13th October 2008, London: Gael Garcia Bernal, the actor best known for his roles in The Motorcycle Diaries and Babel is now turning his talents to co-producing and directing. To be released in 2010 and co produced with Thomas Benski of Pulse Films and directing with Marc Sliver, Gael’s documentary, “Resist” will tell individual stories of rebellion. The project is currently being researched via a website and social network http://www.resistnetwork.com/, collecting individual stories and ideas from an online global community. These stories and videos will spark content direction and may even feature in the final documentary.
As part of project Resist, a live webcast will take place on the 16th October 2008, addressing how decentralised communications networks will shift the way we understand poverty and our power to resist its causes.
Join the debate online on October 16th
New York: 10am / London: 3pm / Mumbai: 7.30pm
URL: http://www.resistnetwork.com/
The Panel
Gael Garcia Bernal is an actor whose credits include The Motorcycle Diaries, Amores Perros and Babel. He is currently making the Resist documentary to be released in 2010.
Colm Ó Cuanacháin is Senior Director of Campaigns with Amnesty International. He has held a number of other roles in Amnesty, including Secretary General of the organisation’s Irish Section. He worked formerly as Head of Campaigns with ActionAid International.
Roland Harwood is Director of Open Innovation at NESTA. He heads up NESTA’s Connect programme, which supports innovation through extreme collaboration. Flagship projects include working with Sir Tim Berners-Lee on the future of the web.
Wai Mun Yoon is a digital strategist and consultant who has over a decade of experience of using innovative technologies and emerging media platforms to communicate with global audiences
Resist is backed by Amnesty International, further evidence of NGOs becoming interested in documentary film making where NGOs benefit from access to some of the world’s best film-makers, and film-makers get access to research, distribution and funding at a time when mainstream TV and film moneymen are shrinking from documentaries.
Garcia Bernal is co-producing this with Pulse Films (Thomas Benski) and the team will embark on their research trip 1st December visiting countries and inspirational people, from South America to Asia.
The Debate – Web of Dissent
Global media conglomerates no longer monopolise the ability to transmit messages both locally and internationally. The use of the internet, mobile phones, satellite radio and the declining cost of media technologies have transformed the way individuals and communities voice their concerns. Many have argued that these decentralised communications networks have lead to an increasingly democratic and accessible media culture. Yet there has been little discussion around how these networks might impact our understanding of poverty as well as serve as a means to resist its causes.
This event will ask how we can harness the power of these networks in order to more effectively depict and understand the complex web of reasons behind the existence of poverty. And can these networks in the long run open up a space for people who live in poverty to participate in the culture of political life?
~ Ends ~
Press Enquiries
Parys Communications
0207 819 2460
Company: Gael Garcia Bernal (http://www.resistnetwork.com/)
Release summary: Gael Garcia Bernal, the actor best known for his roles in The Motorcycle Diaries and Babel is now turning his talents to co-producing and directing.
Date: 13th October 2008
Contact: Kim Cranie, Parys Communications, 0207 819 2460, kcraine@parys.com
URL: http://www.webitpr.com/release_detail.asp?ReleaseID=10200
