RISK: At-Risk Girls Behind The Camera

We hope that this posting finds you doing well and that you’ve enjoyed a wonderful summer!  Please accept our apologies for the lack of updates or communications regarding the GIRLS BEHIND THE CAMERA project since filming concluded at the end of August last year.  Unfortunately, shortly after our director Tara Veneruso returned from the 2008 shoot in Missouri she was overcome with a long stretch of severe illness.  After numerous tests, the doctors ultimately diagnosed her with Lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks it’s own tissues and organs.  If left untreated, the chief symptoms of this serious illness render the patient physically overwhelmed with exhaustion and pain.  However, with the recent proper treatment of the disease her health is slowly but steadily improving.  Recently, Tara has been able to channel newfound energy into organizing a small team to begin post-production on the film.

Based on the current progress of the team, it is with great pleasure to inform you that Flaming Angel Films anticipates the completion of the GIRLS BEHIND THE CAMERA film in approximately eight months. RISK: AT-RISK GIRLS BEHIND THE CAMERA  is a film that Tara is exceptionally dedicated to.  She is enthusiastic that Flaming Angel Films is now able to push forward with post-production and has placed the completion of the film as the number one priority. 

In six to eight months, Tara plans to visit Missouri for a week to do follow-up interviews for the very end of the film. Thank you so much for your support and participation! 

We hope that this posting finds you doing well and that you’ve enjoyed a wonderful summer!  Please accept our apologies for the lack of updates or communications regarding the GIRLS BEHIND THE CAMERA project since filming concluded at the end of August last year.  Unfortunately, shortly after our director Tara Veneruso returned from the 2008 shoot in Missouri she was overcome with a long stretch of severe illness.  After numerous tests, the doctors ultimately diagnosed her with Lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks it’s own tissues and organs.  If left untreated, the chief symptoms of this serious illness render the patient physically overwhelmed with exhaustion and pain.  However, with the recent proper treatment of the disease her health is slowly but steadily improving.  Recently, Tara has been able to channel newfound energy into organizing a small team to begin post-production on the film.

Based on the current progress of the team, it is with great pleasure to inform you that Flaming Angel Films anticipates the completion of the GIRLS BEHIND THE CAMERA film in approximately eight months. RISK: AT-RISK GIRLS BEHIND THE CAMERA  is a film that Tara is exceptionally dedicated to.  She is enthusiastic that Flaming Angel Films is now able to push forward with post-production and has placed the completion of the film as the number one priority. 

In six to eight months, Tara plans to visit Missouri for a week to do follow-up interviews for the very end of the film. Thank you so much for your support and participation! 

Today I heard from one of my Kansas City teammates Robert.  He worked so hard during production and deserves a gold medal just for taking such good care of me, the director, during production.  He helped me get my plane, get some rest, and told me great stories to keep from getting down about how hard the shoot was at times.

He won’t believe me but he is a total angel.  He and his friends have taken one of the girls completely under their wings and have helped her family in every possible way.  He has discovered many resources that her family can use to defray major medical, bill and food costs.   He’s also helped get Crista into her magent high school along with a backpack, school supplies, and a uniform.  He helped them pay their bills so that she doesn’t have to drag bottles of water up to the bath to stay clean.  He’s helped her family with rides to get essential services.  I’m telling you - he’s an angel.

We talked about how everyone reading this can make a difference in all of these girls’ lives.  My team is ready and willing to help, but sadly it does all take money to make it happen… Don’t get me wrong - we volunteer our time - but from gasoline to bread and butter, it is the one key way you can help us help a whole lot of families.

Right now I am prepping the DVDs of the girls’ movies to get mailed out to them.   I can’t wait for them to watch their own movies!  Thankfully many of the girls live in areas with a community center where they’ll be able to watch their DVD.

Please read on for more ways that you can help.  Also, if you are one of the girls in  our program we’d love to get you started as one of the writers on our blog.   Just email us and we’ll get you started.  Love, Tara Veneruso - Director of Girls Behind the Camera.

We’re deep in the middle of production in our second year of the RISK: At-Risk Girls Behind the Camera project. After our extremely successful 2007 program, we’ve come back to Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri to work with 30 new at-risk teen girls. Their stories are amazing and some heart-breaking and we know we’re making a difference in their lives. Our passion for movies crosses all boundaries as the girls make their own films and learn about the Freedom Writers, tolerance, and even Anne Frank.

We urgently need your help raising needed donations and sponsors for our at-risk teen girl project. Please donate any amount - it will all help. Many donors choose to sponsor-a-girl for $500, but every $25, $50 and $100 amounts are a huge help. With a project this enormous it’s critical for us to ask YOU for help. Please consider donating to really give a girl so much hope right here in America.

“I really need your help. I’ve put everything I have into the Girls Behind the Camera program including my body and soul, but even with over 100 volunteers I’ve spent literally everything I have so that I can help make over 50 at-risk teen girls lives better. As a side-note, some of you know the medical hurdles I’ve faced in the last two years and I certainly don’t want to re-live the stresses of 2007. Your support is needed now more than ever. The money will go to supplies, clothes, and food for the over 50 girls in our program. It will also go towards medical bills. I have 3 chronic diseases which is also a subject of the film. I love leading this massive project… I will not give up! It’s the dream of a lifetime”. Director Veneruso tells us that “Any project of this magnitude would take its toll on the team leaders. It is a program in two cities, a feature documentary, and an on-going mentorship program”.

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WHAT WOULD MY DONATION/MONEY GO TOWARDS?
This isn’t just a donation — you’ll definitely get something in return. Each donation comes with a sponsorship level so donors can get letters from the girls, passes to the film premiere, copies of the DVD, and much more. You’ll also receive full credit in the film for being an Angel. Corporate or Group Sponsorships are also available. Any amount is extremely appreciated. We can’t stress enough that whatever you can spare, be it $25 or $50, or $100 would really help us.

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HOW TO MAKE A DONATION:
To donate, please goto our DONATE PAGE or feel free to call us at (323) 829-0180. We can process your credit card right over the phone. if you prefer, tax-deductible checks can be written and mailed to Red Echo Group, 299 North Paseo, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106.

Also, Paypal Donations are a quick and easy way we’ll receive your donation. To pay via Paypal, please click here. Feel free to call our production office for any info/details. Our production phone is 323.829.0180 - you’ll hear music rather than a phone ring.

Thanks so much,
Girls Behind The Camera Team

P.S. We are continuing our search for hiring crew in the Los Angeles area: film editors, asst. editors, and volunteers. If you are interested, simply send your resume.

Hi all!  We just finished the Texas portion of our film shoot (end of June 2008) with the lovely Ms. Footnick.  It was such a wonderful experience to see my old vice-principal.  She did a great interview and got us in the great mood to finish the program with the 2008 segments in Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri.Since I’m so involved with all aspects, I want to also note that I am getting stronger everyday.  I am so pleased that we have the details locked for Kansas City.  I wish that the same was true for St. Jo.  There are so many details that go into making the Girls Behind the Camera program a success.  It looks like we have great teammates on board for 2008.  The next critical steps are getting the St. Jo dates locked so we can begin inviting everyone.Finally, I’d like to request for anyone visiting this site  - in fact I’d like to urge you to consider sponsoring a girl for the 2008 program with a donation of $100 (heck, even $5, $10, or $25 would help!).  It will really change their lives.  Thanks so much, Tara Veneruso, Director.PS- I’ve begun blogging about the “making the movie” on MoviesByWomen.com.   There are also great podcasts on the site that you can listen to (or watch) about how to make films.

We’re now seeking donations for the 2008 Girls Behind the Camera Program. In our second year of bringing in at-risk teen girls together to teach them filmmaking, we’re looking for donors and sponsors for this year’s event.  Last year was a wild success that taught girls self-confidence, teamwork, responsibility, and hope.

If you’re interested in making a donation simply follow this link:  We’re on our way to reach our $15,000 goal.  We’ve already raised $2500 in the first week.  Help us make this program possible!

Testimonials: “I probably would’ve been gang raped and killed like my friend was last summer if I wasn’t in your program” -anonymous 14 yrs. old.

“Being in the program kept me out of jail. I made new friends and learned a lot about other people.” - anonymous 13 yrs. old.

“I realized how loved I was and how many good things I can do in the world.”

Hello All!  It’s almost the end of May and I’m so happy we had the wonderful reunion last month.  I’ve been very busy since I’ve been back in Los Angeles raising funds for the program this summer.

I’m looking forward to putting together the 3-Day program in both Kansas City and St. Joseph. We’ve had to move it to late July so that we can find the money and the new girls for the ‘08 program.   June is just too soon.  Also, we’re still searching for several of the girls from the ‘07 program that have moved.  We’ll keep you all posted as soon as we have the new dates.

One side note: since many of you already know about my health battles, I’d like to report that I’ve been doing so much better on my return. I’ve got amazing doctors and enough determination to boot!

All my love,  Tara Veneruso - Director

PS:  We do a weekly podcast for our company MoviesByWomen.com.  If you’re interested in hearing more about making films then tune in to the audio podcast for FREE straight from your computer, itunes, ipod, or you tube!  We have special guests share the expertise about making movies.   This week’s episode is called “Powerful Women of Early Hollywood“.  Check it out!

Dear Team, Girls, and Website Guests:

I am so grateful that 2007 is past us finally. It was literally the most difficult year of my life. The greatest part of the year was working on my feature film “Girls Behind the Camera”. The worst part was the numerous health issues I faced including a massive surgery in February to get a metal pump and then finding out I nearly did myself in on my film because I didn’t know I was suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis – a very lame name for something extremely serious – your immune system and white cells are basically at war and attacking my own self. I couldn’t walk up 1 stair by August, 2007 and it’s taken me until February 6, 2008 to receive proper treatment for it. I’m now finally starting to have my old energy back and now I can tackle more than two things in one day. It’s certainly been a battle and I really fought to not let down any of the girls in our project.

My biggest job these past 5 months has been working to raise the funds to shoot the reunion and June 6 day shoot to do follow-ups with the girls. It takes a lot longer than we want to make the funds required! I’ve also been hard at work setting up the blog for our girls at Girls Behind the Camera. I am still searching for a few of our participants that I fell out of touch with. I really want to see everyone again when we come out in late April for a reunion. We are in the planning stages right now.

Also, we’ll be sending each girl their DVDs out in the next 2 weeks and we’ve considered sending a few off to a film festival or two. If you have not been in touch with us and you were in our program in any capacity please drop me a line so we can include you in upcoming events.

There are so many great things we’ve been working on that I want to share with you. I’ve no idea where I found the energy to do even one of these but here goes: We began a new audio podcast on moviesbywomen.com. It’s a lot like a radio show with 4 hosts. We have a lot of fun and teach our listeners about making films. We also started our blog at http://blog.moviesbywomen.com which is a companion to the podcasts.

This project made a huge difference in my own life. It gave me the will to live when things seemed very grim in August, 2007. I love the girls in our project truly from my heart and I can’t wait to see them soon!

-Tara Veneruso, Director “RISK: At-Risk Girls Behind the Camera”

Today is a great day. I finally have answers to everything that has been happening. Let me explain.

As some of my team and girls may know, I was quite ill during the filming the movie RISK (and all the way until now). I have finally gotten a diagnosis. Turns out that I have an aggressive form of Rheumatoid Arthritis which is truly debilitating if not under medical care. I’m so relieved to now be on the right path. So now I’ve begun truly editing the film & the girls’ films for competition. (I want to enter the girls’ films into festivals).

I’ve been working on getting in touch with all the girls via email and MySpace (so if you’re reading this now & you’re in our film please email me so that I can begin staying in touch with you more easily). It looks like I’ll be getting everyone out their DVD’s (the ones in the film) just in time for Thanksgiving & Christmas. It’ll be at least June 2008 before we finish shooting the film. There are 3 more segments to be organized & shot. Documentaries take such a long time! If you’re interested in being on our next crew & you live in Missouri please email us.

Thanks so much,

Director Tara Veneruso.

I’ve been hard at work bringing the 100’s of hours of footage down to make it manageable to begin editing. I’m also on the hunt for an awesome editor besides myself since I don’t believe in editing your own feature films. (And continuing to seek donations to continue the program in other cities.)

Most importantly, I am seeking current contact info for all of the GIRLS WHO PARTICIPATED so that I don’t lose touch with them and also so that I can begin sending them their films in a few weeks. If this is you … please email me. Please check out the pages on our girls on this site. More to come - we are going to add a blog for them to participate and check in very soon.

Finally, I have decided to begin a blog on how to make and edit a feature film. It is no easy task - (making a film that is) but I think it will be incredibly useful to the filmmakers out there.

Thanks so much,
Tara Veneruso
Director

Hi everyone!

We have just posted the first installment of the Kansas City RISK girls’ “About Me” pages. Check out what the participants of RISK: Girls Behind The Camera Summer 2007 (Missouri) have to say, right here!

(pssst! St. Joseph girls will be posted very soon!)