tonic
The place where good lives - good news, good style, and good deeds... more about us
 Positively good.

news / projects

Search

us / world / business / social responsibility/ technology / science / entertainment / life & style / travel

AIDS Orphan Becomes A Filmmaker With Help From Hollywood Heavyweights

By Wynter Mitchell | Monday, October 12, 2009 12:55 AM ET

Email
Share:

Add a comment Add a comment

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" weaves tales of urban atrocities that are usually ripped from the headlines. The brainchild of physician-turned-producer Neal Baer, his day job is to churn out story after story for the Emmy favorite, but it's a passion project shepherded by the successful showrunner that he really wants to place center stage.
Baer has thrown his weight behind "Mozambique," a documentary that follows one youngster's quest to find a new family. Created by finalist Alcides Soares, a teenage African AIDS orphan, it will be apart of the 12th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival and shown in theaters, art centers and galleries worldwide.
Beginning Sunday, the festival will showcase 10 short films that will screen more than 500 times over an eight-day period in every U.S. state and a total of 173 cities worldwide. Audiences can vote for their favorite, with the winner to be announced Sept. 29.
"I spoke to him for about half-an-hour and could see that he was a gifted storyteller," Baer tells AP. "I asked him if he wanted to learn how to make a movie in order to tell his story and he leapt at the opportunity." Baer met Soares through his photography project, "The House Is Small but the Welcome Is Big." Baer teamed up with Los Angeles-based nonprofit Venice Arts to bring attention to the AIDS crisis in Africa and prompt action.
Baer also tapped his Hollywood connections for equipment donations and funding, "Law & Order: SVU" stars Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni and the NBC show's writers donated a video camera. NBC Universal and "Law & Order" franchise creator Dick Wolf's donated money. Baer adds, "There is no better insight to what is happening in the world or how the world is feeling than through the eyes, ears and lenses of these short filmmakers."

photo courtest of ap.

Email
Share:

Add a comment Add a comment

Sign up now for the Daily Tonic! We ship a dose of goodness right to your inbox every day.

connect with tonic

RSS

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube
most popular stories
Shop Citta

good you've done

  • Helped Project Angel Food prepare and deliver nutritious meals to men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
    Donated one year of Tonic Mailstopper to Project Angel Food for fundraising auction.
  • You helped Tonic plant 1,498 trees in North America, Central America, Africa and Asia.
    Tonic contributed to Sustainable Harvest International, American Forests and Trees for the Future.
  • Sent musical instruments to the U.S. Gulf Coast
    Donated $425 to Music Rising

...more good things

$347,634 in contributions

sites we like

Tonic Precycle