Representing Diversity in the 99%

Provide a new generation of activists with the opportunity to create new social issue work, utilizing Third World Newsreel's archive that spans four decades of historical and contemporary films and documentation on the struggle for social justice.

 

Our Story

The power to change the world:No art form wields this quite like film.

Time-travel from the 1960s with Third World Newsreel (TWN) and its revolutionary idea to seize film and the newsreel format from corporate powers and place it in the hands of the people to 2011.   You'll see that Third World Newsreel, now guiding the young and disenfranchised through media training and literacy to spread their message through the web, TV, theaters, and educational and community settings, has been the most forward-thinking and steadfast guardian of media for the people and by the people. 

Some may call this an old-fashioned idea, some a revolutionary idea. TWN thinks you'll agree that it's an idea that never goes out of style.

What We Need & What You Get

Your contribution will help us provide film and video production equipment, material and training to young filmmakers of color. Your support helps to cover the costs of restoring, preserving, and screening copies of invaluable Newsreel film archives of key social change movements; such as the Black Panthers, the Yippies, Young Lords, the Anti-Vietnam war, early Feminist and Gay and Lesbian rights movements,as well as the Worldwide"Occupy" movements.

Funds raised during the Indie Go Go campaign will also help TWN to create "REvolution REmix"-- Third World Newsreel's exciting new web project currently in development. "Revolution Remix" will be an interactive online site featuring selections from Newsreel's unique library of documentary and social issue media that will be made available for "remixing" and allowing new audiences to comment on and incorporate exciting Newsreel archival clips into their own original work--be they new video remixes, commentary, or essays or other original works--then upload them onto the TWN website, for public viewing.

The "REvolution REmix" site will also feature original Third World Newsreel materials accompanied by interviews, testimonials and historical blogs, contextualizing the newsreels, as well as providing interactive forums for  commentary and blogging by users. 

 

The Impact

This will greatly broaden the access and impact of Third World Newsreel's amazing historical social movement archives at a moment when it is especially timely as current events unfold.

Considering the range of unprecedented social motions in flux that are harnessing the power of new media platforms-- from "Occupy Wall Street" to the "Arab Spring"-- TWN's archives present enormous potential and resonance to be an educational and empowering resource for media makers, scholars, students, and communities of different backgrounds and generations.

Third World Newsreel:  

-has trained more than 400 makers of color in media production and post-production workshops, with program graduates working in the media industry in New York, across the U.S., and abroad.

-workshop graduates include the Oscar nominated documentarian Renee Tajima-Pena, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program director Cara Mertes, and author and Columbia University professor Jamal Joseph, to name just a few.

-takes pride in the fact that more than 300 independent media artists from a broad range of ethnicities and backgrounds make up Third World Newsreel's  historical and contemporary film, video and new media collection.

Third World Newsreel films are distributed to prestigious cultural organizations such as major museums and film festivals, housed in permanent collections and archives internationally, purchased by major universities and schools to use as teaching tools and library reference, and broadcast on television and the Web.  

Just as important, Third World Newsreel films are used in small community organizing groups to teach individuals about collective action, social justice and how they can effectuate change.

Third World Newsreel also maintains an amazing archive with footage of such key social change movements as the Black Panthers, the Yippies, Young Lords, the Anti-Vietnam war , early Feminist and Gay and Lesbian rights movements, and Third World national liberation movements -- all of which are outstanding and compelling to watch, and an invaluable historical record of all of our lives.

 

TWN URGENTLY NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW TO CONTINUE OUR PRODUCTION AND ARCHIVAL WORK

Like many nonprofits and cultural/educational organizations, Third World Newsreel is struggling in this economy to provide media workshops and services to those who can least afford it. You see, the tricky thing about film is that it is an art form that at times, comes with a hefty price tag. Providing production and editing equipment and training space for new generations, and caring for our historical archive of 16mm, 35mm and early video stock to preserve our history is not an inexpensive task.  But we are determined to continue providing equal access to all by raising $45,000 in the next 60 days and by promoting media literacy and the impact that media can have in facilitating change. 

Third World Newsreel is all about collective action.  So be part of the collective, and help young and disenfranchised people get wise about media and craft some amazing stories.  The stories convey personal, but universal tales told by diverse individuals from all cultures and communities, with an honest view of the world. The stories present experts in all cultural fields, whose voices need to be heard, and show places and issues that are not  covered in mainstream media.  Stories--like the Occupy Movement, the Arab Spring, the fight for immigrant rights--that are happening right now and can't wait to be captured at a later time. Be a part of the solution-- Right Now. Here's how:

 Ways You Can Help

1.            Donate: Make a contribution now directly through this website. Check out the donation levels accompanied by cool perks as an extra thank-you for your fully tax-deductible contribution.

2.            Share your own story: no doubt many of you may have had firsthand experience with the power of Third World Newsreel as filmmakers, viewers, programmers or even as newcomers who may have discovered us for the very first time through this campaign. Share our Third World Newsreel/Indie Go Go campaign alongside your stories and info about TWN. Mention TWN everywhere you can--blogs, Twitter, Tumbl'r, Facebook--it's all good. Your good deed is to get the word out!

3.            Start a TWN Fundraising Campaign with your own Social Network.  Organize your own fundraising event to raise money for their outstanding programs. A screening event, a race, your birthday--get creative and get fundraising! And THANK YOU!