A story of globalization told through humor and sadness, hope and violence by the owner of a bead factory in China; the largest Mardi Gras bead distributor in the world; Carnival revelers who exchange beads during Mardi Gras; and four teenage bead-workers in China who make Mardi Gras beads. By confronting an increasing globalized world where consumers and producers are alienated from each other, the film attempts to re-establish human connections through curiosity and humor as it renders visible the seemingly invisible bead trail from the factory to the festival. Viewers are swept into a whirlwind of action, where drunk revelers exchange beads for nudity and guess who made them during Carnival.
Eventually, workers and revelers vicariously encounter each other through the medium of images, when the filmmaker projects the documentary on the walls of Bourbon Street during Carnival to obtain reactions and share conversations with revelers. Simultaneously, the filmmaker passes out photographs of revelers exchanging beads during Mardi Gras to workers in the factory. Suddenly, revelers and factory workers encounter each other for the first time, as both attempt to understand each others' motivations. Revelers respond in confusion: "Why do workers make beads under such harsh conditions?" Likewise, workers are just as baffled: "Why do people remove their clothes for these ugly beads?" Answers are not simple, as the viewer is left to draw their own conclusions.
‘Good Riddance’
Nick Hilligos
Year of Production: 2004
Australia
Duration: 5 minutes
www.abc.net.au/nature/goodriddance.htm
An animation with an environmental theme! Eco's got a no-pollution solution for every infestation across the nation. If you've got flies, he's got spiders. If you've got rats, well...he's got rats too, but that's only because you can't train cats. Also on Eco's payroll are frogs, lizards...even echidnas.
Sometimes Eco's solutions don't quite work out as planned, but that's half the fun and twice the challenge for this poison-free pioneer. He's full of inventive non-violent non-smelly ideas. Even his company car is a miracle of modern enviro-engineering that runs on sunshine, wind, rain and occasionally, rat-power.
Eco's clean-green solutions always win the day. With his resourceful ways and ingenious exploitation of the natural flora and fauna, we can all breathe a lot easier. And laugh a lot harder.
‘Kotahi Ao’
Simon Bailey
Year of Production (ongoing)
Wellington, NZ
Duration 30 minutes www.kotahiao.org
‘Kotahi Ao: One World’ is a global, grassroots film project currently being developed in Aotearoa/ New Zealand. The film aims to inspire and empower people to make positive change. To renew hope in the belief that it is possible to live sustainably on this planet and to show that many people are already doing so with great success.
The film development will explore the intricate natural processes that make this planet function and the detrimental effects created by modernday humans, not just on the planet but on our communities and ourselves. The insatiable hunger for power and wealth and our fear of change. Most importantly, ‘Kotahi Ao’ development will document those that have found solutions, ways to live in harmony with our environment and our neighbours.
‘Kotahi Ao’ was initiated after a search through environmental films in late 2002 by members of the Wellington Rainforest Action Group (WRAG). They found that most environmental films did not offer solutions to the problems discussed and only left you feeling hopeless and depressed. WRAG decided then to make their own film and called on environmentalists, artists and activists from across New Zealand to help. It has become a collaborative work by civil society groups, NGOs, philosophers, travellers and artists from around the world.
‘Building Without Blueprints’
Christopher Taine and Tamsin Chance
Year of Production 2005
New Zealand
24 minutes
An intimate look at a holistic lifestyler on the South Island, with a focus on self-sufficiency, sustainable buildings, and enjoying the charm of life in every day. Builder Bill Brooker is creating the home of his dreams on the shores of Lake Wanaka while enjoying raising his two sons Sam and Nic. The film takes a creative angle at housing with purpose.
‘Quest for the Grey Ghost’
Scott Mouat
Year of Production 2005
New Zealand
24 minutes
The summer of 2005~ bushman and biologist Rhys Buckingham is on a mission to prove the existence of the South Island Kokako before the authorities walk away and declare it extinct. Quest for the Grey Ghost follows this intrepid bird man through the bush on a six day expedition to call the Kokako into the open for a proof positive.
‘The Amazing Dolphin of Opononi’
Rudall and Ramai Hayward
Year of Production 1955
10 minutes
2005, we are 50 years on from that magical summer that Opo the Dolphin won hearts in New Zealand and around the world. We look back at the historical movie that made this dolphin famous. A fantastic reminder of our connection with the sea and sealife, and a hilarious venture through time to see the 1950’s portrayal of New Zealand wildlife and wild places.
‘Store Wars’
FreeRange Studios
Year of Production 2005
USA
6 minutes
www.storewars.org
Watch in awe as Cuke Skywalker, TofuD2 and campanions do battle to bring organically grown food market. On the dark side~ Darth Tater waits to confront Cuke with his past~ and challenge his future. Join in the Organic Rebellion, learn the ways of the farm, and spend time in the hippest salad bar in the universe!
‘Happy Valley’
Save Happy Valley Campaign
Year of Production 2005
New Zealand
10 minutes
www.happyvalley.enzyme.org.nz
A review of the current environmental challenges faced on the West Coast, brought to a crux by government mining interests coming into direct conflict with government biodiversity priorities. This still media presentation will highlight the grassroots efforts by environmental activists to stop one open-cast mine from spreading across a high-quality kiwi habitat and unique wetlands environment.
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