10/26/2007 - Longitude’s documentary on PROFESA school to appear on Al Gore’s Emmy award winning Current TV
Providence, RI – In February 2008, Shawn Rubin, a local kindergarten teacher and founder of the non-profit organization, Longitude and filmmakers John Lavall and Jessica Jennings teamed up to produce a documentary film about a school based in Abeka, Ghana that provides young adults secretarial skills. The documentary titled “Longitude” has been generating national attention, and was recently selected by Current TV for national distribution. The film documents the work that Longitude supports in Ghana, and profiles the Professional Secretarial Academy of Ghana (PROFESA) and it’s founder Meshach Bondzie.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized and selected by thousands of viewers on the Current TV Network. Our goal in making this film was to highlight the heroic work of a very special man (Bondzie), and to give people some perspective on the challenges young people face in getting an education in Ghana”, said Shawn Rubin, Co-Director of Longitude. “We hope people will find inspiration in this story. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is important that people in this country have a sense of the economic hardships that people in Africa and around the world are facing. Furthermore, we wanted to show that with very little investment of money, you could truly create life-changing opportunities in some of the most impoverished parts of the world”.
Emmy Award winnings producers John Lavall and Jessica Jennings signed on to produce this film Pro Bono and paid all of their expenses in an effort to get the word out about the important work that Longitude is doing.
Current TV was started by former Vice President Al Gore and this month received an Emmy award for best interactive television service. The network, which launched in 2005 is redefining how people watch TV. Current TV’s online users vote on which videos the feel should be featured on the television station. Current TV has a reach of over 50 million homes in the United States and Britain, and is carried to subscribers through satellite service DirecTV and other cable systems.
Later this year, a longer version of the documentary will be released with a premiere tentatively scheduled for January in Providence.
Web Version of Documentary is Green Lit
6/23/2008 - Longitude documentary premiere’s at local Providence fund raiser
Providence, RI – Building on the success of the short version of the Longitude Documentary that was Greenlit by Current TV in October of 2007, filmmakers Jessica Jennings and John Lavall recently finished a longer (30 minute) version called “Big World Small World,” which premiered on June 19, 2008 to rave reviews.
The screening was held in Providence, RI at the MET Black Box Theater. Guests were entertained by a the talented Jesus Andujar on drums as they nibbled food in anticipation of the the main event.
“Meshach is an incredible inspiration” said Judah Lakin, Providence teacher and Longitude volunteer, after watching the piece, “I can’t wait to meet him in person this summer.” Both filmmakers took questions and comments after the movie.
Look for Big World Small World to premiere again in Providence soon.
