Saturday, Jan 15, 2011
Dear Danielle,
I thank you for getting back to me. I respect your opinion, but there are a few things I’d like to respond to. Especially since you stated you’ve done your research, so I hope you take what I tell you as research and not as an attack. I really want you to be informed because something like this will do more harm than good. Yes, because you’re making a film about this, you’ll get all the attention you want because this material is what sells. It's also the type of movie that helps countries such as the United States justify their actions in other areas of the world.
Also, I would invite you to travel to Eastern Turkey by yourself as a WOMAN and see what happens. People are so warm and wonderful in a way that is becoming less and less common these days. The people are so poor, but they’ll give you anything they have. I would even take you so you can experience first hand what most people don’t get to see.
In response to your points:
1.“Honor crimes” in Turkey are anomalous criminal behavior and should NOT be taken as paradigmatic manifestations of Turkish culture. Honor killings in Turkey are NOT institutionalized. Also, when this is mentioned in the news it’s usually a tribal Kurdish family.
2.The pervasive cultural values of Turkish culture are far more supportive of women than here in the U.S.
To pull out a criminal practice that is very rare and to present it as you are is WRONG. It’s counterproductive. There are far more crimes against women here in the United States than there are in Turkey.
3.Ka-Mer- Is a women’s urban intellectual group who are invested in maintaining a difference between themselves and villagers/tribal groups by distinguishing themselves from villagers by saying they’re better then them and know more and have more in common with the West. So, you cannot take what they say as unbiased truth.
4. It doesn’t matter if you don't mention the word Islam in the film. People will assume that the people are Muslim because this topic is only associated with Muslim countries. It will perpetuate the notion that there is something wrong with "those" countries and with “that” religion.
5.It doesn’t matter if you’re working with a Turkish producer. They can be just as elitist, racist, and uninformed as someone who lives outside of Turkey.
6.You said: “I have chosen Turkey as a culture to highlight not because it is barbaric or 'the other,' but rather because I believe it stands the most chance at change” - IN THIS SENTENCE, YOU’RE STILL SAYING THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CULTURE. “Stand a chance of change?" to become like us in the U.S. where there are REAL social injustices going on a daily basis and continue to be dismissed?
7.You stated that you want to be balanced. By having ONE family that would never do this, doesn’t make your film balanced. What you’re saying is “some people are good and some people are bad.” FYI: the MAJORITY of Turkish culture is women centered and positive. In no way is your film balanced because the majority of the culture doesn’t participate in that behavior, just like the majority of men in this country don’t murder their wives.
I wish you the best of luck and I'm serious about taking you to see and really experience the most remote parts of Turkey.
Kind Regards,
Resmine
The producers raise money by using this site. You can share your concerns with them through here:
http://www.indiegogo.com/feedbacks/new
The producers can be contacted through here:
http://www.fortunatesonsfilm.com/contact.html
For those who won't or can't understand what we're reacting to please read http://www.netkitap.com/kitap-bati-sinemasinda-turkiye-ve-turkler-giovanni-scognamillo-1-kitap.htm
FYI: Giovanni Scognamillo is the most respected Turkish cinema historian and published more than dozens of books. He resides in his native city-Istanbul.
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Saturday, Jun 23, 2012
The Second "Kazakhstan Montage of Cinemas: Film & Cultural Festival" launches at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in Los Angeles on Aug. 3 for a one-week celebration of Kazakh cinema and culture, including musicians.
The festival is a stellar opportunity for directors, producers, location scouts, and the general public to get an understanding and appreciation of this exotic locale without leaving home.
Sweeping from the Caspian Sea on its Russian border to the Altai Mountain range on the Chinese border, Kazakhstan has a rich nomadic history as well as a powerful current tapestry of cultures. Since gaining independence in 1991, the Central Asian Republic has embraced its remarkable filmmaking past that dates back to the 1930's, when Sergei Eisenstein made his classic “Ivan the Terrible” in this mystic land, and has even given rise to several "New Wave" movements.
Opening night on Aug. 3rd begins with a reception at 7 pm, and includes a program of live entertainment until 11 pm, at the DGA Theater.
Sponsored by Kazakh Geographic Society (KazGeo.kz ), helixfilmsinc.com , the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in Los Angeles, the festival includes Advisory Board Members Steven-Charles Jaffe (GHOST, K19), David Marconi (Screenwriter, ENEMY OF THE STATE), and Ambassador Erlan Idrissov.
Tickets cost $10 (including free parking) can be purchased from the festival’s website. "Kazakhstan Montage of Cinemas: Film & Cultural Festival 2012" will be held Aug. 3 - 9 at the Directors Guild of America on 7920 Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles, California
For more information, please see www.kazakhfestival.com - KazakhFilmFestLA@gmail.com
Source : HelixFilmsInc.com
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Sunday, May 27, 2012
The 65th Festival de Cannes drew to a close tonight with the closing awards ceremony hosted by Academy Award nominated actress Berenice Bejo.
The top prize was captured yet again by Michael Haneke for his portrait of an elderly couple Amour. This is the second time he has bested Jacques Audiard who was also in competition with De rouille et d'os (Rust and Bone). Haneke becomes one of the few two-time Palme d'Or winners alongside Alf Sjoberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Bille August, Emir Kusturica, Shohei Imamura, and Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne and only the second after August to win with consecutive films – his previous Palme d'Or was for his 2009 film Das weiße Band (The White Ribbon).
Matteo Garrone picked up his second Grand Prix for his film Reality. Previously, he had won in 2008 for Gomorrah.
The surprise winner for the Jury Prize was Ken Loach with The Angels' Share. He previously won the Palme d'Or in 2006 with The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
Another previous Palme d'Or winner won Best Screenplay. Cristian Mungiu who made 4 luni, 3 săptămâni þi 2 zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days) returned with După dealuri (Beyond the Hills), and it also shared the Best Actress for its stars Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur.
In spite of the heavy American representation in the selection, the only American film to win a prize was Benh Zeitlin's Un Certain Regard entry Beasts of the Southern Wild which won the Camera d'Or for first film. Last night, it had won the FIPRESCI international critics' prize.
Complete list of winners for the 65th Festival de Cannes
Palme d'Or
Amour, Michael Haneke (France-Germany-Austria)
Grand Prix
Reality, Matteo Garrone (Italy-France)
Jury Prize
The Angels' Share, Ken Loach (U.K.-France-Belgium-Italy)
Best Director
Carlos Reygadas, Post tenebras lux (Light After Darkness) (Mexico-France-Germany-Netherlands)
Best Actress
Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur, După dealuri (Beyond the Hills) (Romania-France-Belgium)
Best Actor
Mads Mikkelsen, Jagten (The Hunt) (Denmark-Sweden)
Best screenplay
Cristian Mungiu, După dealuri (Beyond the Hills) (Romania-France-Belgium)
Caméra d'or
Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin (U.S.)
PALME D'OR FOR BEST SHORT FILM
SESSÝZ-BE DENG (SILENCE), REZAN YEÞÝLBAÞ
Source : www.ensonhaber.com
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