ProjectExplorer

ProjectExplorer is a documentary short film series. The films focus on histories and cultures of foreign places and people using interviews with subject experts, artists, and public figures including Dr. John Kani and Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse. Produced for a child and young adult audience, segments in each series depict everyday life and the challenges and concerns of those living in the locations and regions featured. Each film is 3-5 minutes in length, with each series containing approximately 30 films.

The ProjectExplorer series is distributed internationally without charge via the web by ProjectExplorer, LTD. an American not-for-profit organization.

Two series have been produced and distributed. [cite web
last = Munro
first = Caroline
title = World explores SA through web learning
publisher = The SA Times
url = http://www.satimes.co.uk/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1505&Itemid=73
date = 2007-11-06 ] "'

Film Series

hakespeare’s England (2006)

The first series was filmed in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and New York City. The series includes more than 30 film segments. [Citation
last=Mason
first=Justin
title= Students travel world without leaving school;Internet program gives insight to different cultures
newspaper= Schenectady Daily Gazette
page=B6
year=2006
date=November 12, 2006 ]

United Kingdom locations and individuals include:

• The London Eye
• The Tower of London
• The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which demonstrates the process of making a bell
• Simon Hughes, Member of Parliament and President of the Liberal Democrat (UK) party.
• The Old Vic
• The Royal Shakespeare Company
• The National Archives (UK)

Segments filmed in New York City include:

• Michael Cumpsty discusses and performs monologues from Hamlet (while starring in the Classic Stage Company production)
• Michael Stuhlbarg discusses and performs a monologue from MacbethCitation
  title=Ye Olde Field Trip
  newspaper=American Theatre Magazine
  page=17
  year=2006
  date=December 2006 ]

outh Africa (2007)

Filmed in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and KwaZulu Natal, [cite web
title = Take a virtual tour of SA
publisher = South Africa: The Good News
url = http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/tourism/take_a_virtual_tour_of_sa.html
date = 2007-11-22 ] the series contains over 40 film segments including:

• Ntate Thabong Phosa, a lesiba player from Lesotho. Due to the rarity of lesiba players globally, this is one of the only publicly-available examples of the lesiba played on film.
• A Robben Island piece, filmed at the cell in which Nelson Mandela was held for 18 of his 27-year imprisonment.
• JSE Securities Exchange with Leigh Roberts, correspondent for CNBC Africa.
• A 3-part series on HIV/AIDS with amfAR Director of Research, Dr. Rowena Johnson. Dr. Johnson discusses high cost of anti-retroviral drugs and testing in South Africa.
• The June 16, 1976 Soweto Uprising, with archival film footage and photography from SABC and The Sowetan newspaper.

Prominent South Africans featured in the series:

• Dr. John Kani, Chairperson of the Apartheid Museum and TONY Award Winning Actor
• Musician Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse
• Former U.N. Ambassador Dave A. Steward, Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation
• Duma Ndlovu
• Malcolm Purkey, Artistic Director of the Market Theatre
• Writer Max du Preez [cite web
  last = Tsumele
  first = Edward
  title = Learn all about our country
  publisher = The Sowetan
  url = http://www.sowetan.co.za/Entertainment/Article.aspx?id=640190
  date = 2007-11-27 ]

External links

* [http://www.projectexplorer.org Project Explorer official website]

References