Showing posts with label dvd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dvd. Show all posts

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Facing Sudan Digital Download, only $2.99!


Facing Sudan is now available for a digital download at MoPix.com.  The download is only $2.99.

The dvd is also available at CDbaby.  Don't worry, even though this is a "cd"store, this is the Special Edition dvd.  It is only $5.99. (Also available at Amazon, but a little more expensive)

Don't forget, there are many items available to enhance your viewing of Facing Sudan:

Official Soundtrack (Free Download)

Facing Sudan Discussion Questions

Facing Sudan Lesson Plans

More information is available at the Official Website for the film.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Facing Sudan now only $6.99

Much has changed in Sudan over the last year.  South Sudan became the world's newest country as it broke away from the north and declared itself the Republic of South Sudan in July.  However, South Sudan is one of the poorest nations in the world today and is rocked by violence---both among its many ethnic groups but also tension with the government of the North has erupted into violence along the border.  Although peace was signed in June, violence there continues as well.  The humanitarian crisis in Darfur continues.

Facing Sudan addressed some of these issues back when it hit the festival circuit in 2007.  The film was made to spread awareness about the situation in both South Sudan and in Darfur.  It provides necessary background information to understanding the conflict and the situation today.

In order to continue the purpose of spreading awareness, Facing Sudan is now available for just $6.99 from Film Baby.  We also have free lesson plans and viewing party materials, as well.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

New review in School Library Journal

Here is the new review of Facing Sudan that appeared in School Library Journal:

Facing Sudan. DVD. 90 min. with tchr’s. guide. Bell, Book & Camera Prods. 2007, 2008 release. $24.95.

Gr 9 Up–Twenty years of bloody internal fighting in Sudan have left millions dead and displaced. Even though high profile celebrities continue to bring the mayhem to the forefront, most of the world’s governments have been unwilling or impotent to intervene in the genocide. This low-key but overwhelmingly powerful documentary shows how individuals can affect the ongoing situation. Interviews with those involved as well as the victims of the violence are supplemented by a powerful collection of video footage, including actual Sudanese military attacks on the populace. Resulting from a seemingly incidental conversation between a young custodian in a suburban Chicago high school and Bruce David Janu, a social science teacher, this timely and touching program provides both a historical context as well as a striking contemporary description of the political, social, medical, and military mayhem in Africa’s darkest corner. One segment on the Lost Boys of Sudan will particularly hit home with younger viewers; be cautioned that there are several instances of graphic images of death and explicit descriptions of events. The film was produced and directed by a teacher who crafted it to be as classroom-friendly as possible with scene selection, English subtitles, several bonus tracks, useful lesson plan suggestions, and a moving soundtrack of original compositions which greatly enhances the spirit of the program. This excellent, award-winning film will definitely have a deep impact on viewers.

Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL -- School Library Journal, 6/5/2008

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Facing Sudan Featured in National Council for the Social Studies Publication

Facing Sudan recently made the front page of The Social Studies Professional. This publication is the official newsletter for the National Council for the Social Studies. I have been a member of NCSS for many years and even presented a few years ago at the annual convention a workshop entitled, "Give Students the Black Death: Using Drama, Poetry and Song in the Classroom." Unfortunately, I recently let my membership lapse---but will soon rejoin! Thanks NCSS for highlighting the film!

A link to the publication can be found here

Want to see a kid with the black death? Click here.

Monday, January 21, 2008

From Sinatra to Sudan---Teacher makes film about war-torn country

Teacher known for Sinatra gets serious for Sudan documentary

Chicago, January 21, 2008(I-Newswire) - Chicago area history teacher Bruce David Janu never intended to make a feature length documentary about the situation in Sudan. Known for his use of Sinatra in the classroom, including the infamous "Frank Sinatra Detention club," Janu stumbled into feature-filmmaking after meeting Brian Burns, a young janitor at his school.

Burns was sweeping floors on the third shift at John Hersey High School in suburban Arlington Heights when the two crossed paths. They struck up a conversation and when Burns began relating his experiences in Sudan, Janu saw an opportunity for his students.

That chance meeting on a Friday afternoon led not to a speaking engagement in front of a class of freshman, but to a feature documentary entitled Facing Sudan. The film highlights the situation in that war-torn country but is uniquely told through the eyes of ordinary individuals who have made a difference there: a suburban housewife, a 73-year-old pediatrician, a grandmother, a high school student, several Sudanese "lost boys" and, of course, Brian Burns.

"Two years ago, if someone said to me that I would be making a documentary about Sudan," says Janu, "I would have told them they were crazy."

It is Janu's students, however, who think that he is the crazy one. In addition to extra credit Sinatra questions on every test, Janu routinely dresses in costume and dances in front of class in an attempt to get the students interested in history. He sings too. One of his raps about absolutism in Europe even made it on You Tube. His students weren't surprised at his turn as a filmmaker. He had already made several educational videos for his classes over the years and many of his students turned out for the Chicago premiere of Facing Sudan at the Illinois International Film Festival last fall, where it won "Best Documentary."

"I put this film together in my spare time down in the basement," Janu says. "I never thought it would get this much attention." In addition to the long hours, he ended up paying for the film using his credit cards.

Although creating the film was arduous and financially challenging, Janu did have some help. His subjects supplied much of the footage from Sudan and he discovered two singer/songwriters from Pennsylvania, Tom Flannery and Lorne Clarke, willing to compose an original soundtrack for the film. Passionate about Sudan, the duo contributed songs completely pro bono, including "Crayons and Paper," a heartbreaking song that accompanies drawings made by children from Darfur smuggled out of Sudan by a pediatrician working with Doctors Without Borders.

Facing Sudan has toured the festival circuit and received much critical acclaim, including two "best documentary" awards.

The film has now been released on DVD by Bell, Book & Camera Productions with several deleted scenes, director commentary and a bonus song by Tom Flannery.

In addition, Janu has provided free lesson plans and discussion questions for Facing Sudan, hoping that it will fulfill his ultimate goals: education and awareness.

"Anyone can make a difference in this world," he says. "Especially if you know what's going on. As more people know about Sudan, the more likely something will be done."



Press kit, artwork and photos from the film are available at the official website at http://www.facingsudan.com/sudan.html

###

Bell, Book & Camera Productions
PO Box 24
Cary, IL 60013

Tel: 847-721-9222
info@bellbookcamera.com

Other film related sites: http://www.myspace.com/facing_sudan

Songwriters' site: http://www.songaweek.com

Tom Flannery's Site: http://www.tomflannery.com

Lorne Clarke's site: http://www.songaweek.com/lorne/

"Reel Chicago" Article about the film:
http://www.reelchicago.com/archive.cfm?storyID=1628

Information about the Frank Sinatra Detention Club and the director:

New York Times article

Entertainment Weekly article