Red Earth Films' current documentary project is Street Dreams. Returning us back to the Philippines and beyond, Street Dreams explores the world of the flesh trade and sex trafficking which we saw a glimpse of in Ballots and Bullets.  Street Dreams will take the audience deep into the streets of Northern Thailand, Bangkok and Pattaya, Cambodia and Manila to reveal a world fashioned by desperation, yet fueled by hope. But be warned: This is not just a South-East Asian film: this is a story of international manipulation which will be traced all around the world – even to Australia.

FUNDING UPDATE (January 2012): We are appealing to those of you who have a heart for film that helps us to finish this important story of the many vulnerable of this world whose plight need to be heard. We are currently seeking major sponsorship in order to finish our film and get it to broadcast/screen. Please contact us to see how you can be a part of the growing list of dedicated and gracious people who have already contributed to this project.

Visit our blog for the most up-to-date info:

http://www.street-dreams.com.au

ABOUT THE FILM:

A CHILD GETS SOLD INTO SLAVERY EVERY 26 SECONDS.

HALF OF THEM UNDERAGE AND MOST ARE SEXUALLY
ABUSED AND EXPLOITED.

WE NEED TO SHARE THEIR STORY TO HELP SET THEM FREE!

THE AIM – Create a film/DVD resource that would tell the story about the world of South-East Asian human trafficking and flesh trade (particularly in the Philippines & Thailand) and those who are trying to rescue them.

 
WHY – To create awareness of the real life effects of human trafficking and poverty, and support the organisations F.O.C.U.S and Destiny Rescue who are desperately trying to make a difference.

 
THE STORY – Despite Asia’s well-documented prostitution and human trafficking issues, the voices of those caught up in it are still largely silent. We wish to explore the heartfelt, tragic yet hopeful stories of young girls in South East Asia, trapped in a cruel world where they are exploited, their childhoods stolen from them, but who still have dreams.

While Street Dreams aims to tackle the overwhelming injustice that is the flesh-trade industry, we are aiming to steer away from the depressing world that viewers typically see and struggle to relate to, and rather focus on a concept that is shared by everyone – childhood dreams. It is here where the audience will see how real human hope, love and determination stare in the face of despair every day, holding on to promises of a better life.
 
One of the underlying subtexts of this documentary will be the role of the western society in creating an environment where the multi-billion dollar global industry of human trafficking and flesh trade flourishes. During the film, the audience will realise these workers are metaphor for the western world’s ongoing exploitation of entire nations crippled by immense poverty and injustice. A main character in the film will be social worker Marlene Alastra who knows the girls and their situations very well.

 
WHO – A Red Earth Films production working in association with Manila-based street mission F.O.C.U.S. and Australian organisation Destony Rescue

RED EARTH FILMS is an emerging film and television production company consisting of Mike Crowhurst and Jason Bray. Established in 2005, Red Earth has worked on a number of acclaimed projects from short films, video clips, corporate videos and documentaries. Red Earth Films, through the Starfish Project, is committed to telling the stories of the marginalised, primarily through the medium of documentary.

Visit our blog for the most up-to-date info:

http://www.street-dreams.com.au

FUNDING - As of January 2012, we have raised enough basic funding to allow Jason and Mike to fly to SE Asia and shoot much of the principle photography for the film.

By filmmaking standards, this is an extremly low-budget film. Almost non-existent really. We limited ourselves to very few essentials, paying just to cover food, a roof over our heads and travel costs, and are relying on our contacts, travel experience and our wits to help guide our way.

As documentarians, we do this for the love of film and the subject matter we are exploring, not for money! If we can reach our target here, it will be a huge boost to our ability to continue to make these types of important films. FUNDRAISING APPEAL VIDEO: see below for a video we did in Laos regarding our need for funds...

Any funding you are prepared to donate to assist with our project comes with our immense gratitude. DONATION OPTIONS:

• Donate directly to our account: BSB: 034002 Account: 174114 Account name: RED EARTH FILM PRODUCTIONS
  
• For a tax-deductible receipt for your donation, go through Documentary Australia
  

Generous Donators will be blessed with great karma and our deep admiration and appreciation, but also will benefit from rewards that we are offering based on how much has been donated. Here are the reward tiers:

• $25+ We will provide a Supporter Credit on the film's credits and our website**
• $50+ We'd love to give you a copy of the finished DVD + a Supporter Credit on the film's credits & our website**
• $100+ Two tickets to our Street Dreams Premiere Screening + a copy of the finished DVD + a Supporter Credit on the film's credits & our website**
• $500+ A framed & signed Limited Edition photo or photobook from the film + two tickets to our Street Dreams Premiere Screening + a copy of the finished DVD + a Top Sponsor Credit on the film's credits with your logo and link from our Premium Sponsors section on our website**
• $1000+ We would be honoured to provide you with the Film Credit of Executive Producer** which will appear on the film and accompanying DVD case, other marketing material plus our website. You will also receive the Framed & Signed Limited Edition Photo or photobook from the film + two tickets to our Street Dreams Premiere Screening + a copy of the finished DVD + copies of other social justice documentaries, Ballots and Bullets and Breathless
  

** displayed credit for your donation is optional; you can remain anonymous if you wish!

Here is a growing list of generous sponsors and partners to date!
Thank you all!!

FUNDRAISING APPEAL VIDEO:

WHY DONATE TO A DOCUMENTARY

Why would a person put money into a documentary? What distinguishes a film like “Street Dreams” from every other charity or organization? Like every piece of art whether it be film, music or painting, a good documentary is making a statement. Our projects capture a slice of the real world, crafting it into a documentary and then sending it into the world as a statement. If you were too look at our previous works, Breathless and Ballots and Bullets, you should quite easily see what that statement is – compassion.

When an organisation or individual invests in a project like this, then they are assisting in getting a statement of compassion onto “the marketplace of ideas.”

Our documentaries are able to make a statement about compassion by promoting the shared humanity between the subject and the audience, allowing the audience to have identification and empathy for the subject. Our goal is to turn the marginalized “other” into a living and breathing human being that deserves respect and recognition. Once the audience makes this connection then the hope is that the connection will turn into action.

We want to stimulate our audience into acts of charity and justice for those in the world who are lacking both.

Many thanks for supporting our project!

STREET DREAMS PROPOSAL:

Street Dreams is in the editing stage as we look to find the resources to finish the film.  If you are interested in supporting this journey there are a couple of ways you can find out information:

1. Contact Jason directly for a face to face or phone discussion on the film – +61.407.574.883 or jason@redearthfilms.com.au
2. Download and read the current Post-Production Info Document

Following the support of Ballots and Bullets, we are looking forward to getting this new story onto the world stage through television, DVD distribution, the internet and tours.  In doing so we are looking to promote justice, compassion and hope in this very difficult issue of the flesh trade and human trafficking. Won’t you join us?