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Banker White, Zach Niles WeOwnTV

Description

WeOwnTV is a collaborative media project that tells a story about survival, hope and the transformative role that art and creativity can play in the rehabilitation of war-affected individuals. In 2009, Banker White and a small North American filmmaking team created a digital storytelling and media production training workshop in Sierra Leone, together with local pastor and playwright, Arthur Pratt, under the name WeOwnTV. The goal of this project was to assist in giving a “voice” to this generation of Sierra Leoneans whose childhood was cut cruelly short by war. Many participants are orphans, ex-combatants or former child prostitutes who are also powerful orators. The results are powerful, raw and righteous. WeOwnTV provides continuing support to help individual students further their media education, offering access to the necessary tools for them to grow into self-sustaining media professionals.

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Biography

  • Banker White

    Banker White is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker in the Bay Area. White is director and producer, director of photography and editor of the docu…

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  • Zach Niles

    Zach Niles was producer, director and writer for the film Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars. Previously, he was the associate producer for the eight-pa…

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Project Updates

  • 2011: Banker White launches WeOwnTV women’s producing initiative, Women Go Tok

  • 2010: WeOwnTV receives grant from Sierra Leone’s 50th Anniversary committee

  • 2010: WeOwnTV videos screen at film festival in Madrid

  • 2010: WeOwnTV opens media center in Freetown, Sierra Leone

  • 2009: WeOwnTV launches some of the first films finished by students in Sierra Leone on YouTube and on the WeOwnTV website

Work Samples