What is "Sex + Money - A national search for human worth"? A documentary that follows 5 photo journalist across the U.S. as they investigate human trafficking and sex slavery. Through interviews with today's most prominent abolitionists, awareness presentations and undercover research they are asking what is the problem, how did we get here, what's at steak if we stay here and where do we go from here. Watch the concept trailer to hear it in their own words. I do want to warn you, some of the footage is a bit vulgar.
My role is to help film, run sound and do a bit of editing for the project. I am working with three other incredibly talented guys from film school. Even after only a few weeks, we have had mixed emotions of feeling that sex trafficking is overwhelming as well as intense hope seeing people of all beliefs come together on this issue. The most surprising thing to me has been how the cops know where the prostitutes and brothels are and often do nothing about it. Many things have to change.
While filming undercover, we have already discovered prostitution on the streets of San Francisco, massage parlors in New York and been offered really anything you could imagine.
Morgan Perry, the producer, has been able to get some of the highest profile abolitionists to sit down for interviews. A former 14 year old prostitute, Brianna agreed to talk with us four hours after being release from prison and provided incredible insight into why the girls are so drawn to the pimps. What we have begun to realize is that the vast majority of girls begin at 12-15 years old, with the intention of completely breaking them and stripping their identity.
Financially, this would be considered more like a missions trip than a paying gig. I have been able to stash away some cash to cover the bare essentials. I am working with my church to set up an account so that if you would like to help out, that opportunity would be there and you would get a tax write off. Any funds would go toward helping pay off the gear I have already purchased, to better equip us with watch cams and such. If you would have any more questions about this, feel free to give me a call.
Thanks for your prayers. We really are going after the heart of this beast and at times feel the darkness all around us, but certainly not in us.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
September Update
SEX + MONEY documentary starts in New York September 17th
JESUSFREAKS accepted to a major US film festival in October
Another JESUSFREAKS showing September 16th
JESUSFREAKS beat out 3,200 other films to be 1 of 5 chosen to be accepted into a major US film festival. Due to the festival's request, I cannot tell you which one it is until they make this year's picks public on September 17th.
Another showing in Fresno will take place on September 16th at 7:00pm at my parent's house, 14011 E Herndon. I had wanted to give more advance notice, but I just found out a few days ago, they want me to start on SEX + MONEY September 17th, so we will try and squeeze this in before I leave.
What is SEX + MONEY? For me it started about two months ago at church when Pastor Brian Cain shared about sex trafficking. I instantly wanted to do something and had been eagar to head out on another documentary project. After contacting many agencies, I got a call from my film school friend Morgan Perry letting me know she had project in the works with the Photo Gen X crew from YWAM. The three month journey is beginning September 17th in New York City. More details will be coming soon, but in the meantime, begin praying because we all know this is going to be heavy.
I gotta get some sleep for my friend's wedding tomorrow. Peace.
JESUSFREAKS accepted to a major US film festival in October
Another JESUSFREAKS showing September 16th
JESUSFREAKS beat out 3,200 other films to be 1 of 5 chosen to be accepted into a major US film festival. Due to the festival's request, I cannot tell you which one it is until they make this year's picks public on September 17th.
Another showing in Fresno will take place on September 16th at 7:00pm at my parent's house, 14011 E Herndon. I had wanted to give more advance notice, but I just found out a few days ago, they want me to start on SEX + MONEY September 17th, so we will try and squeeze this in before I leave.
What is SEX + MONEY? For me it started about two months ago at church when Pastor Brian Cain shared about sex trafficking. I instantly wanted to do something and had been eagar to head out on another documentary project. After contacting many agencies, I got a call from my film school friend Morgan Perry letting me know she had project in the works with the Photo Gen X crew from YWAM. The three month journey is beginning September 17th in New York City. More details will be coming soon, but in the meantime, begin praying because we all know this is going to be heavy.
I gotta get some sleep for my friend's wedding tomorrow. Peace.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
May Update
Jesusfreaks documentary showings:
May 7th in Oakhurst
7:00pm at Sierra Pines Church
• May 9th at Peoples Church
7:00pm at Peoples Church in Ground Zero
I know it is last minute, but John Murphy and his family drove out to California from Denver due to a tragedy at their church in Oakhurst. They are taking the opportunity to share the documentary all around California, and we were lucky enough to get a two showings right in the Fresno area. I created a Facebook event for the Peoples showing, so even if you are not going, but you happened to have seen it already, could you take a moment to toss up some comments to let people know what you thought.
As far as news concerning the documentary, I have only heard things through the grapevine, but it just keeps getting better. John Murphy and the executive producers flew out to the main YWAM base in Kona, Hawaii. They showed it to the head YWAM leaders from around the world and it ended with an altar call by John Murphy and a standing ovation. David L. Cunningham, a director from Hollywood (and a hero of mine) saw it and was so excited, he took it back to LA and it landed on the desk of Sony and made the cut of 12 films out of hundreds they were considering. But things always change in that fickle town so prayer is always needed regarding distribution.
So, as for my life outside that realm, it has been anything but idle. Freelance video and web has exploded as I continue to do new work for new clients. Also, in pursuit of a dream since high school, I got a job at Best Buy. Yep, and I love it! I am always being asked to help people shop for cameras, computers, tv and other electric toys so I figured I might as well get paid for it. I have also really enjoyed biking and Caleb and I headed to San Francisco which made for one of the most memorable days of my life.
How long will I be in Fresno? Not sure. The two projects that were possibly going to take me away are continually being postponed. One thing I have learned this last year is that no matter how hard or stale life gets, it is never time wasted if you are constantly seeking God and gleaning everything He has for you from each and every experience.
Your Brother in Christ,
Josiah Thiesen
May 7th in Oakhurst
7:00pm at Sierra Pines Church
• May 9th at Peoples Church
7:00pm at Peoples Church in Ground Zero
I know it is last minute, but John Murphy and his family drove out to California from Denver due to a tragedy at their church in Oakhurst. They are taking the opportunity to share the documentary all around California, and we were lucky enough to get a two showings right in the Fresno area. I created a Facebook event for the Peoples showing, so even if you are not going, but you happened to have seen it already, could you take a moment to toss up some comments to let people know what you thought.
As far as news concerning the documentary, I have only heard things through the grapevine, but it just keeps getting better. John Murphy and the executive producers flew out to the main YWAM base in Kona, Hawaii. They showed it to the head YWAM leaders from around the world and it ended with an altar call by John Murphy and a standing ovation. David L. Cunningham, a director from Hollywood (and a hero of mine) saw it and was so excited, he took it back to LA and it landed on the desk of Sony and made the cut of 12 films out of hundreds they were considering. But things always change in that fickle town so prayer is always needed regarding distribution.
So, as for my life outside that realm, it has been anything but idle. Freelance video and web has exploded as I continue to do new work for new clients. Also, in pursuit of a dream since high school, I got a job at Best Buy. Yep, and I love it! I am always being asked to help people shop for cameras, computers, tv and other electric toys so I figured I might as well get paid for it. I have also really enjoyed biking and Caleb and I headed to San Francisco which made for one of the most memorable days of my life.
How long will I be in Fresno? Not sure. The two projects that were possibly going to take me away are continually being postponed. One thing I have learned this last year is that no matter how hard or stale life gets, it is never time wasted if you are constantly seeking God and gleaning everything He has for you from each and every experience.
Your Brother in Christ,
Josiah Thiesen
Friday, February 13, 2009
February Update
What a year. What a project. What a God.
Last I wrote, I was in Israel filming a documentary, and were on our way to meet the other team in Bosnia. Since then, Drew Strobridge and I got the opportunity to add to our roles as directors and cameramen, by returning to Denver and edit "Jesusfreaks" for Circle of Belief productions. God totally hooked us up with a phenomenal design firm to do the motion graphics called Spillt, based in Denver. This was just one of the many ways we saw God's hand throughout the post-production process.
We two screeners of the film, prior to picture lock. One at the very liberal Colorado University, and one at Biola. The five agnostics and atheists film students that saw it at CU, felt it was not preachy but were extremely impressed by the school leader's passion. They gave it 7 out of 10 stars. The film students at Biola were thrilled and commented it was so real and the first Christian film to portray the the God they serve. They gave it 8.5 out of 10 stars.
The premiere was held in Denver on December 9th, and now the Executive Producers (Charles and Katherine Cobb) are running the film around to film festivals. The next step is to get distribution. Distribution is what happens when a film is completed and now a distributor will come along and buy it to get it shown in theaters, home video, TV or whatever they decide is best for the project. Last I heard, the people that distributed the Christian filmFireproof were talking with the Execs about getting a worldwide premiere on HBO set up. This would certainly be something to pray for.
As for now, I just got the clearance, from the Executive Producers, to do a Fresno showing. It will be at Valley Christian Center in the Revolution Room at 7:00pm. The film is 96 minutes long, and shows the 5-month transformation adventure these snow board YWAM students experienced. I would love to see you there and if you know anyone who may want to see it, feel free to invite them as well.
I have a few opportunities on the horizon, but one that seems to be right in line with what I feel God has placed on my heart for this time in my life. It would a one year commitment with an LA based non-profit organization being formed by a group of businessmen who are setting aside the next 7 to 11 years of their lives to end world hunger. As crazy as this sounds, from what I have heard through some research, this is not an impossible desire, and these men have the means to do so. So I would move to LA and work at the headquarters down there. My role in this project is to work with the head of the media department in filming and editing video shorts documenting the formation of this organization and the works they are involved in. But like with everything in my life, nothing seems to be for sure until I see the seatbelt light come on and feel the ground leave as I take off in a plane.
As always, I am excited for what God has next. But for now, I think that is all.
Last I wrote, I was in Israel filming a documentary, and were on our way to meet the other team in Bosnia. Since then, Drew Strobridge and I got the opportunity to add to our roles as directors and cameramen, by returning to Denver and edit "Jesusfreaks" for Circle of Belief productions. God totally hooked us up with a phenomenal design firm to do the motion graphics called Spillt, based in Denver. This was just one of the many ways we saw God's hand throughout the post-production process.
We two screeners of the film, prior to picture lock. One at the very liberal Colorado University, and one at Biola. The five agnostics and atheists film students that saw it at CU, felt it was not preachy but were extremely impressed by the school leader's passion. They gave it 7 out of 10 stars. The film students at Biola were thrilled and commented it was so real and the first Christian film to portray the the God they serve. They gave it 8.5 out of 10 stars.
The premiere was held in Denver on December 9th, and now the Executive Producers (Charles and Katherine Cobb) are running the film around to film festivals. The next step is to get distribution. Distribution is what happens when a film is completed and now a distributor will come along and buy it to get it shown in theaters, home video, TV or whatever they decide is best for the project. Last I heard, the people that distributed the Christian filmFireproof were talking with the Execs about getting a worldwide premiere on HBO set up. This would certainly be something to pray for.
As for now, I just got the clearance, from the Executive Producers, to do a Fresno showing. It will be at Valley Christian Center in the Revolution Room at 7:00pm. The film is 96 minutes long, and shows the 5-month transformation adventure these snow board YWAM students experienced. I would love to see you there and if you know anyone who may want to see it, feel free to invite them as well.
I have a few opportunities on the horizon, but one that seems to be right in line with what I feel God has placed on my heart for this time in my life. It would a one year commitment with an LA based non-profit organization being formed by a group of businessmen who are setting aside the next 7 to 11 years of their lives to end world hunger. As crazy as this sounds, from what I have heard through some research, this is not an impossible desire, and these men have the means to do so. So I would move to LA and work at the headquarters down there. My role in this project is to work with the head of the media department in filming and editing video shorts documenting the formation of this organization and the works they are involved in. But like with everything in my life, nothing seems to be for sure until I see the seatbelt light come on and feel the ground leave as I take off in a plane.
As always, I am excited for what God has next. But for now, I think that is all.
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