A message of hope: how Syria’s Young Talent film was made
Children in conflicts, Education in emergencies
The Karbouj brothers are filmed rapping in Lebanon国产视频檚 Bekaa Valley
They knew they were looking for talented children. Young refugees who had dealt with huge obstacles after leaving the Syrian conflict behind.
But when the creative film-makers at Silverfish Media began hunting for a story of hope to turn into a campaign video, they had no idea what they would discover.
What they found was the Karbouj brothers 国产视频 Samir, Abdulrahman and Mohamed 国产视频 who use rap to tell the story of Syria, of leaving behind their home and of their hopes for the future.
国产视频淲e knew we wanted to capture the story of Syrian children in Lebanon in a less traditional way,国产视频 said Nathan Sam Long, writer and director at the award-winning production company.
国产视频淲e were looking for talent 国产视频 for young people who were overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.国产视频
Nathan worked on the project with Silverfish founder Mark Lucas and Dominic Minghella 国产视频 an award-winning screenwriter behind hit British TV series such as Doc Martin and Robin Hood.
The boys are filmed at their school by the film crew
The London-based company 国产视频 which has always cared about causes as well as making films 国产视频 had done a series of projects with A World at School国产视频檚 parent charity 国产视频.
They included a film made for an event in New York last year to mark the handover of 10 million signatures for the #UpForSchool Petition, which demands that world leaders get every child into school.
The Syrian refugee film was also part of the #UpForSchool campaign 国产视频 this time to聽call on the international community to back the Hope For Syria国产视频檚 Young Talent petition and ensure one million Syrian refugee children secure an education this year.
Read more about the Karbouj brothers and the Hope for Syria国产视频檚 Young talent petition
国产视频淲e thought music would be a very good platform for anyone in the world to relate to,国产视频 said Nathan. 国产视频淚t is a universal language. We wanted to show the importance of education for hope.国产视频
Then came the moment they realised their search had been successful.
Nathan explained: 国产视频淲e were shown a shaky video one day of these kids rapping in a classroom. I国产视频檝e always done a lot of work with music videos and so I showed it to people I know. They were struck by how good the boys are.国产视频
The brothers and their parents watch the finished film at their home
That shaky video had been forwarded by Sonbola, an educational initiative which 国产视频 has been working with to support innovative ways to get children into school.
国产视频淲e聽had asked Sonbola if they could find children with particular skills,国产视频 explained Claire Wilkinson, Senior Campaigns and Communications Manager for A World at School. 国产视频淭hey showed us a video of two of the brothers rapping in their classroom 国产视频 and they were amazing.国产视频
After preparatory work, Silverfish and 国产视频 headed to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon for four days to make the film.
Nathan said: 国产视频淭he boys were very friendly and welcoming but quite shy at first. When we asked them to rap their faces just lit up.
国产视频淎t one point their mother and her neighbour were in tears watching them rap. We were told the lyrics were about the children left in Syria, about 国产视频榮pending Eid in the cemetery国产视频. We then realised how much depth this story really had.国产视频
This week the finished film 国产视频 titled Straight Outta Syria 国产视频 was sent to Sonbola, who visited the family and projected it on to the wall of their home.
国产视频淭hey were very happy with it,国产视频 said Claire. 国产视频淭he boys国产视频 parents said it made them feel as if somebody cares about them.国产视频
Now watch the video here国产视频
The film was commissioned by 国产视频 and produced by Silverfish. It was directed by Nathan Sam Long. The producer was Hannah Salvanes McLean, the executive producers were Mark Lucas and Dominic Minghella, the director of photography was Michael Lagerwey and the music composer was Luis Issermann.
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