Jehane Noujaim (winner of the 2006 Ted Talks prize), and creator of the evocative 2004 Documentary 'Control Room', spawned the idea of Pangea Day - where separated nations and continents can come together via the mediums of film, sound, and connectivity with the goal of sharing our experiences, as a global community, with each other.
Jehane believes people would be less likely to fight if they could just get to know one another. I share this belief - that callousness and indifference are born of detachment. The Control Room documentary was created on a simple premise, that of viewing the Iraq war from twin perspectives - both sides of the war. Her Ted Talks prize-winning concept of Pangea Day is an extension of this thought - having people from all over the world contribute footage highlighting (and celebrating) the diversity of people, experiences and thought. As the trailer below expresses, the powerful medium of film is normally controlled by the few, often for financial gain. We can wrest this power back for the global good.
I think this is a worthy concept to promote. If we gain insights into how others live, often directly as a result of how we live, the all-important connection between cause and effect can be made a little clearer.
Chris Anderson, Ted Curator, has this to say about the trailer above:
Maybe it's just me, but every time I see this trailer, it sets my spine a-tingling. I hope you’ll take a minute to view it, rate it, write a quick comment about it and then blog it, or pass the link along to friends. Each of these actions will have a multiplying effect and will help us reach out to thousands of film-makers around the world who we need to submit content for possible inclusion in Pangea Day.
The project is taking off, and its ambition level is spectacular. On May 10, 2008 - Pangea Day - Jehane’s wish will come to fruition as sites in New York City, Rio, London, Dharamsala, Cairo, Jerusalem, and Kigali will be video-conferenced live to produce a 4-hour program of powerful films - supplemented by visionary speakers, and global musicians. The purpose: to use the power of film to promote better understanding of our common humanity. A global audience will watch through the Internet, television, digital cinemas, and mobile phones. - Chris Anderson
For more information, visit pangeaday.org
