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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

Most Nepali films typically follow an Indian Bollywood-style of filmmaking with ample songs and dance sequences, and a similar visual aesthetic. Like their Indian counterparts, Nepali films are usually shot on 16mm. The country’s filmmaking center is the capital, Kathmandu, nicknamed Kollywood as a play on Hollywood or Bollywood.

Nepal’s film beginnings are usually traced back to D.B. Pariyar’s Satya Harishchandra, the world’s first Nepali language film which was released September 14, 1951. Despite being shot in Nepalese, the film was actually produced in Calcutta, India! Satya Harishchandra was directed by Hira Singh Khatri and starred Nepal’s first film stars Shiva Shankar Manandhar and Bhuwan Thapa. For the first years of the Nepali film industry, many films were produced either in India or by Indian investors. The beginning of the Nepali film industry was heavily dependent on Indian contributors.

The 80s saw a Golden Era for Nepali films with the development of creative films and the expansion of the film industry. As more private companies became established in Nepal, more Nepali-language films were able to be financed and their popularity at home increased. Some of the most popular films of this time include: Samjhana, Kusume Rumal, Lahure, Kanchi, Basudev, Saino and Koseli (all released between 1984 and 1993). Throughout this time, the country saw the growth of certain popular actors such as Bhuwan K.C., Tripti Nadakar, Rajesh Hamal and Karishma Manandhar.

In the early 90s, political change brought change to the silver screens of Nepal. As the populist movement established a democratic government and the monarchy fell, the film industry began a rapid expansion; in three short years, over 140 films were made, an unprecedented number for such a fledgling film community. The number of theaters also swelled to 300.

This period of inflation and improvement drew to a halt with the mid-90s Maoist revolution. During this period of tumult and conflict, few films were made, the audience numbers dropped, and the Nepali film industry began a steep decline from which it has never fully recovered. Many top-billed actors and actresses were forced to leave Nepal to find work in India and abroad, however, this period also saw the development of a new style of storytelling. Directors and writers that emerged from this period strove to move away from the Bollywood style of filmmaking that had permeated much of Nepal’s film industry and establish their own styles of storytelling.

Today, Nepal’s film industry is small, but gradually establishing itself. As peace returned to the country, more shooting venues became available which improved the number of both Nepalese and international films which were shot in the country.

The earthquake caused two pretty serious aftershocks – one a 6.1 magnitude, the other a 5.3 – which delayed rescue and recovery efforts immediately following the first quake. Additionally, since much of the region is sparsely populated with many communities living in tents, it was difficult to gauge the full extent of the damage.

News reports out of Kathmandu and the Sikkim region of India recorded cracked pavements, collapsed walls, damaged roads, and serious building destruction. Downed power lines also cut electricity as far south as Darjeeling and Kalimpong in India. Tremors were felt as far as New Delhi and in some parts of Bangladesh.

As late as this past Tuesday, September 27th, rescue efforts were hampered by rain, landslides, downed power lines, and other disturbances. Recent reports suggest that the total number of fatalities in Nepal is 16, but with so many remote communities precise numbers may take longer to gather.

Expert geologists agree that Kathmandu is one of the world’s most vulnerable cities to earthquakes in dire need of an infrastructure overhaul in order to safeguard its population against future tremors. Nepal is located in an earthquake-prone area that is highly seismic which suggests that there may be a large amount of energy stored beneath the surface. Its location above the intersection of the Indian and Eurasian that created the Himalayas promises more earthquakes in the future.

Fortunately, our team made it through this disaster safely and are hard at work on the film. Follow us on Twitter for more news and stay tuned for updates!

Photos via The Globe and Mail, click for source.

Normally I wake at 7am in the states, or in Singapore, when the sun rises. But since I go with the sun, I trust that it’s time to wake up. Then I look at my clock. My jaw drops to the ground. Really?! I am tempted to go back to sleep but sleep just won’t come. So I wake up. I turn on the TV, watch some Nepali “E!” news – check out what the celebrities are wearing, who’s getting married, what’s going on. I check a few emails and before 7am I’m running the stairs at the hotel, according to a workout I got from my parents trainer the week before. Single stair sprints, double stair sprints, triple stair sprints, crossovers, and one leg hops. 4 flights of stairs to the roof. Calisthenics between each set – wide arm push ups, leg lifts, and tricep dips. The best part is being on the roof, looking out over Kathmandu. If I’m going to be a director in Nepal I have to be strong and be able to withstand long days and hard conditions. I love looking at the mountains and listening to my music and getting my exercise on. And I also love that I’m finished before 7:30am!

By the time I’ve showered Binod is already calling me off to a meeting with the gear rental house. Frederic needs a list of the available equipment, as well as a price list to go along with this equipment. Normally something easily attained in any other country, this simple request proves extremely difficult. Our contact at the gear house struggles and stresses over giving out his “Nepali” prices written down on a sheet of paper (as prices for Westerners are sky high). He makes me promise at least 5 times that no one else will see the paper aside from me. He also mentions that the list is not complete because a couple of
weeks ago, he rented all of his clamps to a trekking and mountaineering company (why they would need lighting clamps I’m just not sure). Turns out the trekking company rented them to someone else. Who in turn rented them to someone else, and then to someone else. So now, poor Pritam doesn’t know where all his clamps are. I jokingly tell him that he should invest in a firearm. In any case, I write down on my list of gear to find and bring from Singapore: “clamps.” Sigh. Khe garne.

After lunch, another meeting with a local security company. We have to give NYU insurance a signed contract between us and a reputable security company, like G4S, in order to get our insurance secured for the shoot. This was a new development last week. According to the state department’s travel website (updated January 2011 – way to be on top of it), and the NYU Department of Public Safety’s “intelligence research”, we are a “red flag” shoot which put a stop on oour insurance. Apparently, the way they rate countries is on a danger scale from 1-4, 1 being super safe, and 4 being Sudan. According to their intelligence, Kathmandu is rated at 3.8. I am quite shocked to hear this, and find this hard to believe, as I have been going to Nepal for almost 3 years and never once experienced violence, theft, or even a remote threat to my safety (unless you count the scams they try to pull to get a tip by carrying your baggage as “thievery,” or being harassed by the hawkers to buy trinkets as a crime). As usual I am suspicious of USA based safety warnings. In my experience travelling
around the world as a single, Caucasian woman, the USA’s travel warnings are almost always from a Nervous Nelly perspective.

Certainly, political strife exists in Nepal, it’s a constant under the surface of such a divine geologic exterior. They’re not lying when they talk about violent demonstrations – it has happened before. But the violence is the exception, not the rule, and the strife is targeted internally to the country’s politics. The demonstrations are mostly non-violent and would never target tourists. The Nepali people depend much too heavily upon their business as tourism is the second largest
source of income for the entire country.

The bandhe’s (strikes) are much in the same vein of the French student youth. The streets are closed, or public transport is unavailable, or you are not allowed to work that day, according to whichever party is demonstrating. I’ve heard some locals call them “holidays”. Shops are open, life continues, it’s still business as usual, you just can’t get around the main parts of the city. Inconvenient, yes. Threat to safety? No.

In any case, we sit down with our security force and explain to them the security needs of our shoot: we’re bringing expensive film equipment that needs to be watched; the film itself is about a controversial topic; we have actors coming from India who may be recognizable, etc.

The supervisor assures us there will be no problem, he will send an ample amount of guards, and the price is actually affordable, much to my surprise! In any case, we go over all the terms, sign the contract, and I scan it back at the
hotel and send to NYU Insurance.

Bam! And that’s how you get it done in Nepal. All in a day’s work.

Binod is at the airport to meet me as usual, with his other friend Binod. It’s less of a fanfare this time around, since I saw him only 6 weeks prior when he dropped me at the airport to go home for a visit before this great advenuture. We’re like old
friends now; the comfort level is pretty easy. We drive through Kathmandu catching up on what happened while I was gone, jumping immediately into the things we need to accomplish, etc.

They started calling me “didi” recently, which means “older sister”. This is a real sign of respect and trust. We get to the hotel and everyone there is also greeting me like that, “Namaste didi!” It’s really warming to my heart to feel that they think of me this way. To call a westerner “didi” is a sign of love. It means they consider me one of their own. I never expected this, but I am so pleased by it.

After an hour or two settling in, Binod is calling me on my Nepali cell to come to his office – he wants me to watch the audition tapes they did last week with our casting director from Mumbai. Usually it takes me a very long time to go thru casting tapes. I need to consider so many things. But I fly thru them, watching them on instinct, saying yes or no to girls after 30 seconds. I know what I want now. I know who my character is. I know who she should be. Now I just have to use this actor to shape what that is.

Jetlagged, excited, and totally strung out, I crash into sleep at 7:30pm, barely able to keep my eyes open.

How do you stay relaxed in the midst of all this chaos? Erin has some pretty good advice, “Highly recommend business class if you have the miles. Was a first for me. Really made a difference. Landed in Nepal quite refreshed!”

Tribhuvan International Airport is the sole international airport in Nepal, yet despite this, it’s quite small (at least compared to our gargantuan airports like JFK or O’Hare!). “Huge international jets touch down on the tarmac every day, but the terminal is so simple and quaint. Get off the plane. Get your visa. Get your bags. Go through customs. All in one room. It’s quiet, not big, very easy to get around, and the experience is pleasant all around,” says Erin.

“Sometimes the power goes off and they have to hand search you instead of putting you through the metal detector. But they just smile, and keep doing their work. Khe garne? That means, what is there to do? Nepali people have adopted this laissez-faire attitude with their socio-economic situation for a long time. If you ask, ‘when is the electricity coming?’ They usually answer, ‘Probably soon’ and smile.”

It’s comforting to know that even after flying for 20 or so hours, you can arrive somewhere welcoming and warm, a place that has begun to feel like home for much of our crew!