New Kickstarter update… we funded!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rogergreenlee/roger-makes-a-documentary-in-china-bring-me-hope/posts

The difference of culture…

Making a documentary like this is interesting. Being married to someone from China for 8 years I thought I had the culture thing figured out but seems I have a lot to learn. For example, we were confronted today by someone claiming that our documentary was “fake”. While it is true that we have directed alot of what’s going on, the kids smiles are definitely not fake.

The question is this: How do you make a documentary with a mission and still make a documentary. Well, we have decided to include some of the process making in the documentary itself. Call it transparency or what have you but we feel it important to show our Chinese audience that some goofy foreigners have attempted to make this happen and attempted to challenge their thinking. Culture is a wall sometimes but definitely not insurmountable.

EDIT: In reading this back to myself I realize another problem, it’s easy as Americans to forget that we have alot to learn. I think I sounded like I was trying to be a teacher to Chinese people. That’s not it, honestly it’s this: There are so many poor kids in this country that would be better helped by their own people than by foreigners coming in with their agendas and so that’s the challenge of the film.

This is what one month into documentary filming looks like…

http://kck.st/9aS1y8

Sooooo Tired

exhaustion! What an experience. Camp has started, 9 kids, all with amazing stories. We found them all through our searching. A street kid, orphans, mafia connections, girls rescued from prostitution trafficking, these kids have all been through way too much for their age. We have a true band of ragamuffins, all with huge smiles right now, what a cool thing to witness and be a part of.

Now, if you’ll excuse me it’s 6pm and I need sleep

New Shoes, New Smile

I would like to introduce you to the first child we have chosen to be in the documentary. His name is Sam. Sam is 9 years old and is a very sweet little guy. When we first met him at his house he told us that his dad drinks alot and sometimes hits him. His house is a complete and utter mess. His Mom left when he was 3 years old and he is left with what appears to be an alcoholic father that tries his best but really needs help raising his son. Today we took him to the closest city to buy his first ever pair of new shoes and we got from him his first ever smile.