NEW YORK, June 29, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On July 1, 2009, fifteen New York City public high school students will premiere their film Discovered (2009, discoveredmovie.com), a digital "machinima" film produced in Second Life that explores the powerful issue of child sex trafficking through the fictional story of one Mexican teenager.
Discovered is the final product of a year-long, intensive digital filmmaking program called the Virtual Video Project (VVP), an after-school program conducted by Global Kids, Inc. in New York City. The students gathered regularly during the past year to learn about film production, human rights, and virtual worlds, culminating in a serious issue machinima film produced entirely by the youth filmmakers.
The students, ages 15-18, represent a range of high schools from the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, including Hostos-Lincoln Academy, James Baldwin School, University Neighborhood High School, the Academy of American Studies, New York City Museum School, and Bryant High School.
Event Details:
* When: Wednesday, July 1st, 6pm-8pm
* Where: Sony Wonder Technology Lab [550 Madison Avenue at 56th St.]
* What: Meet & Greet Filmmakers, Premiere of Discovered, and Q & A
with students
* GK Press Contact: Arti Sheth, 212-226-0130, ext 106,
arti@globalkids.org
Hundreds of thousands of women and girls every year are forced into sexual slavery, a crime that happens in Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, and in communities all around the United States. Discovered is a fictional account, but it is based upon research conducted by the VVP filmmakers with the feedback and input of experts on child sex trafficking from organizations such as ECPAT-USA (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking), and individuals from Mexico.
While the problem is daunting, the Global Kids teen filmmakers wanted to put a human face on the issue, and to leave the viewer energized to do something to help end sex trafficking. The VVP youth led every single stage of film production, from costuming the "avatars," writing the script, voice acting the various roles, filming the scenes, choosing background music and effects, and editing the footage together. Global Kids and the young filmmakers plan to stream the video in Second Life, disseminate it online, and submit it to numerous film festivals to further expose the work.
The Virtual Video Project is part of Global Kids' Online Leadership Program (OLP) and made possible with funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.
About the OLP:
Global Kids' Online Leadership Program (OLP), now in its ninth year, integrates the use of the Internet into GK's programming. The OLP equips youth with the skills necessary to use the Internet as a tool for research and social change and develops online resources for educators and young people to promote civic engagement and global literacy. Discovered was created in the virtual world of Second Life, a "virtual world" that offers a three-dimensional environment where online participants are represented by avatars. Second Life has millions of users and a growing non-profit community. To access the OLP, please click here: http://olp.globalkids.org
About Global Kids, Inc.
Founded in 1989, Global Kids' mission is to transform urban youth into successful students and global and community leaders by engaging them in socially dynamic, content-rich learning experiences. Through its leadership development and academic enrichment programs, Global Kids educates youth about critical international and domestic issues and promotes their engagement in civic life and the democratic process. Through professional development initiatives, Global Kids provides educators with strategies for integrating experiential learning methods and international issues into urban classrooms. Over ninety percent of the high school seniors who participate in Global Kids' leadership program graduate from high school. To access the Global Kids website, please click here: www.globalkids.org
The Global Kids, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4850