July 12, 2011

Fundraiser Aug 23rd 2011(Click here for video link)

Too much time has passed since I have updated this blog. It has been a long journey to find the right people to work with along the making of this film. I have had some fabulous editors along the way working with technical challenges with the footage in order to make a trailer or two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba_eOECe9kE

The desire to tell this story never goes away. So much fabulous work is being done in Bangkok to help the most vulnerable children survive and succeed.
Pui, a young lady is now in her 4th year of University in Bangkok, working on a Business English degree as well as a minor in tourism. Pui was on the road to unimaginable circumstances but somehow found the strength to know she can do better and with the help of Father Joe and the team at the Mercy Centre, she managed to get a full scholarship to Vancouver Island's Pearson College which was the beginning of her academic accomplishments. Pui is just one story of the countless successes that Mercy Centre has been striving for.

I thank everyone, friends, family and strangers who have come into my life to help spread the word about such a fabulous foundation.

August 23, 2011 We are hosting a fundraiser at the Vancity Theatre to showcase a trailer of Slaughterhouse Kids, with a silent auction and a some Thai delectables.
With the help of Reel Causes, we will also screen an award winning Thai film called "Hello Stranger"- a love story and a comedy.

June 28, 2010

$10 Challenge-Documentary Funding

The time has come to ask(beg!) all my friends for their help and support to finish my Documentary- Slaughterhouse Kids.

As many of you know, making and completing a documentary is driven by something that comes from the heart. It can be a long and drawn out process, especially without proper funding.

This fim is so close to being complete.
I have had incredible support from many friends and collegues along this journey, but now I need a little more.

If I were to get $10 from all my facebook friends I would be able to complete this film, if I get lucky and recieve more than the $5000, I would be able to put that money towards paying those who have helped me along the way, and also be able to give some additional support to the Mercy Centre in Bangkok.

I will continue to update you on how the funding is going.
Once the film is completed, I will do a screening, and I will be looking for distribution.
It is important to get this message out, and help continue to save the children of Bangkok's Slums.

Thank you for your love and support,
Karen

October 19, 2008

synopsis

A man battles poverty, disease, organized crime and an ill equipped government in his efforts to bring education, a safe home and a sense of hope to thousands of Bangkok’s slum children.


When Father Joe Maier, an American Catholic priest relocates to Klong Toey, Bangkok’s worst slum, he is overcome by the daily struggle against poverty, disease, abuse, prostitution and drugs that the inhabitants face. A struggle poignantly illustrated by the growing number of helpless, innocent children living on the streets, some orphaned, some simply abandoned. Father Joe decides build a school, a safe haven for these children, and regardless of faith, race or gender, offer them a ray of hope. The crime lords know the children are their most profitable asset and try to take them back. Father Joe must make a choice; abandon the children, or do whatever it takes to keep these kids in school and off the streets. Over a forty-year battle, with courage and perseverance, Father Joe and the children build a new community within the slum… a community based on dignity, acceptance, trust, and hope.

July 19, 2008

Youtube link to film

if you have trouble loading the trailer on my blog you can also watch it on youtube.
"Slaughterhouse Kids"

June 25, 2008

Looking for Funding

As always Documentary Films are hard to find funding and distribution.
I am currently looking for completion funding, so if you happen to want to help or know someone who would like to, please contact me. There would be payback and points on the profits after all investors are reimbursed, and the Mercy Centre gets their percentage to help with their needs.
thank you for visiting, and please watch the trailer below.
Karen

June 9, 2008

A few updates

It has been a long time since I have updated this blog.
The children are all doing well, Pui graduated from Pearson College, has been accepted to University in the US, but is not sure yet if she will continue her education there or in Bangkok. She has gone back to Klong Toey for the summer and will volunteer with the HIV children, she also wants to get a job at Starbuck's to help her save some money.
Goft is 7 now and has lost his front teeth, his health is good and he is growing.
Cherie is studying her english and doing well, she is preparing for her next level of education.
As for the film... it is always moving ahead, script writing, creating and constantly looking for funding. Another challenge has been with transferring the tapes with a new codec and what Final Cut can read. Note: never use the advanced setting to record on the Sony V1U.
Father Joe continues his work and it is always growing, always busy, and always changing.
He is proud of his children and so he should be. They are all growing to be fabulous people, and without the Mercy Centre, who knows what would have happened to them, luckily they aren't part of the problem and they are all creating the solution. I miss them all each day, and look forward to going back there soon.
thanks for stopping by.
Karen

March 29, 2008

SHK 6 minute trailer. March 2008 -buffering takes a few moments, please be patient!!!-




for more on Father Joe and the Mercy Centre:
http://www.thegospeloffatherjoe.com/
www.mercycentre.org

Post Production

The editing process has begun. It has been a long process to get to this level, but I have had some wonderful friends and associates come together to make this project look so great. It means so much to know that people do want to help and make a difference in the lives of many.

April 23, 2007

Back in Canada


Coming home is never easy. Besides it is always hard to say goodbye to the wonderful people you meet traveling, it is all back to reality and work when you get home.
I am really fortunate as two girls from Bangkok are in school in Victoria on an international scholarship, so I went to visit yesterday. It was great to share photos with them and show them some footage. They helped me with translation as well so hopefully that is good for the film, but I am sure I will need a bit more when cutting together.
That is the next thing, the editing... I need a good editor and I think a good lawyer. I am still in the depths of finding financing to complete the film, so herein lie the challenges.
Wish me luck!!!!!

April 4, 2007

Coming to an end

I got to finally interview a few of the kids today, including my favorite little girl Gug, she sat with me on the bus on the way home from the birthday party and I just fell in love with her, she also sings and dances and I got her on tape singing a song by herself, so awesome.


Today we also went to the slaughterhouse and saw all the pigs, luckily they were only being washed and were still alive so we didn't see anything gross, but I don't think I will ever eat pork again, besides the fact that I have eaten about a whole pig myself this month. We didn't get it on film but I saw the truck full of pigs pull in, which was the same thing that turned me off of chicken.
We still have one more interview with Father Joe, a few more bits at the centre and then some night life shots of Bangkok. I hope we have it all, I feel pretty good and Steve has been a tremendous creative influence and help. It is going to be so hard to leave this place.

March 31, 2007

Back in Bangkok

We have been away from the Mercy Centre for a week, headed to Phuket to Eric’s house to enjoy some sun, beach and to shoot some scenic footage.
We arrived back in Bangkok yesterday for some sight seeing. We saw China Town and Patpong road which is just as discusting as you may have heard. Today we went to the Mercy Centre and had a fabulous visit with Father Joe, He is such an interesting man. He told us about AIDS and HIV and his view on how it drives him nuts when people say they are HIV but don’t have AIDS, when in fact you do have AIDS, you just aren’t sick yet. He believes in healthy food and good care and of course medication when needed, he believes that if the people want to eat something that isn’t recommended, they should eat it, if it makes them sick, they won’t eat it again, but not to deprive them of what they may want. He went on to explain Tuberculosis and how just about every AIDS patient has TB, and that is usually what actually kills them in the end. He explained the open air design of the centre and the way that germs stay air born and how important it is to let the air flow freely and not to stay stagnant in the walls of the centre or alive in the air conditioning.
He then talked about the boys going to study at Buddhist school and the monastery, How each child is watched 24/7 never left alone and is given special care and a watchful eye, so as no never be touched by man where they are not meant to be touched. How important he stressed that the kids at the MC are never alone with a man, although he trusts his staff he feels it so important that the children are never with only men, women they can be alone with but never a man as 30% of the MC kids have been sexually abused in one way or another.
Today we did a bit of filming on the river on a longtail boat, then visited some Wats, we were joined by my friend and fellow Canadian and Documentary film maker Aaron, it was great to have new company and to finally meet as we have been emailing back and forth for so long.