What's Your Issue » tchai

Our good friends at The Human Rights Campaign

tchai — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:35:48 +0000

Human Rights Campaign has been a great friend and supporter of Film Your Issue and What’s Your Issue for many years, and we’re always honored to host “human/equal rights” as one of our focus issues. HRC’s Media Production Manager Ben Shallenberger was a past winner for the Film Your Issue competition, and he says it helped him change him from a “board college student to LGBT activist”, helping him first land an internship at HRC’s media department and eventually his current position with the organization. We’re proud of everything Ben has done since his participation with Film Your Issue and thank him for blogging about how Film Your Issue positively impacted his life.

Ben says Film Your Issue changed his life. Yours could be next. Submissions for Film Your Issue and What’s Your Issue Music are due April 19th, 2010.

Click on the image to read the blog on HRC’s website, or click the jump for a transcribed copy.

Two years ago today, I was sitting around my dorm room with nothing to do. So I did what any other college student does when they have free time. I logged onto YouTube. Among watching the latest music videos and performances, I came across an ad for a video competition called “Film Your Issue.”

The directions were simple enough. “In 2 minutes or less, talk about an issue that’s important to you.” There were a number of categories, including environment, education, poverty, and LGBT issues. It sounded like something completely doable. At the time I wasn’t involved in any kind of activism. I didn’t even participate in my school’s GSA. But I knew I had a story to tell, and here was my avenue to tell it. The next Sunday, I checked out the camera from my school’s communications department, and got to filming. I wrote a poem about the personal struggle with being gay and a Christian. I spoke from the heart about my experiences. The whole thing took under 4 hours, but the effects of it will last forever.

I posted the video on YouTube, and watched as it got hit after hit. I got a call a few weeks later telling me that I was selected to receive the Human Rights Campaign award for my video. Film Your Issue flew me out to LA for the Awards Ceremony, where I met Anastasia Khoo, HRC’s marketing director. Later on that summer she helped get me an internship in the Media Center, which then led to a full-time job, and I’ve been here ever since.

I’m always amazed that when I Google my name, there are tons of websites that link back to my video. I’m grateful to Film Your Issue for the opportunity to be heard. But the most important thing to come from this experience was the conversation it opened with my family and friends. The issues I talked about it my video were so real to me, and I felt them on a daily basis, but I never had the courage to talk openly about them. The video I created was a jumping off point to communicating my passions and fears with those I love. My family was not aware that their inaction and ignorance on certain issues wasn’t just hurting me, but they’re hurting an entire community. Now I have many voices resonating with me when I speak out.

I’ve heard that the worst thing that can happen to a movement is for people to be silent. It’s time to demand equality. It’s time to make our voices heard. This year, Film Your Issue has announced 2 different opportunities. You can submit a video up to 3 minutes in length describing the need for ENDA, a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, immigration reform, or any other matter. FYI is also having their first song competition. Record an original song speaking about any issue and enter through their website. To find out more, visit www.WhatsYourIssue.tv.

The prizes they offer are incredible. The connections you’ll make through it are unmatched. But the message you send is what counts most of all. And it might open doors for you that you’ve never noticed before.

FILM YOUR ISSUE: Gay and Label Free: 2008 Winner

FYI Jurist Yoko Ono named Global Autism Ambassador

tchai — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:36:05 +0000

At What’s Your Issue, we’re always amazed by how caring and active Yoko Ono is, and everyday we feel lucky to have her on our jury for the Film Your Issue competition. And if her previous contributions (far too many to list) haven’t convinced you, Yoko has just been named the Global Autism Ambassador by the Autism Speaks organization.

Last year during World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, Yoko created a piece of artwork called “Promise” in celebration of the annual World Autism Awareness Day. It was auctioned off for thousands and thousands of dollars — all to benefit Autism Speaks.

“As an artist the concept of distance means nothing to me, you can bring the whole world together with a song, a painting or a single word and that is what I have tried to achieve with ‘Promise’ and I hope it has been able to make a difference,” she said at the gala where she was recognized.

Have an idea or solution to a pressing issue for Yoko? To participate in our Film Your Issue competition, please visit here. If you’re a singer or songwriter, we have something for you as well. The deadline is April 19, so better get filming!

Oxfam is looking for students to change the world

tchai — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:13:50 +0000

Oxfam America, an international relief and development organization, is currently accepting applications for the CHANGE Initiative, their national student leadership program. CHANGE Leaders are exposed to the international development issues that inform Oxfam’s work, and apply their skills and insights to run Oxfam campaigns on their campuses and in their communities.

We would love to have some filmmakers and singer/songwriters represented in this group of youth activists. Best of all, the week-long program is paid for by Oxfam — that’s right, it’s free!

Think you’re interested? Apply online or recommend a student at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/change.

Applications are due on April 1, 2010.

For more information, click the Oxfam logo below.

Author/Philosopher and FYI Jurist Deepak Chopra: “Take the vow of non-violence”

tchai — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:27:55 +0000

FYI Jurist Deepak Chopra has taken the vow for non-violence.

Film Your Issue Jurist Deepak Chopra is taking action against violence. The author and philosopher is supporting “I Take the Vow” to think, speak and act. He and over 26,000 other individuals around the world have already taken the vow of non-violence in their thoughts, speech and actions. Join us in taking the vow at http://itakethevow.com/.

You can follow Deepak on Twitter and learn more about the vow here.

“Who to Trust?” – A Pithy Observation by Craigslist Founder and FYI Jurist Craig Newmark

tchai — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:48:00 +0000

Craig Newmark is founder of Craigslist, the Internet marketplace and social networking site. He’s also one of the amazing judges of Film Your Issue who’s excited to see your idea! For 2010, we are looking for 3-minute “Issue and Solution” videos from young adults ages 14 to 24, expressing your issue and proposing an innovative solution-project. Winning submissions will be presented to Obama administration, winners flown to a VIP reception and Awards Ceremony hosted by Sony Pictures in Los Angeles. Submission deadline is April 19. YouTube is partnering. Upload 3-min video at http://www.youtube.com/filmyourissue

Much of life, online or real, depends on who you trust, how reliable is their information.

We’re used to dealing with partially reliable info, but need some sources of reasonable trustworthy information. I feel this will come from sites which deal with that matter, perhaps the most important of which is Wikipedia. Long term online solutions will reflect real life partial solutions, which include accounability, persistent identity, and reputation.

Craig

You can follow Craig on twitter at www.twitter.com/craignewmark.

Tom Brokaw is Film Your Issue’s Distinguished Honorary Jurist

tchai — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:57:00 +0000

Tom Brokaw's call to action to all youths (click to read).

This year, Film Your Issue’s VIP jury is headed by Honorary Distinguished Jurist Tom Brokaw, Special Correspondent for NBC News and the former host of The Today Show, NBC Nightly News and Meet the Press. We are proud to have the veteran Emmy and Peabody Awards-winning journalist on our jury again this year. He truly believes in the wide reach of the Internet and the social change that can be created through it. After all, “It will do us little good to wire the world if we short-circuit our souls.”

Think you have an awesome idea for Tom Brokaw? Or know somebody who may? Submit your video to Film Your Issue 2010 by April 19. We can’t wait to watch it.

You can find more about the competition here.

Jimmy Wales joins VIP Jury

tchai — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:40:08 +0000

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, has joined Film Your Issue's VIP jury.

Jimmy Wales, co-founder of the free open-content encyclopedia Wikipedia, has joined Film Your Issue’s VIP jury. His role in creating Wikipedia, which has become the world’s largest encyclopedia, prompted Time magazine to name him in its 2006 list of the world’s most influential people. Wales currently serves in an unpaid position on the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit charitable organization which operates Wikipedia.