Divine Skateboards

Romania

On August 12th-20th I traveled to Oradea, Romania to work with an organization called Belief in Motion. Here are a few of the photos I took on the trip. These people have had an impact on my life that they will never know. Photos just can’t do justice to how amazing these people are.

The Know Better Effect Trailer

We are so proud to be a part of creating The Know Better Effect, a television show for tweens. This is the trailer for the 30 min. show. I hope you like it.


Creator /Executive Producer – Leigh Halsema

Director / Co-Creator – Adam Dukes

Director of Photography – Josh McKague

Original Score – Daniel Montgomery

Producer / Carrie Walrond Hood

Head Writer / Jacob York

Writer / Phil Pierce



Check out www.theknowbettereffect.com for more info.

Leaving La Floresta Documentary

Leaving La Floresta is a feature length documentary film that follows the story of Abelardo Joya, a Colombian Campesino (farmer), and his family. Internally displaced by the “war on drugs” and the fight against Coca (the plant used to make Cocaine), Abelardo, his wife, and five kids are forced to leave their Cacao farm (the plant used to make raw chocolate) and struggle to find a new way of life as a displaced family.



Colombia, South America now has the highest rate of internally displaced people in the world, thanks in part to the drug trade and the “war on drugs”. The internally displaced in Colombia now number more than 5 million. This feature length documentary will give those displaced a voice.

Over the past year, Whisper Productions has partnered with the non-profit organization Give Us Names, to capture the story of Abelardo and his family. The Joya’s were displaced due to the United States’ “war on drugs” policy called Plan Colombia. On his farm he grew Cacoa and yucca. Planes sent by the U.S., flew over his farm and dropped an herbicide which destroyed all of his crops. This herbicide caused his land to no longer be able to produce and forced him and his family to move to what you could barely call a home in the city.


Abelardo, his wife and five kids now call this one room, home, in the city. This is their bedroom, dining room, kitchen, everything.

Our feature length documentary follows his story and tries to dive deeper into the causes and real solutions to the problem of displacement and the “war on drugs”.

After 3 trips to Colombia, we finally feel we have all the footage we need to tell this story. We are now in the post-production stage and must face the enormous challenge of turning hours and hours of raw footage into a feature length documentary film, and getting the film and its message distributed throughout the world. We had recently created a Kickstarter page to raise funds to help support this film but were unsuccessful. We are still going to honor the rewards we offered to people who donate here through our paypal donate button.

Here are the rewards.

1. PLEDGE $1 OR MORE Your name will appear in the final credits of the film as a supporter.

2. PLEDGE $10 OR MORE A high definition digital download of “Leaving La Floresta” once it is completed. + All of the above

3. PLEDGE $15 OR MORE A 5X7 photo of Abelardo and his family taken by Cinematographer Josh McKague. Visit http://www.whisperproductions.com/support-the-revolution/ to view his photos of Colombia. + All of the above

4. PLEDGE $25 OR MORE A “Leaving La Floresta” DVD and an official 11″x17″ movie poster + All of the above

5. PLEDGE $50 OR MORE A signed 8X12 Photo of your choice by Cinematographer Josh McKague. Visit http://www.whisperproductions.com/support-the-revolution/ to view his photos. + All of the above

6. PLEDGE $75 OR MORE A Whisper Productions special edition “Leaving La Floresta” T-Shirt + All of the above

7. PLEDGE $125 OR MORE An invitation to the pre-screening party this spring where you will be able to watch the film, meet the Whisper Productions and Give Us Names crew, ask questions and give suggestions towards the final edit of the film. + All of the above

8. PLEDGE $250 OR MORE VIP dinner with Whisper Productions and Give Us Names before the premier this fall. + VIP seating at the premier + All of the above

9. PLEDGE $500 OR MORE All of the above + $600 credit with Whisper Productions. Whisper is a full service Production company with an extensive list of gear available for rent. Credit is to be used towards gear rental and/or labor. Visit www.whisperproductions.com to learn more.

10. PLEDGE $1,000 OR MORE $1,250 credit with Whisper Productions. + All of the rewards at the $250 level

11. PLEDGE $2,500 OR MORE $3,250 credit with Whisper Productions. + All of the rewards at the $250 level

12. PLEDGE $5,000 OR MORE $6,750 credit with Whisper Productions. + All of the rewards at the $250 level

13. PLEDGE $10,000 OR MORE $14,000 credit with Whisper Productions. + All of the rewards at the $250 level



Whisper Productions has had the great honor of producing this documentary for Give Us Names, we could not have done this without them. Whisper Productions has believed in Give Us Names and their mission to end displacement in Colombia so much that we have done work over the last year and a half at no cost to try and get this story out. We have come to realization that we cannot finish this film and release it with the quality it deserves and to a large audience without the proper funding. So your donations are going directly to the completion of this film. If you want to donate to directly help Abelardo and his family please give your money to www.giveusnames.com

Thank you for being a part of giving a name and a voice to those displaced in Colombia.

***Note*** Whisper Productions is willing to work for your donations and even give you a discount towards credit with us. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone if the project would be considered a compromise to the standards of Whisper Productions. Thanks!!

The Know Better Effect

In just a few hours we finally begin principle photography for The Know Better Effect! We can’t thank the creator, Leigh Halsema, enough for trusting us and giving us the opportunity to be a part of this incredible project.

A little more about The Know Better Effect…

“The Know Better Effect teaches children empathy and compassion by visualizing the world from a socially conscious point of view. The show follows a group of kids that find a mysterious old box labeled KBDB (Know Better, Do Better). They set out on a mission to become stewards of The Know Better Effect and explore their community and surrounding neighborhoods, learning how others live and what it means to help those in need.

In the pilot episode, our characters visit a homeless shelter and food bank, and meet other kids that are practicing KBDB. The power of empathy and understanding drives the characters to follow this mysterious KBDB box in future missions and spread The Know Better Effect movement.”

The Know Better Effect allows kids to gain a visual understanding of world issues in an age-appropriate and exciting environment. Each episode demonstrates confidence, self-esteem, friendship, empathy, compassion, and the benefit of sacrifice.”




To find out more check out www.theknowbettereffect.com

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Kickstarter

We have started a Kickstarter to help fund finalizing out feature length documentary shot in Colombia. Help support the movement.

Support The Revolution

As many of you know, we have been working for over a year now with Give Us Names working on creating a feature length documentary film called Leaving La Floresta. Give Us Names, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization seeking to improve the lives of displaced Colombians. Our goal is to tell their stories in such a way that those who hear them will not rest until displacement ends, justice is brought to the perpetrators, and the rights of the displaced are recognized and protected.

You can see the trailer here.

So far this film has required 3 trips to Colombia and countless hours planning and editing. In order to help offset the costs of creating this film I am going to start selling prints of my photos from Colombia. This is a great way for you guys to help be a part of creating this film and get something in return. We are starting a revolution and I can’t wait for everyone to be able to see this film.

Below each photo is a tab to select your print size and add to cart. Thanks for being a part of the movement!

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Click to choose print size.

4×6 $5.00 5×7 $10.00 8×12 $25.00 11×17 $40.00 20×30 $75.00

Also if you would like you could just donate towards the creation of our film here

Thanks!

Reel

It has been almost 3 years since we have updated our demo reel. Here is a newer version finally. This still rough and should be changing even more soon.

Leaving La Floresta Trailer from Whisper Productions on Vimeo.

We at Whisper Productions have had the incredible privilege to partner with our friends at Give Us Names and tell the story of Abelardo Joya and his family.

Abelardo is a farmer who grew yucca, plantains, and cocoa (what you make chocolate from). One day he was forced to leave his farm because he could no longer grow anything on his land and could not provide for his family. This was all thanks to the United States tax dollars at work with its policy called Plan Colombia.

Plan Colombia’s goal is to slow the production of Coca (what you make cocaine from) by dropping an herbicide in attempts to kill the coca. In our documentary we show how that only increases coca production and harms innocent families such as Abelardo’s who want nothing to do with growing coca.

Please check out
www.giveusnames.com and www.whisperproductions.com

Also special thanks to the guys at www.coloramainc.com for an amazing job correcting color for this trailer. Please check them out.

More Photos From Colombia.