Journey to My Mother's Land Film
Donation protected
My name is Janice Marie Collins and I am an assistant professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in Champain, Illinois. My DNA results connect me to the Mende tribe of Sierra Leone.
After 6 longs years, my documentary is nearing its completion. I have only to place the introduction, the outro and the credits, which will be completed this week. Six years is a long time. It has been a sacrifice but well worth every cent, second, minute and days and years I have put into this. Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. said in an article that he notices all of the African American, Black American celebrities had an emotional response when they found out about their connection to slavery. But, they didn't have an emotional response to their connection to Africa or their African sisters and brothers. This is the gap in his research that I sought to fill. This is why I took this month-long journey into Africa. It is an American, African, African American and Black American story...a story for any and everyone who believes in the importance of history, humanity and human emotion. No scenes are pre-staged with 100% of the footage captured as it happened and from mostly a first person point of view. You will travel with me on this journey through my pictures, video and sound about social location and self-identity. It is emotional, it is raw and it is authentic. It is a story of us. It is a story that addresses female cutting, traditions, mores, the disconnection between Africans and African Americans, and the importance of completing one's picture that includes the base of your origins. I also interviewed 4 other African Americans when they first took the DNA test, a year later and a year after that to see if "knowing" of your ancestral origins made a difference. My journey helps to answer the questions; did I feel more American, more African American, more Black American during my journey? Could I relate or did I feel isolated? All of these questions and more are addressed in my film. But, again, I want you to be a part of it. In the spirit of ONE LOVE, I am extending an opportunity to you to be a part of this important story. By donating to the distribution, marketing, promotion of this film, you will help me reach the largest audience that I can.
Any donation amount is graciously appreciated and welcome. So, I thank you in advance. Know that you are assisting in production, marketing, promotional and speaking costs to make sure this important film gets to you and your audiences and the attention it deserves. As you are also probably aware, Salone's infrastructure, including the education system, has been damaged terribly by the war and recently, by the outbreak of Ebola. I would like to help with this cause by establishing a scholarship for the Harford School for girls located in the Moyamba district of Salone so that young women can continue their education. You'll hear more about this in the film.
For those of you who want to donate $500 or more, your name will be included in the credits as a contributor to my efforts in producing this film and a portion of your donations will help fund the scholarship. For $1000 or more, your name will be listed as a contributor, you will contribute to the scholarship as well and you will receive a special invitation to a private screening of this series. I will also use the funds to help bring in some of the Sierra Leoneans seen in this film as well as members from my "Taste of Gullah" broadcasted mini documentary from Gullah Geechee country. Please keep in mind that to fly someone in from Sierra Leone, the cost is $1500+. I will also use the funds to help bring in the top donors during this special event as well as a sit-down dinner. I am beginning to market my documentary to national networks so I can only show you a clip from the documentary. I have decided that the ending montage of my journey is the best choice because it shows you a variety of some of the scenes that you will see in the complete documentary. By the way, I will also publish a book for the coffee table filled with some of the beautiful, captivating pictures of the country and its people. There is no better time than right now for this film to released and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. It is a story that you will be able to share with your children, and their children and the children of the future about who they are - which may help determine who they will become. It will also be beneficial in the classroom and other learning spaces. Would you like to join me in this unique, and important venture? I hope you will. Thank you. In peace....Sincerely, Janice Blessings to you.
After 6 longs years, my documentary is nearing its completion. I have only to place the introduction, the outro and the credits, which will be completed this week. Six years is a long time. It has been a sacrifice but well worth every cent, second, minute and days and years I have put into this. Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. said in an article that he notices all of the African American, Black American celebrities had an emotional response when they found out about their connection to slavery. But, they didn't have an emotional response to their connection to Africa or their African sisters and brothers. This is the gap in his research that I sought to fill. This is why I took this month-long journey into Africa. It is an American, African, African American and Black American story...a story for any and everyone who believes in the importance of history, humanity and human emotion. No scenes are pre-staged with 100% of the footage captured as it happened and from mostly a first person point of view. You will travel with me on this journey through my pictures, video and sound about social location and self-identity. It is emotional, it is raw and it is authentic. It is a story of us. It is a story that addresses female cutting, traditions, mores, the disconnection between Africans and African Americans, and the importance of completing one's picture that includes the base of your origins. I also interviewed 4 other African Americans when they first took the DNA test, a year later and a year after that to see if "knowing" of your ancestral origins made a difference. My journey helps to answer the questions; did I feel more American, more African American, more Black American during my journey? Could I relate or did I feel isolated? All of these questions and more are addressed in my film. But, again, I want you to be a part of it. In the spirit of ONE LOVE, I am extending an opportunity to you to be a part of this important story. By donating to the distribution, marketing, promotion of this film, you will help me reach the largest audience that I can.
Any donation amount is graciously appreciated and welcome. So, I thank you in advance. Know that you are assisting in production, marketing, promotional and speaking costs to make sure this important film gets to you and your audiences and the attention it deserves. As you are also probably aware, Salone's infrastructure, including the education system, has been damaged terribly by the war and recently, by the outbreak of Ebola. I would like to help with this cause by establishing a scholarship for the Harford School for girls located in the Moyamba district of Salone so that young women can continue their education. You'll hear more about this in the film.
For those of you who want to donate $500 or more, your name will be included in the credits as a contributor to my efforts in producing this film and a portion of your donations will help fund the scholarship. For $1000 or more, your name will be listed as a contributor, you will contribute to the scholarship as well and you will receive a special invitation to a private screening of this series. I will also use the funds to help bring in some of the Sierra Leoneans seen in this film as well as members from my "Taste of Gullah" broadcasted mini documentary from Gullah Geechee country. Please keep in mind that to fly someone in from Sierra Leone, the cost is $1500+. I will also use the funds to help bring in the top donors during this special event as well as a sit-down dinner. I am beginning to market my documentary to national networks so I can only show you a clip from the documentary. I have decided that the ending montage of my journey is the best choice because it shows you a variety of some of the scenes that you will see in the complete documentary. By the way, I will also publish a book for the coffee table filled with some of the beautiful, captivating pictures of the country and its people. There is no better time than right now for this film to released and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. It is a story that you will be able to share with your children, and their children and the children of the future about who they are - which may help determine who they will become. It will also be beneficial in the classroom and other learning spaces. Would you like to join me in this unique, and important venture? I hope you will. Thank you. In peace....Sincerely, Janice Blessings to you.
Organizer
Janice M Collins
Organizer
Champaign, IL
