Art as a Weapon- An Art Documentary for Social Change

Art as a weapon is a feature documentary about the power of creativity for social change- using the fight for Democracy in Burma as a case study. The film will be a dialogue between the people of Burma’s fight for Democracy and the western artists who support the struggle through Art. The story will follow American street artists, a Buddhist monk poet, and a Burmese punk band- all demonstrating how they are creating change by creating Art that speaks truth. By combining Buddhist philosophy, emotional interviews and Art that carries a message, the project will illustrate the power Art and creativity have in a modern day revolution. Part Art film, part political film, the goal is to continue spreading the word by using Art as a weapon for peace in Burma.

PROJECT STATUS- FUNDRAISING/EARLY PRODUCTION

The project is currently in production in California while we use Kickstarter to raise funds to travel to the Thai/Burma boarder to document the creative surge in political Art from the Burmese youth. We have interviews lined up with political artists, street artists, monks, and Burmese hip-hop groups in the boarder town of Mae Sot, Thailand and are working on raising 30k in 60days for a production budget. While fundraising we will continue filming artists and academics here in the US this fall-Dr. Darren Zook- a professor of Asian studies at UC Berkeley, Min Zinexiled Burmese journalist, and artist Mike Giant.

PROJECT GOAL

Our goal is to create an Academy quality film, that premiere’s at one of the top film festivals in the world, and secures a distribution deal. From there we will pursue screenings in museum’s, galleries and other venue’s within the art world.

PROJECT SUPPORT

We currently working with the US campaign for Burma, and UC Berkeley. The film is being directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Jeffrey Durkin and produced by Breadtruck Films.
artasaweapon.info
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artasaweapon/art-as-a-weapon