A few months back I received a call from a colleaque of mine asking me to help a young friend of hers locate a critically acclaimed Haitian film entitled “Moloch Tropical”. The reviews for this film directed by Raoul Peck were so positive and glowing that the young lady in question thought that the film would be perfect to show at a fund -raising event to benefit her native earthquake ravaged Haiti . Ok, that’s a great idea. It would seem that finding a copy of said film would be fairly simple, right? Well, no. The film has not been transfered to DVD and to purchase or rent a current “print” of the film would cost some serious money. Ah, not a good development in the cash strapped world of fund-raising. So what to do? How about any film by Peck? He’s a native of Haiti so even if the film was not set in Haiti it could still reflect a positive look at the country just by the fact of his accomplishments on the stage of world cinema. Fine, but you know what? Peck’s films have often been described as “audacious , “disturbing’, “political” and “raw”. A quick look at some of his better known titles would seem to support this response. “Lumumba” about the rise of African leader Patrice Lumumba and the birth of the Congo, “Man by the Shore” comparing Duvalier’s reign to Hitler’s regime or “Sometime in April” which examines the horror of the very recent Rwanden genocide. Even the extremely popular “Moloch Tropical” focuses on violent revolution. Now, do you think it is possible to raise funds with topics of this nature? Does fund-raising depend on an optimistic spin like the documentary “Road to Fondwa” which details Haiti before the quake and concentrates on the education of the country’s children? I truly don’t know but I know I need your help dear reader. If anyone reading this blog knows of a viable title that could help raise money please let me know. Oh, and I’m aware of “Black Dawn” and “Brown Sugar” both possibilites. In the mean time I’ll keep searching, the film we need to make this work is out there……More Later, caucella
Hey caucella! I wish I had some thoughts to help you but I don’t! Oh wait, here’s one…if it’s out there, you will find it! Of this you can be sure! : )
Jane, I certainly appreciate your confidence in me. thank you.
Fund Raising is always needed to support existing and future projects..-”
I would most certainly agree.
i used to do fund raising for african communities and it was a great job to help others ‘`