A young director from Los Angeles traveled 45,000 miles uniting the conscience of the world to raise awareness about human rights. His short film, UNITED had its official premiere at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival. The 5 minute short has already received praise from the United Nations Office of the High Commission on Human Rights, the Mayor of Los Angeles, James K. Hahn, and the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
New York, NY (PRWEB) May 15, 2005 -- A young director from Los Angeles traveled 45,000 miles uniting the conscience of the world to raise awareness about human rights. His short film, UNITED had its official premiere at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival, attended by an audience of humanitarians, film-goers and youth.
During the Youth for Human Rights International World Educational Tour 2004 (coordinated in party by the Church of Scientology Int.), with Mary Shuttleworth, International Director and Founder of Youth for Human Rights, Taron Lexton, a young director whod just graduated from the Los Angeles Film School, and was just 19 years old at the time, realized that a tremendous amount of children were victims of human rights violations. Many didnt even have basic necessities like food, shelter, or clothing. Despite narrowly missing bombings in civil uprisings in Nepal and Venezuela, and a shocking tour through former slave dungeons in West Africa and other such adversities, Lexton determined to make a film that would help recover these basic human rights.
UNITED is that film. It is a short film in a music video format, that tells the story of an inner-city kid (André Boydon) who just wants to play basketball. But after a villainous thug (Erick Forté) bullies him off the court, he unifies the world to help him fight for his right to play. The film includes original footage from 14 countries, shot during the YHRI World Educational Tour 2004 in which Lexton literally circumnavigated the globe. Isaac Hayes, Jenna Elfman, Erika Christensen, and Catherine Bell lent their cameo appearances to this short drama.
Leslie Brown, lead producer at TXL Films, produced the main story on location in Los Angeles, with Mary Shuttleworth Exec Producing. With more that 250 volunteer cast and crew in Los Angeles and over than 2000 internationally, many of them youth, UNITED proves to be truly a project by youth for youth. And the message is clear. Lexton has defined a new era of pop culture. Hes changing the way kids think about cool" with stunning visuals and a catchy hip-hop groove created by Hiroko Hayata, Chris Thomas, Charles Gee, Lai Lai, and Geoff Levin; complete with an unforgettable chorus. U-N-I-T-E-D!"
Although the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival marks the official world premiere of UNITED, the 5 minute short has already received praise from the United Nations Office of the High Commission on Human Rights, the Mayor of Los Angeles, James K. Hahn, and the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
For additional information or for copies of the music video, contact Leslie Brown at TXL Films (323) 663-3898 or visit www.TXLFilms.com. For downloadable copies of the booklet, What are Human Rights?" visit www.youthforhumanrights.org.
Youth for Human Rights International is a not-for-profit corporation whose purpose is to educate youth in human rights so they become valuable advocates for tolerance and peace.
Contact Information:
Leslie Brown
TXL Films
(323) 663-3898
Mary Shuttleworth
Youth for Human Rights
(323) 663-5799
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