Rio Camera Kids is a project developed by film director Marco Nicoletti with the support of Italian NGO CISP that will open up opportunities for the youths of the Rio Favelas. The test case ‘The Rocinha Favela’ will provide ten youths with the equipment, training and guidance needed to produce short documentaries about their lives in the favela.
How we will do it
With the artistic direction of Marco Nicoletti and with the assistance of CISP staff the project will teach the kids the basics of filmmaking from concept through to post production.
Marco will also be shooting a documentary on the entire process from start to finish. This will show the juxtaposition between the kid’s perceptions of the favelas through their short documentaries and the actual realities of their lives. This will be a no holds barred view of the favelas and will highlight the alternate pathways that the kids can take and the amazing things they can do when given the chance.
Thus the documentary, will not only be a tool to promote the unconventional views of the Rocinha favela, but will also be a means to promote the skills of these kids in the audio-visual space – with the hope they will be able to gain employment in the world of film.
My Motivation
For the past 13 years I have worked directly with UN organisations like Unicef and have followed street children (and adolescents) in different countries throughout the world.
However, I came to realise that although it can go a long way to inform the world about their living conditions through film, this was not enough to truly make a difference. This is why I believe in the power of film to improve their skillsets and allow them to express their feelings through it’s magic.
Here are some of my previous experiences that have inspired me:
Angola (2005) – I helped these kids create a very simple comic to show the skills that they have away from crime and hard living.
Guatemala (2007) – Together we made a short and colourful photo-novel, telling the life of the people living and working next to the landfill.
El Salvador (2002 to 2010) I worked on the prevention of violence in the extreme ‘no man’s land’ of the Salvadorian gangs. Documenting how they would like to move away from crime if given the chance.
And Now!
Brazil (2015) Thankfully, the narcotraffic domination in Rocinha has been eradicated. The kids can now live in a peaceful neighbourhood, however still face the hardships of functioning within their society and beyond. They still have to find a new identity; to survive away from the threat of the ever present and alluring crime economy. But above all, they have to learn how to express their ideas and to choose the best way to communicate. This is where I knew I could step in and make a difference.
For more information go to:
https://kriticalmass.com/p/riocamerakids
