by Shine Global | Apr 12, 2016 | new blog, Shine News, Staff
As part of a new series, we want to introduce you to the Shine Global family and especially our outstanding and hard working board members who help move Shine forward.
Name: Dario Spina
Joined Shine Board: November, 2011
Title: Executive Vice President, Viacom Velocity Integrated Marketing
Current Role at Shine: Member of the Board of Directors, Chair of the Marketing Committee
I’ve been born and bred in Essex County, New Jersey – living in several different towns growing up in this county and now living with my wife and raising my three children in Verona, NJ. So, you can say I’m a very provincial Jersey boy. I currently work at Viacom as the EVP of Marketing for an internal branded entertainment agency group called Viacom Velocity. I’ve been at Viacom for sixteen years and before I was working in the branded entertainment side of the business, I was the head of marketing for Spike TV. Prior to that, I’ve had stints in the digital division of MTV Networks, running my own promotions agency, working at two different ad agencies and also spending some time in the record business.
Why did you join Shine’s board and why have you stayed on for several years?
I joined Shine’s board as I personally knew Shine’s founders, Albie Hecht and Susan MacLaury. I truly love and respect them both personally and professionally and I believed in their mission of telling global stories around issues affecting children through film. They’re passionate storytellers and I was intrigued by the notion that quality filmmaking can truly shine a light on important subject matters and drive change through awareness.
What’s a favorite Shine moment for you?
A favorite Shine moment for me was having the honor of attending the ten-year anniversary party for several reasons. The first reason was that I couldn’t believe this organization grew up that quickly. The second reason was seeing the children that were featured in several of our earlier films, grow up to become such vibrant and conscientious adults. That evolution and transformation of their lives was truly impactful for me.
How do you use your specific skill set in your work as a Shine board member?
I use my skill set as a marketer in both the consumer and Madison avenue space to help guide growth and change for the organization around their positioning, focus and messaging direction. I also run a marketing committee that meets fairly often to help prioritize media, press and marketing work for the organization overall.
What is a Shine challenge that you feel supporters should know about?
One of the biggest challenges that Shine faces as a prosocial organization is of course resources and funding. Shine does an amazing job at finding and then telling interesting stories primarily through quality and theatrically-driven documentary films. But the challenge is that it takes a lot of resources and funding to then get those films completed; on the doc film festival circuit; sold to distribution partners; and then marketed properly to trade and consumer constituents. The amount of resources that it takes to do all of the above and then also provide outreach to the educational community, other donors, potential corporate partners and local prosocial organizations that can provide direct impact on the issue that’s being highlighted, requires a lot of man power and funding.
See the full list of Shine’s Board of Directors Members and Board of Governors Members here.
by Shine Global | Apr 5, 2016 | Events, new blog, Shine News
From the Shine Global production team and first time feature directors Josie Swantek Heitz and Dave Adams, The Wrong Light unfolds as a mystery while exploring the dark side of child advocacy through the story of a charismatic “activist,” Mickey Choothesa, who claims to rescue at-risk Thai girls, but is instead exposed as having misrepresented them for his own gain. Shine’s latest documentary premiered this past weekend at the 40th Cleveland International Film Festival to great success and new festival screenings have just been announced.
Upcoming festival screenings have just been announced
Atlanta Film Festival
Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 9:15 PM
7 Stages Theatre, Atlanta, GA
*Directors Josie Swantek Heitz and Dave Adams and Producer Susan MacLaury in attendance for the Q&A
Tickets
Louisiana International Film Festival
Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 2:30 PM
Cinemark 4, Baton Rouge, LA
Tickets
Montclair Film Festival
Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 11:30 AM
Clairidge Cinema, Montclair, NJ
Sunday, May 8, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Clairidge Cinema, Montclair, NJ
*Directors Josie Swantek Heitz and Dave Adams and Producer Susan MacLaury in attendance for the Q&A
Tickets
by Shine Global | Mar 29, 2016 | Events, new blog, Shine News
One of the must-see documentaries set for world premiere at the Cleveland International Film Festival this weekend is The Wrong Light a riveting film about a man who leads a highly-regarded NGO that aids girls who have been trafficked for sex. What begins as a positive profile of a hero of-sorts turns into a fascinating expose.
THE WRONG LIGHT TO HAVE WORLD PREMIERE AT CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
NEW DOCUMENTARY TAKES A SHOCKING TURN AND TURNS THE TABLES ON A WIDELY CELEBRATED CHILD ADVOCATE
In a world of “clicktivism” and armchair activism, NGOs globally often feel pressure to play to the public’s appetite for sensational stories that generate sympathy.
FROM THE PRODUCERS OF THE OSCAR®-WINNING INOCENTE, WHICH ALSO DEBUTED AT CIFF
The Wrong Light, the latest documentary from the producers behind the Oscar®-winning short doc Inocente, will have its world premiere in competition at the 40th Cleveland International Film Festival with screenings on April 2 and 3.
From the Shine Global production team and first time feature directors Josie Swantek Heitz and Dave Adams, The Wrong Light unfolds as a mystery while exploring the dark side of child advocacy through the story of a charismatic “activist,” Mickey Choothesa, who claims to rescue at-risk Thai girls, but is instead exposed as having misrepresented them for his own gain.
SYNOPSIS (From CIFF Program): The Wrong Light begins as a positive spotlight on Mickey Choothesa and his nonprofit, the Children’s Organization of Southeast Asia (COSA), which aims to rescue young females from the deplorable sex trade in Thailand. He tells the filmmakers about his start as a war photographer, capturing images in the heat of battle. The horrors of war were less jarring to him than the fate of trafficked girls, he explains. Dubbed “Uncle Mickey” by the kids at COSA, Choothesa is heavily involved in their lives, providing education and shelter to those he deems at-risk. On paper, this seems like a slam dunk for an inspiring film about a man making a difference. But, as interviews with the girls and their families unfold, an unfortunate truth begins to emerge: Mickey isn’t who he seems. It becomes clear his intentions are far from pure, his mission less noble than previously presented. Ironically, his program is exploitative—the very thing he claims to fight against. This shocking documentary uncovers a wolf in sheep’s clothing, whose selfish actions are undermining the effort to end human trafficking.
MORE ABOUT THE FILM: We went to northern Thailand to film a story about two girls – Fon and Eye – whom we thought had been sold into the sex trade by their parents. Our guide was Mickey Choothesa. What we discovered instead is that Mickey has been deceiving both the public and those he claims to be helping. Since founding his non-profit organization, COSA, in 2005, Mickey has marketed it as a sanctuary for trafficked and at-risk girls. His dramatic rescue stories, featured in articles and shared online, inspire donors globally to support COSA’s work. In a world of “clicktivism” and armchair activism, NGOs globally often feel pressure to play to the public’s appetite for sensational stories that generate sympathy. Our film and outreach campaign will encourage debate about the ethics of effective aid, poverty porn, representation, exploitation, and how to ensure responsible support by people who want to help.
PUBIC SCREENINGS of The Wrong Light at CIFF40
• Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 6:15 PM
• Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 2:00 PM
IN-PERSON! Directors Josie Swantek Heitz and Dave Adams as well as Producer Susan MacLaury and Executive Producer Albie Hecht will all be in attendance for the screenings and Q&As.
Tickets and more info: http://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2016/the-wrong-light
“We are thrilled to be back at the Cleveland International Film Festival to premiere another of our films,” said producer and Shine Global co-founder Susan MacLaury. “We know this will be a great festival for this film and we are excited about the conversations it will start.”
CREDITS:
Directors: Josie Swantek Heitz, David Adams
Produced by: Susan MacLaury, Josie Swantek Heitz
Executive Producers: Albie Hecht, Barbara Dobkin
Co-Producer: Alexandra Blaney
Dir. of Photography: Dave Adams
Editors: Chris Tuss, Matt Cascella
Music By: Adam Taylor
Animation: Jonathan Ng, Grace An
Production Company: Shine Global, Inc.
Shine Global, a non-profit media company, gives voice to children by telling stories of their resilience to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. The organization’s films have won more than 50 major awards including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject for Inocente and an Academy Award®-nomination for War/Dance. For more information visit: http://www.shineglobal.org
by Shine Global | Feb 1, 2016 | new blog, Shine News
The Eagle Huntress, directed by Otto Bell and produced in association with Shine Global, made its premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, January 24th, to a standing ovation and the praise hasn’t stopped since.
Film critic Kenneth Turan picked it out as one of his Sundance favorites when talking with NPR’s Steve Inskeep and in his review in the LA Times called the film ” enchanting” and said “falling under its sway is inevitable.” Variety described the film as an “entertaining slice of real-life inspirational adventure.” Melissa Silverstein at Indiewire writes that “this film is my new obsession. Aside from being one of the most beautifully shot movies I have ever seen, this movie tells an incredible story of the first-ever girl trained to be an Eagle Hunter.” And Deadline describes the film as “one of the best reviewed docus of 2016 Sundance” saying “what director Otto Bell captured on screen is unprecedented.”
The documentary tells the story of Aisholpan, a 13-year-old Mongolian girl who wants to become the first female Eagle Hunter in 2,000 years of male-dominated history. Under the tutelage and support of her father, she learns the traditions of being an Eagle Hunter, including capturing and training her very own eagle to compete against men from all over the country in the annual Golden Eagle Festival. Aisholpan and her parents made the trip from Mongolia to Park City, Utah to be there for the premiere and were certainly one of the highlights of the many festival events. As Aisholpan couldn’t bring her own eagle, White Wings, all the way from Mongolia, members of the Commanche tribe in Oklahoma were able to bring eagles for demonstrations throughout the week.
Just before the premiere, Star Wars: The Force Awakens star Daisy Ridley signed on as an Executive Producer to help bring her clout to promote the film. Said Ridley: “I was deeply moved by Aisholpan’s story and wanted to be a part of this beautiful film. I feel audiences and young girls around the world will be as inspired by her story as I was, and I am so proud to share her journey with the world.”
To cap off the successful Sundance run as the first documentary to premiere in the Sundance Kids section, Sony Pictures Classics acquired North American rights to The Eagle Huntress, in a deal that includes select international territories as well including Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Germany, Scandinavia and Asia. SPC will plot a significant theatrical release for the film. In addition, several companies are also negotiating for the right to turn Aisholpan’s story into an animated feature, with plans for Ridley to provide the voice for the young heroine.
by Shine Global | Dec 23, 2015 | new blog, News, Shine News
Thanks to 238 backers, we raised 101% of our $50,000 Kickstarter goal! We had enough donations to activate a portion of a challenge grant to be pledged towards the campaign and additional donations outside of Kickstarter.
We are awed by how many people demonstrated support for Selling Our Daughters. Many of the donors are unknown to us and others have supported Shine’s films again and again over the years. We are so lucky to have them all.
Our team is hard at work finishing the film and we hope to have it done in time for a Spring 2016 festival premiere.
by Shine Global | Dec 14, 2015 | new blog, News, Shine a Light On
By Susan MacLaury
Just a month ago, we posted pictures of Victor, Zulema and Perla, the three American teen migrant farm workers we had profiled in our 2011 film, The Harvest (La Cosecha). We were reintroduced at Shine Global’s 10th anniversary party and over the weekend we had a chance to learn in depth how they were since making this film, the effects it had had on them, and where they currently were in their lives.
It was great hearing how Zulema was a college freshman, Perla was planning to go to graduate school, and Victor was achieving his dream of becoming a car mechanic. Still, we knew that all had family members, some of them younger siblings, a few of the hundreds of thousands still working in the fields with minimal protections.
That point was brought home to me today when a friend sent me this clip about a current Human Rights Watch campaign to educate the public about the poisonous effects of picking tobacco on underage workers. Memories surfaced about our research into this subject, interviews with prospective film subjects, production of The Harvest (La Cosecha), and our screenings on Capitol Hill in 2011 to try to convince lawmakers to vote in the CARE Act (Children’s Act for Responsible Employment) sponsored by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard. Both she and then Secretary of the US Department of Labor, Hilda Solis, fought hard, but in vain, for legislative reform for young farm workers.
Human Rights Watch has commissioned multiple investigative studies on the wellbeing of young farmworkers over the last 15 years with some successes. In 2014, some of the major US tobacco growers banned children under 16 from working in the tobacco fields, but excluded older teens from their policies, teens who are still vulnerable to the dangerous effects of tobacco picking. Shine Global applauds them for their continued concern. We believe that the powerful imagery they employ as documentarians will make a difference in the lives of these children and urge you to watch and act.
