Dec 4, 2008 10:48 pm US/Central
Minneapolis-Filmed Movie Examines Children In War
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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"Ana's Playground" focuses on a group of children playing in a non-specific, war-torn country, who are listening to a soccer match on the radio.
CBS
There were many reasons the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis was selected as the backdrop for a powerful short film called "Ana's Playground". The short was written five years ago by a Twin Cities filmmaker who finally realized his dream of raising enough money to get this non-profit project completed.
Eric Howell's script won the 2006 best screenplay award at the Los Angeles short film festival, an Oscar nominating festival.
"What I discovered, after I wrote it, was the issue of child soldiers. I discovered the issue the fact that one out of every 10 soldiers fighting war is a child. Eighty percent of them are under the age of 15-year-old. That 2,000 kids every day are killed or injured in war," said Howell.
"Ana's Playground" focuses on a group of children playing in a non-specific, war-torn country, who are listening to a soccer match on the radio.
When their ball goes over a fence, separating their game and a snipers killing zone, the main character of the film, Ana, loses a coin flip and is chosen to retrieve the ball, knowing her life is in jeopardy.
Atop a high rise, a young hidden sniper waits, who is listening to that same soccer game, and a dangerous cat and mouse game begins.
Eleven-year-old, Minneapolis actress Raven Bellefluer plays Ana. Through five days of bone chilling weather in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis Raven impressed the crew with her determination and understanding of a very complicated issue.
"I was really excited about it because it was educational on war, children who are war torn, children who have to live in areas where they're always being afraid of being shot at," said Raven.
The only this film could be made was through a long, grassroots fundraising campaign. Donations came in from around the country to be sure this project got done.
"We have donations from the Coen Brothers who were just here filming. We have donations from construction companies, from restaurants, from soccer equipment companies, from dealerships," said Howell. "From Lakeland Fire Department who burnt our cars, everyone in donating. Augsburg College donated students to help build some of our set pieces."
Howell's selection of the Cedar-Riverside area was important, way beyond its aesthetic look.
"We are in a community here that has totally embraced what we're doing. And it's a community full with Somali immigrants. And these people came here in the 90s to escape the war that they're living in. And there's not one person here who has not been greatly affected by war, living in war conditions. Children that grew up in those conditions and they still deal with those issues, right here in this community, they're dealing with it," he said.
Post-production begins in January with release of the short film sometime in late May or June. Ultimately Howell just wants as many people as possible to see it.
The non-profit film raised a total of $120,000. "Ana's Playground" will be distributed to non-governmental organizations that aid in the rehabilitation of child soldiers.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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