Tihar is one of Nepal’s most famous celebrations for the extent of the festivities over the course of the fives days. Next week, this year’s festival will begin! Happy Tihar!
Having spent her college years and mid-twenties globe-hopping as a white water rafting guide, Erin Galey is an American film director and cinematographer eager to make films about adventurous characters in remote places. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Ms. Galey attended Brown University, receiving an Honors degree in Creative Writing. Between strapping her kayak on top of her truck and avoiding river obstacles, she recently completed her Master’s coursework in Film and Television at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia in Singapore. In 2010, Erin earned “Best Music Video” from Fusion Film Festival, La Femme Film Festival, and the SoCal Film Market for her video “If I Had A Balloon” for Vermont-based musician Joshua Panda. She has worked with clients such as Olympus, VH1, POWER UP, and A&E Networks on broadcast commercials, reality television, and feature films. Erin’s work as a cinematographer has screened at festivals like Palm Springs, Frameline35, New Mexico, LA Shorts, and NewFest. Erin is currently developing a feature film version of “Brave Girl,” as well as a TV pilot based on her experience working in a graveyard in Clarion, Pennsylvania. She resides in Los Angeles, CA with her favorite kayak and her cat Skully.