tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38730262877746340742024-02-19T02:53:31.497-05:00Leone Stars: a documentaryCan Victims Become Champions? The amputee soccer team of Sierra LeoneAllan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-41010142965301839462014-10-20T16:32:00.001-04:002014-10-20T16:32:30.986-04:00This website is moving to www.FlyingStarsDoc.com<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-43821423969050962352012-11-19T13:13:00.002-05:002012-11-19T13:13:41.603-05:00Filming wraps in Freetown<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS16hGAMIXVrxA6Cg2N0ZTqziY3S1GPHPQa85y4eP-_nTcRpiq_l-qIji9ow7TsyIU1MGm0nIaNkkucY1hQBEqoWXadWjYvQXV2W9vvh4Sd_4RtmXlTXjXbp7RTDlB3I5z82-PNMnFCFW/s1600/MOHAMMED%2527S+home+%25281%2529+LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS16hGAMIXVrxA6Cg2N0ZTqziY3S1GPHPQa85y4eP-_nTcRpiq_l-qIji9ow7TsyIU1MGm0nIaNkkucY1hQBEqoWXadWjYvQXV2W9vvh4Sd_4RtmXlTXjXbp7RTDlB3I5z82-PNMnFCFW/s640/MOHAMMED%2527S+home+%25281%2529+LR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Co-director <b>Ngardy Conteh</b> (in profile) and cinematographer <b>Colin Akoon</b> prepare to film inside a player's home, a windowless 64-square-foot room.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<i>Leone Stars</i> just wrapped up filming in Sierra Leone. The fourth and last shoot took place earlier this month in steamy weather, topping 42C each day and 36C at night on the humidex, mostly in the capital of Freetown. For nearly two weeks, co-directors <b>Ngardy Conteh</b> and <b>Allan Tong</b> with cinematographer <b>Colin Akoon </b>and local fixer <b>Hashmiyun Magona </b>filmed various amputee soccer players at their homes and workplaces, streets and villages. Here are some images from the shoot:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Freetown team sqaures off against the Bo team on their turf, in the interior of the country. Final score: 1-1.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Freetown captain, <b>Bornor</b>, training to be a generator repairman. </i><br />
<i>Almost all Sierra Leoneans run diesel-powered generators, because the electric grid is so unreliable.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cinematographer <b>Colin Akoon</b> mounts a light steadicam unit to the back of a moving motorcycle taxi ("okada") </i><br />
<i>to follow an amputee also travelling by okada.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Mohammed </b>of Freetown's team being interviewed in his office, owned by a German company. </i><br />
<i>Mohammed supports a young child alone.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The aunt of the Bo provincial team captain, Umaru, interviewed as she cooks in her smoky hut. </i><br />
<i>From top left to lower left: intern <b>Amanta</b>, cinematographer <b>Colin Akoon, fixer </b></i><i><b><i><b>Hashmiyun "Hash" Magona</b></i></b> </i><br />
<i>and co-director <b>Ngardy Conteh</b>.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Following <b>Bornor</b>'s weekly jog from the back of our Toyota 4x4. </i><br />
<i>Amid traffic, Bornor runs for one hour from his home in Freetown's Leceister Peak to Aberdeen Beach.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The steering wheel of a mini-bus in Freetown.</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cinematographer <b>Colin Akoon</b> panning atop a hill near Fort Street in downtown Freetown. </i><br />
<i>In one minute, he will be covered in heavy rain.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fixer extraordinaire, <b>Hashmiyun "Hash" Magona</b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A shantytown in overcrowded Freetown where few enjoy running water and where cholera struck last summer.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The sun sets over Aberdeen Beach as the Freetown amputees wind down their Sunday practice.</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlKgyA5HZavgV5_4P14MB4xCR5tIW6FcYXLSc-olLz3-acQaLRurmBHSmjqHj-cRRWyTzqPzbqoTOq4FJQXl0zPiqSq5tKxVm6oqlzmhmuHmhgxD65RqrLZY2pf4w7pHRtgh_UmrB30ZL/s1600/rainstorm+on+hill+above+Fort+St+(13)+COLIN+(LR).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY0nf2dkeyTTmXFBJj63bbRKTa7HOmm6E3HjcMqjAuxkPorn4wSusFUGeD4GVVZNA6uSzifvmop06QE1CyggIsIJeBydS_AG8YPskCFzowp1iNll2cm6PPxW3QVuyTcNXlUmHPbNo6ncV/s1600/Goalie+at+sunset+@+Aberdeen+Beach+LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-BcfbqLkNFTUVgWbvk9j3hjqXxKymDGB1n3SUJcCV1ehB8NRR99aX-7PlGYDtLgFICQz506U5KKDE1OrAfxggbupFck8N5RbKQ70yjsfNY51ZeX51oFOylXdcHhEVcHOGu0PvP95RZSS/s1600/SL2+052+-+STEERING+WHEEL+-+LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<i>All photos by Allan Tong and cannot be reproduced without Allan's strict permission.</i></div>
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<span id="goog_1827471027"></span><span id="goog_1827471028"></span><br />Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-85392061440425702682012-05-18T10:16:00.001-04:002012-05-18T10:16:11.697-04:00New producer joins Leone Stars filmmaking teamKatarina Soukup has joined the <i>Leone Stars </i>filmmaking team to help directors Allan Tong and Ngardy Conteh produce. Mattru Media, founded by Ngardy, is producing <i>Leone Stars. </i>Katarina runs a thriving
documentary production company out of Montreal, <a href="http://www.catbirdproductions.ca/" target="_blank">Catbird Productions</a>, and
pitched at last year's Hot Docs Forum. She brings with her years of experience in documentary producing and much-needed
business prowess. Learn more about Katarina at <a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.ca/p/filmmakers.html" target="_blank">http://leonestars.blogspot.ca/<wbr></wbr>p/filmmakers.html</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtDMGL3xNWye9h0mME1RMC8k7J0R7KR3D98xzmwneIAaUrxZiNgJIgJ_z-J9ihUyZQUBU2MN2h-l8CwFKpnfD059hz139IyZhaaSi67WQjX6nd1vyC8iUJwnwhSeZjPQ97OZLFrPvXmP6/s1600/KATARINA+SOUKUP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtDMGL3xNWye9h0mME1RMC8k7J0R7KR3D98xzmwneIAaUrxZiNgJIgJ_z-J9ihUyZQUBU2MN2h-l8CwFKpnfD059hz139IyZhaaSi67WQjX6nd1vyC8iUJwnwhSeZjPQ97OZLFrPvXmP6/s320/KATARINA+SOUKUP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-68020084794669869212012-03-28T16:10:00.003-04:002012-03-28T16:16:18.684-04:00<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Leone
Stars </b></i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>to pitch at Hot Docs Forum</b></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>March 28, 2012, Toronto – <i>Leone Stars</i> has been selected to pitch at the prestigious Forum at the Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>The documentary is one of 25 projects and one of four Canadian ones that <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1201830429" target="_blank">Hot Doc</a><a href="http://hotdocs.ca/" target="_blank">Hotdocs.ca</a> has chosen from 150 submissions worldwide. On May 2-3, filmmaking teams will present their films-in-progress to an exclusive audience of international broadcasters, distributors and other documentary buyers. Teams aim to secure financing and broadcast licenses from the audience. The Forum is a key market for documentaries in the world. Admission is by pass only.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Hot Docs Forum will take place on May 2-3, 2012 at Hart House on the University of Toronto campus downtown. Teams of filmmakers have seven minutes to present their documentaries, followed by eight minutes of moderated roundtable discussion from the audience. <br /><br />Yesterday's announcement is the latest success for <i>Leone Stars</i>, which was the first-ever documentary to win the coveted Pitch This! competition at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto last September, followed by funding from the Sundance Institute as well as fellowships for directors/producers Ngardy Conteh and Allan Tong. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-34036227543322634482012-03-07T16:35:00.006-05:002012-03-07T17:21:14.888-05:00Donate to the LEONE STARS documentary<div style="text-align: center;"><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><input src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" type="image"><br /><img alt="" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /></form><span style="font-weight: bold;">Donations are welcome to the</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> Leone Stars </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">documentary. </span><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Five percent of funds will literally go into the hands of the amputee soccer players of Sierra Leone when the filmmakers meet them on their periodic shoots. </span><br /><br />We're making this film with grants, fundraising like Kickstarter, and our own money. <br />To date, nobody on the crew has been paid.<br /><br />As a thank-you, anybody in Canada who donates <span style="font-weight: bold;">C$50 or more</span> will receive this t-shirt:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrqgI7-1FKFcn_Hb3vRzjpXPkGhxXSI0Me7UyJRq5uS7Qnhx6omkgjJoA4FCyEMeJZweQtT_lLpiTALxbCamL5n6Mh0gedtBvvIS0oNvEzpOKI0CWJkMEYTG-rXJMxO-C130O-kkEbuqm/s1600/2012+TAA+Application+%25E2%2580%2593+Leone+Stars_page32_image1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrqgI7-1FKFcn_Hb3vRzjpXPkGhxXSI0Me7UyJRq5uS7Qnhx6omkgjJoA4FCyEMeJZweQtT_lLpiTALxbCamL5n6Mh0gedtBvvIS0oNvEzpOKI0CWJkMEYTG-rXJMxO-C130O-kkEbuqm/s320/2012+TAA+Application+%25E2%2580%2593+Leone+Stars_page32_image1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717281013484659554" border="0" /></a>Americans who donate C$60 or more will receive a shirt.<br />Those living outside North America: C$70 to cover postage costs.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To order</span>: please email <span style="font-weight: bold;">leonestarsdoc [at] gmail.com </span><br />and state your name, address and shirt size. We have S, M, L, XL.<br />Expect 4-5 weeks to process your order, since we order shirts in batches.<br />God bless.<br /><br /></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-47650988574493600602012-01-03T12:00:00.005-05:002012-01-03T12:15:10.688-05:00Sundance invites LEONE STARS on fellowship<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQzyHF4Lzh46iB_2rpjixmjEoZU4j4CEaiw7SAjOnmybhPyTsXH5htR4zx0s09JmjN6PoXkoxqvvSpk5z0SRaFcnCBDWb3vg60t95CP-ak9zMU_xLnMBPWd6AfNzd_E0Cjidc7uWqxRK3/s1600/sundance_film_festival_egyptian_theater_03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 424px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQzyHF4Lzh46iB_2rpjixmjEoZU4j4CEaiw7SAjOnmybhPyTsXH5htR4zx0s09JmjN6PoXkoxqvvSpk5z0SRaFcnCBDWb3vg60t95CP-ak9zMU_xLnMBPWd6AfNzd_E0Cjidc7uWqxRK3/s320/sundance_film_festival_egyptian_theater_03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693454313975027570" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.sundance.org/festival/">The Sundance Film Festival</a> has invited <span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars</span> directors Allan Tong and Ngardy Conteh to attend its January festival on the Documentary Fellows Program.<br /><br />The film festival, founded by <span>Robert Redford</span>, runs January 19-29 in Park City, Utah. <span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars</span> was one of 10 international docmaking teams (and the only Canadian one) chosen for the DFP. The DFP encourages invited filmmaking teams to network and raise funding for their projects. The fellowship comes on the heels of <a href="http://www.sundance.org/press-center/release/29-documentaries-receive-582000-in-grants-from-sundance-institute-documenta/">a Sundance grant to <span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars</span></a> in November.<br /><br />Among other events, Allan and Gad look forward to attending the premieres of the docs made by Canadians Yung Chang (<span style="font-style: italic;">China Heavyweight) </span>and Jennifer Baichwal (<span style="font-style: italic;">Payback</span>).Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-47277368347002244522011-12-31T09:42:00.002-05:002011-12-31T10:13:00.268-05:00Happy New Year!<div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NhvGYgbGczr9dEJWgl0XxiXVtKNJpcHBL4Vd31smRXNMUKOuLR2i7KrZrvSrTRxIUjwkOWb2MQCGIiy77jeZEsJ7Z2d7P7WOA-RaXaBsw-c0hTEl9HwOe2tKu0N3vndA7z3_Aqkoc6CF/s1600/Happy+New+Year+2012+%2528Aberdeen+Beach+sunset+-+kids+playing%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NhvGYgbGczr9dEJWgl0XxiXVtKNJpcHBL4Vd31smRXNMUKOuLR2i7KrZrvSrTRxIUjwkOWb2MQCGIiy77jeZEsJ7Z2d7P7WOA-RaXaBsw-c0hTEl9HwOe2tKu0N3vndA7z3_Aqkoc6CF/s320/Happy+New+Year+2012+%2528Aberdeen+Beach+sunset+-+kids+playing%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692309260056436274" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Two film shoots, TIFF Pitch This, Sundance...<br />Thank you for supporting the filmmakers of LEONE STARS through a successfully year. Here's to an even better 2012!</span> <br style="font-weight: bold;"><br style="font-weight: bold;"></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-55896756266813387272011-12-26T19:16:00.007-05:002011-12-26T22:17:43.977-05:00December 2011 shoot in Freetown & Bo<span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars </span>directors Allan Tong and Ngardy Conteh with cinematographer Colin Akoon returned to Toronto on Christmas Eve following a two-week shoot in Sierra Leone. Their ever-reliable "fixer" Hash Magona was the fourth member of the crew. The trip to the capital of Freetown plus additional days in the inland city of Bo marks the second voyage by the <span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars </span>crew. Other shoots will follow, but for now here are some images of this exciting trip:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZuLRknUA4264NYzE9XZipxUxa4pm-zcDRk6PgWiT0mHAnazqVpFiGp5W84SyBj3P9QGn29EpelqFKeOAQZrd9AwtabTBimzu5zvbYTkW3VgGYe38mHHP65KeIn2nkbBUTFWY_o6L1Y0T/s1600/about+to+film+from+backseat+thru+downtown.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZuLRknUA4264NYzE9XZipxUxa4pm-zcDRk6PgWiT0mHAnazqVpFiGp5W84SyBj3P9QGn29EpelqFKeOAQZrd9AwtabTBimzu5zvbYTkW3VgGYe38mHHP65KeIn2nkbBUTFWY_o6L1Y0T/s320/about+to+film+from+backseat+thru+downtown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690638333780116530" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: arial;">Ngardy, Colin & Hash preparing to film from the back of a moving car<br />winding </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: arial;">through downtown streets in Freetown</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UbK66bo83m8FrgdRNKk8iLXoHYoyAmWbOBVruD-jihM_MQZa6cxbpv4Cdvj0NiXffjE0Nvm_KD9HHgqCPgMO3moms4rcCsWdJtYX7oSuMe-Fs7iXRAzZlxUlVvDb_xk9bQaeEoSGRMUS/s1600/Colin+filming+kids+%2540+Aberdeen+beach+sunset+%2528Dec10-11%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UbK66bo83m8FrgdRNKk8iLXoHYoyAmWbOBVruD-jihM_MQZa6cxbpv4Cdvj0NiXffjE0Nvm_KD9HHgqCPgMO3moms4rcCsWdJtYX7oSuMe-Fs7iXRAzZlxUlVvDb_xk9bQaeEoSGRMUS/s320/Colin+filming+kids+%2540+Aberdeen+beach+sunset+%2528Dec10-11%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690639792431932994" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Colin capturing kids playing the national pastime on Aberdeen Beach,<br />Freetown at sundown</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqLUdbMc3_mAnQ-0FPnz9L3ahShZPyYmYPBhY7YVWGuQBaI1QAtB6-Wj-mQXAjXnDNfyMZx3VWeqJD22GJnk8JSccQtmHvbGrEKNl77cgDh4aR7OZQ0TknXkLsYtnIJDDkBwR_010S41U/s1600/BO+players+%2526+AT+%2528Dec19-11%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqLUdbMc3_mAnQ-0FPnz9L3ahShZPyYmYPBhY7YVWGuQBaI1QAtB6-Wj-mQXAjXnDNfyMZx3VWeqJD22GJnk8JSccQtmHvbGrEKNl77cgDh4aR7OZQ0TknXkLsYtnIJDDkBwR_010S41U/s320/BO+players+%2526+AT+%2528Dec19-11%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690639345099471330" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Allan with Omaru (left) and his teammates in the eastern city of Bo after practice<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOheX8UfDLVeqhE0PDkLUZ0UpHU72FKUAybH8OiS7IWCLGETsjZfyTHHSFMiaSHSWnAyu1itjoVSlg9Tgvb1oxJVL0VDhz6vcGpgabGHPAhr2HbxeARVPpKoGuRwIZa6n-lpMmns3WLfhM/s1600/Colin+%2526+Gad+shooting+B-roll+of+burning+garbage+%2528Dec11-11%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOheX8UfDLVeqhE0PDkLUZ0UpHU72FKUAybH8OiS7IWCLGETsjZfyTHHSFMiaSHSWnAyu1itjoVSlg9Tgvb1oxJVL0VDhz6vcGpgabGHPAhr2HbxeARVPpKoGuRwIZa6n-lpMmns3WLfhM/s320/Colin+%2526+Gad+shooting+B-roll+of+burning+garbage+%2528Dec11-11%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690639686203947170" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Shooting B-roll of a pile of garbage burning off the side of the road in downtown Freetown. Sierra Leoneans don't enjoy garbage pick-up, so they burn it, including a TV set in this blaze.<br /></span></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-2446576692432086232011-11-23T06:09:00.004-05:002012-03-19T13:54:07.367-04:00LEONE STARS Win Sundance Doc Grant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlYbWyHPmfD8xvhU5IBzOaU2yaqj0OL2SkmgkjqyPB9ycWYHLwL-1v1OVNxWdccdn2InZ4HRh8I7fEud5GpZLGJ14a3K7xn3lH748TCzhbhk5_wCQRS2DCbBKvLu1aW2elhDqMPJuTHRB/s1600/SUI+documentary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlYbWyHPmfD8xvhU5IBzOaU2yaqj0OL2SkmgkjqyPB9ycWYHLwL-1v1OVNxWdccdn2InZ4HRh8I7fEud5GpZLGJ14a3K7xn3lH748TCzhbhk5_wCQRS2DCbBKvLu1aW2elhDqMPJuTHRB/s320/SUI+documentary.JPG" border="0" height="76" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegdfUpfzp-1f4TQ_sCvVM37FO2_ogILrvqNX2Cb3e-Texptx315zbClaY7Gqr3NP5pfFr7iSSsI6dWoQi-r_ArctZ3B1XTK_eYaikQnDPjFCe94l4hW8lULIKN1JX066iFBjREJ4g8k0V/s1600/Sundance+Institute.jpg" style="color: black;"> <style><!-- /* Font Definitions */@font-face {font-family:Optima; panose-1:2 0 5 3 6 0 0 2 0 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; panose-1:2 11 6 2 3 5 4 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-2147480833 14699 0 0 191 0;} /* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:none; mso-hyphenate:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning:.5pt;}p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText {mso-style-link:"Body Text Char"; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:none; mso-hyphenate:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning:.5pt;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-parent:""; color:navy; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}strong {mso-style-parent:""; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;}span.BodyTextChar {mso-style-name:"Body Text Char"; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Body Text"; mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning:.5pt;}@page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1 {page:Section1;}--></style> </a><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14.15pt;"><b><span style=" ;font-family:Optima;color:black;" >Toronto (November 23, 2011) </span></b><span style=" ;font-family:Optima;color:black;" >- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leone Stars </i>is the lone Canadian recipient of the </span><span style="font-family:Optima;"><a href="http://www.sundance.org/press-center/release/29-documentaries-receive-582000-in-grants-from-sundance-institute-documenta/">Sundance Institute's</a><span style="color:black;"> latest round of feature-length documentary grants. Last night, Sundance announced the 29 filmmaking teams that will receive grants from its Documentary Film Program. The Sundance prize arrives two months after the film's historic </span><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/2011/10/leone-stars-tiff-pitch-this-video.html">Pitch This! victory at TIFF</a><span style="color:black;">, where <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leone Stars </i>became the first documentary to ever win that pitch competition.</span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 14.15pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style=" ;font-family:Optima;color:black;" >Leone Stars</span></i><span style=" ;font-family:Optima;color:black;" > follows the amputee soccer players of postwar Sierra Leone as they struggle to reach—and win—the World Amputee Football Championships scheduled to take place in Iran in late-2012. The film is directed by Allan Tong and Ngardy Conteh of Toronto. </span><span style="font-family:Optima;"><span style="color:black;"> </span></span></div><br /><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-C5vGy2iUgsrnfcrP12GvcFafhnARMaDG5iNgfeDISMxeg0ca8K2yhjI70uzN1cn9gL1mnHB1x0RhJlDT43e_PS0sc5wxLSCn2_gdqAeC5o6YDyFd9ogf0o__DO6ZMV4sj9hyphenhyphenoQXOwIu2/s1600/goalie+reaches+for+ball+by+Johnny+Vong+%2528Freetown%252C+March+2011%2529.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677988392665029890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-C5vGy2iUgsrnfcrP12GvcFafhnARMaDG5iNgfeDISMxeg0ca8K2yhjI70uzN1cn9gL1mnHB1x0RhJlDT43e_PS0sc5wxLSCn2_gdqAeC5o6YDyFd9ogf0o__DO6ZMV4sj9hyphenhyphenoQXOwIu2/s320/goalie+reaches+for+ball+by+Johnny+Vong+%2528Freetown%252C+March+2011%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 294px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 443px;" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Practicing on the beaches of Freetown, March 2011 </span></span></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">(photo: </span></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/johnnyvong.com/">Johnny Vong</a>)</span></div></div><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */@font-face {font-family:Optima; panose-1:2 0 5 3 6 0 0 2 0 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; panose-1:2 11 6 2 3 5 4 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-2147480833 14699 0 0 191 0;} /* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:none; mso-hyphenate:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning:.5pt;}p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText {mso-style-link:"Body Text Char"; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:none; mso-hyphenate:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning:.5pt;}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-parent:""; color:navy; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}span.BodyTextChar {mso-style-name:"Body Text Char"; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Body Text"; mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Lucida Sans Unicode"; mso-font-kerning:.5pt;}@page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1 {page:Section1;}--></style> <br /><div class="MsoBodyText"><span style=" ;font-family:Optima;color:black;" > <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Leone Stars </i>is presently in the development stage. With the Sundance and TIFF wins, Conteh and Tong are planning another trip to Sierra Leone, this winter. “I’m trilled that the two most important two festivals in North America have helped us to make the film,” says Conteh. “Our dream of bringing this story to the world is one step closer to a reality thanks to Sundance.”</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText"><br /></div><div class="MsoBodyText"><span style=" ;font-family:Optima;color:black;" >The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012 and since its inception has awarded grants to more than 300 documentary filmmakers in 61 countries.</span><span style="font-family:Optima;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;"> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;"> <span style="color:black;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText"><span style=" ;font-family:Optima;color:black;" >“For many of these filmmakers, receiving a grant will be just the beginning of our relationship with them," said Cara Mertes, Director of the Sundance DFM Program. “We welcome these filmmakers to our community and look forward to working with them to further support and develop their unique visions."</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;"><span style=" ;font-family:Optima;color:black;" > - 30 - </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText"><br /></div><div class="MsoBodyText"><b><i><span style=" ;font-family:Optima;color:black;" >For further details: </span></i></b><span style="font-family:Optima;"><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/">http://leonestars.blogspot.com/</a></span></div><a href="http://www.sundance.org/press-center/release/29-documentaries-receive-582000-in-grants-from-sundance-institute-documenta/" style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Click for the complete Sundance press release</span></a><span style="color:black;">.</span>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-91120805712963044952011-10-18T15:14:00.006-04:002011-10-18T15:36:04.536-04:00Drumcultures online interview with directors Ngardy & Allan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.drumcultures.com/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyeeGttEWy6dfbNd1uPFNGEluczlmnns1eJ-MsSDq3EhJ5xEIQyz4JB3JQEpb_lronXvvcfbce_0hItyeaQBi7oKg-47E7152e1rioVO_VLGiNDWhDXggSk1tNQ43C6GAAcn4JbssTQA-/s320/Drum+Cultures+online+interview+vol+3-23+%2528Oct+2011%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664915259272659570" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" ft="{"type":3}">Toronto's <span style="font-style: italic;">Drumcultures </span>online magazine recently spoke to <span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars </span>directors Allan & Ngardy in downtown Toronto. Click <a href="http://www.drumcultures.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">volume 3-23</span> at </a></span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.drumcultures.com/">Drumcultures</a>.Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-25539240322190381862011-10-05T16:22:00.001-04:002011-10-05T16:26:56.736-04:00Leone Stars Telefilm TIFF Pitch This! videoHere's the video of our winning pitch:<br />
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(note: the 30 second trailer with Kobena Aquaa-Harrison playing the Djembe drum live to open the pitch has been edited out)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dUNZ5bRcsgQ" width="560"></iframe>Ngardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634473939683888972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-91508463585031359802011-09-19T18:38:00.006-04:002011-09-20T13:03:05.450-04:00Pitch This! win reports<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/tiff/story/2011/09/14/leone-stars-pitch-this-amputee-soccer.html"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654208690026752610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1l7rLrkVthkOR7lNfK56UqA4vaiG_x1HkT8rN9MgHRHWwneQXB5U_1lprYgtcjUzsYBCciHmaiSalopwLQhsxRYch_cRmmrlX1cRY1zwZcilTwQ7yLnmbIBNBr60lXr6ZXItE3YP9zYD9/s200/CBC+Online+%2528sept+14-2011%2529.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 125px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
Some coverage of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars </span>Pitch This! victory at TIFF last week:<br />
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<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/tiff/story/2011/09/14/leone-stars-pitch-this-amputee-soccer.html">http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/tiff/story/2011/09/14/leone-stars-pitch-this-amputee-soccer.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.thecoast.ca/HaliwoodInsider/archives/2011/09/13/leone-stars-wins-tiff-pitch-this-competition">http://www.thecoast.ca/HaliwoodInsider/archives/2011/09/13/leone-stars-wins-tiff-pitch-this-competition</a><br />
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<a href="http://thechronicleherald.ca/ArtsLife/1263174.html">http://thechronicleherald.ca/ArtsLife/1263174.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Documentary+wins+prize+continue+filming/5404544/story.html">http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Documentary+wins+prize+continue+filming/5404544/story.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.nsi-canada.ca/nsi_totally_tv_alum_walter_forsyth_wins_at_telefilm_canada_s_pitch_this.aspx">http://www.nsi-canada.ca/nsi_totally_tv_alum_walter_forsyth_wins_at_telefilm_canada_s_pitch_this.aspx</a><br />
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<a href="http://realscreen.com/2011/09/13/tiff-2011-leone-stars-wins-tiffs-pitch-this/">http://realscreen.com/2011/09/13/tiff-2011-leone-stars-wins-tiffs-pitch-this/</a><br />
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<a href="http://amputeenews.com/leone-stars-wins-tiff%E2%80%99s-pitch-this-and-10000/" target="_blank">http://amputeenews.com/leone-<wbr></wbr>stars-wins-tiff%E2%80%99s-<wbr></wbr>pitch-this-and-10000/</a> <br />
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</div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-62589785079947032642011-09-14T11:27:00.007-04:002011-09-17T00:20:36.823-04:00Leone Stars wins TIFF’s Pitch This! as first documentary ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbR1fkYpqrv91OYROCxSq7MxUdGShnBi0wU_-lHLYb2lwe_wYU0ojV_aMz9oWFp4ArTNlo9pCjPYgTStDWGojgA3T3SYs780_J3uL4a3lv2tCOXQtoX_ZxCHLH4NQBOg176-rXdGo7MZar/s1600/WinnersNg_Emma_124878307_Max.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbR1fkYpqrv91OYROCxSq7MxUdGShnBi0wU_-lHLYb2lwe_wYU0ojV_aMz9oWFp4ArTNlo9pCjPYgTStDWGojgA3T3SYs780_J3uL4a3lv2tCOXQtoX_ZxCHLH4NQBOg176-rXdGo7MZar/s640/WinnersNg_Emma_124878307_Max.jpg" border="0" height="441" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">directors Ngardy Conteh </span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(left) </span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">and Allan Tong </span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(right) </span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">during their presentation at Pitch This! <br /></span><span>(photo: TIFF)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span><br /></div><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><br />TORONTO (September 13, 2011) - Today the documentary <b><i>Leone Stars</i></b> beat five dramatic films at the <a href="http://tiff.net/industry/programmes/telefilmcanadapitchthis"><b>Toronto International Film Festival’s Pitch This!</b></a> competition. Co-directors <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ngardy Conteh </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Allan Tong</span> presented their film to 15 judges and packed Bell Lightbox theatre. They walked away with the $10,000 development prize as the first documentary to win </span><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" >in the 12-year history of Pitch This!</span><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" > and only the second to ever compete.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars</span> was chosen the winner after Tong and Conteh's five-minute live pitch followed by two minutes of questions and answers from the jury of film and TV professionals. Tong and Conteh showed brief footage shot by DP <span style="font-weight: bold;">Colin Akoon</span> in March this year and, accompanied by Ghanian-Canadian mus<span style="font-family:arial;">ician </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison</span><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" > playing thumb piano, delivered a quasi-poem as a slideshow of images taken by photographers <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fiona Aboud</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Johnny Vong</span>, played on the giant movie screen above. Their central motif was: "Do you believe a one-legged man can fly?"</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kF8_sE354cEOazrAMVEyUiOqVz0485g7LdA7hr65VzPVoOJvWDpD26D1ogEHdXnX6e-7T3k3j70zMG2LzOaA8yTXGo1_HbbET7MT4MiFcyE9_F5-iV_nuDkedQ4nJ7UYSqtrevcW6xIV/s1600/PITCH+THIS%2521+Winners+2011+-+Cheque.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img style="width: 669px; height: 444px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kF8_sE354cEOazrAMVEyUiOqVz0485g7LdA7hr65VzPVoOJvWDpD26D1ogEHdXnX6e-7T3k3j70zMG2LzOaA8yTXGo1_HbbET7MT4MiFcyE9_F5-iV_nuDkedQ4nJ7UYSqtrevcW6xIV/s400/PITCH+THIS%2521+Winners+2011+-+Cheque.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >TIFF's Christoph Straub (Manager of Industry Programming, Canadian Initiatives, TIFF) (far left) and Telefilm Canada's Anne Frank (far right) present Ngardy and Allan with their $10,000 prize</span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span>(photo: TIFF)</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></div><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" >“We worked on our pitch for weeks leading up to the event,” says Ngardy Conteh, “and it paid off. We are happiest for the subjects of the film, who deserve to have their story told.” 2005's Pitch This! winner, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Richie Mehta</span> (director, <span style="font-style: italic;">Amal</span>) coached Conteh and Tong (as well as another team), and they also received useful feedback from friend and Montreal filmmaker <span style="font-weight: bold;">David Eng</span>. Tong wrote the pitch script while Ngardy edited the slideshow together and enlisted </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Aquaa-Harrison to play an African drum over the 28-second video footage and the thumb piano.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"I had in mind Richie's </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:arial;" >Amal </span><span style="font-family:arial;">pitch which revolved around the motif of an envelope," explains Tong</span>. "I remember how simple, poetic and direct it was, and aimed for the same effect. By pure chance Richie was assigned our coach."</span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><br />2011 has been touted as the Year of the Doc ever since TIFF announced David Guggenheim's rock doc about superstars U2, <span style="font-style: italic;">From The Sky Down</span>, as the opening night film. Says Tong, “This is a victory for documentarians across Canada who have faced fewer and fewer sources of funding in Canada in recent years. And thanks to Telefilm and TIFF we can now go back to Africa to film the team as they compete at the All-African cup in Ghana.”</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgg0RaRJSZTyMEqmd5NkoEODgt85thiXFRx1WR9O9i6XhJi9O8U9ZNrFlAQynAbKjAYd-KP0a4lGIr5tcHeEujcA7HHcYpWiTyMJeLCItceEnOJpanGREE2hr8e2dvV4vgw4pDgj_4ZHJM/s1600/Bono+close-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgg0RaRJSZTyMEqmd5NkoEODgt85thiXFRx1WR9O9i6XhJi9O8U9ZNrFlAQynAbKjAYd-KP0a4lGIr5tcHeEujcA7HHcYpWiTyMJeLCItceEnOJpanGREE2hr8e2dvV4vgw4pDgj_4ZHJM/s200/Bono+close-cropped.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="189" /></a></div><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><br /><i>Leone Stars</i> follows members of Sierra Leone's Single Leg Amputee Sports Club who are chosen for the national amputee soccer team. They were young boys when rebel soldiers hacked off their arms and legs during Sierra Leone’s ruthless civil war. Surviving poverty, war, and prejudice, the Sierra Leone amputee soccer team dreams of victory at the 2012 world championships. <i>Leone Stars</i> asks: Can victims become champions?</span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ></span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><br /><i>Leone Stars</i> was the first documentary in English Canada to successfully raise over $20,000 in funding on the popular crowdfunding site, <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/973681195/leone-stars-a-documentary">Kickstarter.com</a>. The funds allowed the production team to travel to Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, and the southern province of Bo earlier this year. Additional funding is needed to follow the team to the world championships in 2012.</span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><br /><i>Leone Stars</i> is being written and co-directed by Allan Tong and co-directed and edited by Ngardy Conteh. The film is produced by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Walter Forsyth </span>of Gorgeous Mistake Productions and executive produced by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jerry McIntosh</span>.</span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For more information or interviews:</span><br />leonestarsdoc@gmail.com, </span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/">leonestars.blogspot.com</a> </span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" >902.489.4897 (Walter Forsyth, producer) </span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" >647.200.9146 (Allan Tong, co-director) </span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" >416.897.5575 (Ngardy Conteh, co-director)</span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ></span><br /><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" ><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small;" >- 30 -</span></div>Ngardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634473939683888972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-41908759953875706722011-08-09T12:38:00.008-04:002011-08-12T01:16:52.929-04:00TIFF’s Pitch This! selects amputee soccer documentary LEONE STARS to compete for $10,000<span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"> <br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">TORONTO (August 11, 2011) - The film <span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars</span> is one of six finalists chosen to compete at <a href="http://tiff.net/industry/programmes/telefilmcanadapitchthis">Toronto International Film Festival’s Pitch This!</a> It is the sole documentary this year and only the second doc in the 12-year history of Pitch This! to battle for the $10,000 development prize.</span> <br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Leone Stars</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">co-directors Allan Tong and Ngardy Conteh will pitch on </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tuesday, September 13 </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">in </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cinema 3 </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">at the </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">TIFF Bell Lightbox</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. From</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> noon till 1:30 pm</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, six pitching teams will have six minutes each to present their project before a live audience and a jury of film professionals. If </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Leone Stars</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">wins, it will mark an historic year for documentaries at TIFF. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">From the Sky Down</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is opening 2011 TIFF as the first-ever doc to hold that honour.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd35YJH7NOXg367lNQ7nCht6R-uGec3Twx-yeYPsGRPPc0PTIO-l_MQfXdM37Z2BZeQNX_lo5MoXDpxAlh-p4reMK9y_lNkhdzHa8JvOTjXIWPsEOw4eJMe305UZGnvPkv_A9-NgkpDFoZ/s1600/Bono+close-cropped.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638898221066972866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd35YJH7NOXg367lNQ7nCht6R-uGec3Twx-yeYPsGRPPc0PTIO-l_MQfXdM37Z2BZeQNX_lo5MoXDpxAlh-p4reMK9y_lNkhdzHa8JvOTjXIWPsEOw4eJMe305UZGnvPkv_A9-NgkpDFoZ/s200/Bono+close-cropped.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bono - Defender</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Leone Stars</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">follows members of Sierra Leone Single-Leg Amputee Sports Club who are chosen for the national amputee soccer team. They were young boys when rebel soldiers hacked off their arms and legs during Sierra Leone’s ruthless civil war. Surviving poverty, war, and prejudice, the Sierra Leone amputee soccer team dreams of victory at the 2012 world championships. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Leone Stars</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">asks: Can victims become champions?</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br />
</span></a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Leone Stars</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">was the first documentary in English Canada to successfully raise $20,000 in funding on the popular crowdfunding site, </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/973681195/leone-stars-a-documentary"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Kickstarter.com.</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The funds allowed the production team to take a three-week trip to Sierra Leone capital, Freetown, and the southern province of Bo earlier this year. Additional funding is needed to follow the team to the world championships in 2012. <br />
</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br />
</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Leone Stars</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">began in 2008 when Allan Tong saw photos of the team taken by New York photographer Fiona Aboud. Allan enlisted Ngardy as editor then co-director. Halifax producer Walter Forsyth came on board and enlisted Jerry McIntosh, who manages the Feature Documentary Program at the Canadian Film Centre, as the executive producer. Endorsed by War Child Canada </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #000099; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Leone Stars</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">is seeking broadcast partners and private investment.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br />
</span></div>To attend <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pitch This!</span> please visit <a href="http://tiff.net/">TIFF.net</a> for ticket and pass information.<span style="color: transparent; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br />
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<span style="color: black;">Contacts: <br />
</span></span><span style="color: transparent; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">leonestarsdoc@gmail.com</span> <br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/leonestars.blogspot.com" style="font-weight: bold;">leonestars.blogspot.com</a> <br />
902.492.1047 (Walter Forsyth, producer) <br />
647.200.9146 (Allan Tong, co-director) <br />
416.897.5575 (Ngardy Conteh, co-director)</span></span><span style="color: transparent; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"> <br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">PHOTO BY JOHNNY VONG</span></span> <br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- 30 -</span></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-50731025696729673642011-07-27T14:14:00.002-04:002011-08-09T22:50:49.026-04:00Video: CBC Soccer Day in Canada Interview<span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars </span>directors Allan Tong & Ngardy Conteh spoke to CBC-TV's Scott Russell on July 9:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LerP77aekCo" width="560"></iframe></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-92017766501329917462011-07-09T13:03:00.003-04:002011-07-09T13:04:48.062-04:00Help send the team to Ghana!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SLASC seeks to raise funds to Ghana to compete in the 3rd African Cup of Nations for Amputee Football</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>To contribute contact the team directly or go to our <a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/p/contribute.html">CONTRIBUTE</a> page to donate</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkDa8kpUl7s7BHrhcsNULw0dia7lnQcZedSiX0hddrOdirstrD8UwEZVMw-AT54wc3rwDXkA387d1gPX_yaAQ0xGJ8Pwz6Whpy90kLV_6p4vzeW4Vi20O2LKyh2dNDfLr7u9yjji5n695/s1600/SLASCghanaProposal2.jpg" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyCYYeHGbupewYYK9ePN55xYAVSR8DlQhiSI1xiwOSTT6V2y6LseXxjlNMeF3UTdCctqk_fYqoiAYu_iW2mQ6mhmEOdNGKCQg2lh-ZkBcx8P3eoU5WlY5LuNgjOUa73keSESHKw2C8UP-/s1600/SLASCghanaProposal3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyCYYeHGbupewYYK9ePN55xYAVSR8DlQhiSI1xiwOSTT6V2y6LseXxjlNMeF3UTdCctqk_fYqoiAYu_iW2mQ6mhmEOdNGKCQg2lh-ZkBcx8P3eoU5WlY5LuNgjOUa73keSESHKw2C8UP-/s1600/SLASCghanaProposal3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmqTYvAlTbk5Bj3aTcrrlXIQceVaNXZJ1yVHIqgcmI8esCM5loMOa58-ZUdpGjYrcH89eHRgcdpsGHdDQvIUp3D0qxgQ0DfhLopJBUeyRJ9vx2XX5h6uiK4K-ahyXnxa4dOfHR5EcRJ5V/s1600/SLASCghanaProposal.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3GNo7X6CSY7YYSx-Kr__E1xEV91j6IrggaWRuGK1jR1WUqVbzFyYlJvS0-yhhmnTpHTwuCCgWPSrG5BTzUvmMXgja0X4n1D5z8HiJFaw8HrKJu3gIds4Ij3rtnCevkuzkcuwEHxlUsBm/s1600/SLASCghanaProposal7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkDa8kpUl7s7BHrhcsNULw0dia7lnQcZedSiX0hddrOdirstrD8UwEZVMw-AT54wc3rwDXkA387d1gPX_yaAQ0xGJ8Pwz6Whpy90kLV_6p4vzeW4Vi20O2LKyh2dNDfLr7u9yjji5n695/s1600/SLASCghanaProposal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrvJhRbfKE2Z-4wIZaqr2wjtnh98oTV7gtPCljvkGIluNYit1d0BtuVerCrJLCqjAlpeG-NNuItSPiL546NvHccVgcy5Yr2y2-fUCVVCVg8kR9yVsvO-N_9lEgWlD2BfQrpvTsY71aMZs/s1600/SLASCghanaProposal6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkPCpGi4qI2ZCsuSsli-DFVCFOyDIDKJunmDpES-u3NI1dYhIIfi9evPNECDJitTwlUJzLsht_bwih6RkbOB9CrVbvd04kY5CHAwf3O_knV59Vsvy_lUGdD9qNSHaYNLJn0tfu2UCRvDj/s1600/SLASCghanaProposal5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkPCpGi4qI2ZCsuSsli-DFVCFOyDIDKJunmDpES-u3NI1dYhIIfi9evPNECDJitTwlUJzLsht_bwih6RkbOB9CrVbvd04kY5CHAwf3O_knV59Vsvy_lUGdD9qNSHaYNLJn0tfu2UCRvDj/s1600/SLASCghanaProposal5.jpg" /></a><br />
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</a></div>Ngardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634473939683888972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-5257220452184015292011-07-09T11:48:00.000-04:002011-07-09T11:48:52.637-04:00Pics from the CBC Soccer Day in Canada InterviewHere's a few pics I snapped with my phone as Allan and I got ready to be interviewed on CBC for <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/soccerday/">Soccer Day in Canada</a>. Thanks to everyone who tuned in!<br />
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To get one of our stylish t-shirts <a href="http://leonestars.blogspot.com/p/contribute.html">click here</a>.<br />
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-ngardy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4V88gYK6PgJsOaLIr7B2pLn8mTb9wroTkHk8hifdMssw8xXf20CnlNmlKL_uFtE_doEeC_AVp7alpCqoobjCzc1UXCWDfKlreO6BEWwIohFCMwzqWt0u7mFiBQoeoQXavwfADthliC4P/s1600/IMG_3417.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4V88gYK6PgJsOaLIr7B2pLn8mTb9wroTkHk8hifdMssw8xXf20CnlNmlKL_uFtE_doEeC_AVp7alpCqoobjCzc1UXCWDfKlreO6BEWwIohFCMwzqWt0u7mFiBQoeoQXavwfADthliC4P/s320/IMG_3417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ngardy getting make up</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7ZzCEcYtVFODjEPCkATIUzT-iBx2-vGjp9ZlXcfV7qFTom4BTvA-vGFWvDH0mkHct5rB-MnqO5NOV0XRI4ssV5nAj2-fXgnaYp9GIIGzBuwPCnMF9CdTYEIrGsb8JilkHetbtuVrFT9w/s1600/IMG_3422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7ZzCEcYtVFODjEPCkATIUzT-iBx2-vGjp9ZlXcfV7qFTom4BTvA-vGFWvDH0mkHct5rB-MnqO5NOV0XRI4ssV5nAj2-fXgnaYp9GIIGzBuwPCnMF9CdTYEIrGsb8JilkHetbtuVrFT9w/s320/IMG_3422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Allan getting beautified!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4rkwNqXbW8KPzzfWqRPQNQm1KVAYNQPeF-_7cNFYkkJPdlhaUibZWVMZctricAfo0qrS6WafoXASKmfwsa4CLP7OqeTHjgdg8UdurHOrhH5ZHnQh82PCHNNAQ7v48vYjePrZ3a3iijO2/s1600/IMG_3425.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4rkwNqXbW8KPzzfWqRPQNQm1KVAYNQPeF-_7cNFYkkJPdlhaUibZWVMZctricAfo0qrS6WafoXASKmfwsa4CLP7OqeTHjgdg8UdurHOrhH5ZHnQh82PCHNNAQ7v48vYjePrZ3a3iijO2/s320/IMG_3425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Floor director Bob and host Scott getting ready for the interview </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1u2u3GRIQjCeuz7uutcGbW8LSGwaBNmH23f9syDP2u1symfkthIqcaarmI_1fx2RoVAHqxuClU01X0oTFL0YpeHEUwPFP3Dmjxkq8Sav1bnNdob_6QzQVOlQtVz9xE2fFuCga082vFtB/s1600/IMG_3430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1u2u3GRIQjCeuz7uutcGbW8LSGwaBNmH23f9syDP2u1symfkthIqcaarmI_1fx2RoVAHqxuClU01X0oTFL0YpeHEUwPFP3Dmjxkq8Sav1bnNdob_6QzQVOlQtVz9xE2fFuCga082vFtB/s320/IMG_3430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Allan in deep thought...Ngardy, getting one more pic before the cameras roll</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmkA5EVhNAgzBCkK8fvdtWU71iHQynJP_LtcArwoQG5yJS9FSakxiAI_J7lcmfxDq2lgJu8Pmr6dIAfs87qCch3fSVouPPVbXm6fm-e79ZyOzVaMiZMjhNFTa8_1UIobWTz9VFrp-aDs0/s1600/IMG_3429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmkA5EVhNAgzBCkK8fvdtWU71iHQynJP_LtcArwoQG5yJS9FSakxiAI_J7lcmfxDq2lgJu8Pmr6dIAfs87qCch3fSVouPPVbXm6fm-e79ZyOzVaMiZMjhNFTa8_1UIobWTz9VFrp-aDs0/s320/IMG_3429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Much better Allan, ready for the camera now!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YmM6sil4mB2cCC7r3BDoTnRfKz6SFCqCFYysuMWrI27j1Wzko2_JC4kRw_Vpgr3EOcSi44fjj-vYMQjkiUIZeigb63tI3GXqywFIKPhuFEe3UI8aSWDp6y_1je5V0yH5Uxs8DYHLft3X/s1600/IMG_3431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YmM6sil4mB2cCC7r3BDoTnRfKz6SFCqCFYysuMWrI27j1Wzko2_JC4kRw_Vpgr3EOcSi44fjj-vYMQjkiUIZeigb63tI3GXqywFIKPhuFEe3UI8aSWDp6y_1je5V0yH5Uxs8DYHLft3X/s320/IMG_3431.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">All smiles, all done!</div><br />
We will hopefully post the interview online within the next week when we get a copy.Ngardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634473939683888972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-73777241168451318772011-07-07T10:12:00.003-04:002011-07-07T10:26:54.081-04:00Leone Stars directors on CBC Soccer Day July 9<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsCVi8yJvpapXSr8B3Bmjqx-aXcMhGZrG_Im5Y_gn-jJ7RdHk9UWB_BcrGrZJbc97qKPB56tDq69Yoe0xwTM6D8FaIhn9zre5MiqRZE0i1JIwJB5HXi3L1OoDHt-txKXG2_gCaSqgzCvd/s1600/CBC+Soccer+Day+logo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsCVi8yJvpapXSr8B3Bmjqx-aXcMhGZrG_Im5Y_gn-jJ7RdHk9UWB_BcrGrZJbc97qKPB56tDq69Yoe0xwTM6D8FaIhn9zre5MiqRZE0i1JIwJB5HXi3L1OoDHt-txKXG2_gCaSqgzCvd/s400/CBC+Soccer+Day+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626615177549355554" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Leone Stars </span>creators Ngardy Conteh and Allan Tong will be on <span style="font-weight: bold;">CBC-TV</span> sometime between <span style="font-weight: bold;">11:00am and 11:30am (EST) on Saturday, July 9</span>. They will be part of CBC's Soccer Day in Canada, an all-day celebration of The Beautiful Game. CBC will air an excerpt of their footage and interview them about<span style="font-style: italic;"> Leone Stars</span>. Tell your friends and tune in! (Available in Canada only.)Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-44182647748155014912011-05-05T12:55:00.003-04:002012-01-26T17:58:26.878-05:00Trailer (May 2011)<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;">January 26, 2012 update:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> A new trailer, absorbing footage from our December 2011 shoot, will be uploaded shortly</span>. This trailer here was cut with footage shot in March 2011. Enjoy. </div><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/23246857?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" width="600" frameborder="0" height="338"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/23246857">Leone Stars Trailer</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/leonestarsdoc">LeoneStarsDoc</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>Ngardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03634473939683888972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-3961578243719677032011-04-12T13:15:00.005-04:002011-04-12T13:55:45.521-04:00A few photos from the tripHere are also some of the photos I took with my phone (after a few days I stopped taking photos since Johnny had the real camera), Johnny's amazing photos will be uploaded in a few weeks.<br /><br />I've started to edit the footage, it looks incredible! I'm also going to get the rest of the video I shot on my iPhone together for you to see some highlights of the trip soon.<br /><br />enjoy,<br />ngardy<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbNQA7BjygmqZyFNdJfeSv7x_InoO-8ekq0QZ3bhJyF0WSZpb3OYYI34qO2WVJjwvCobCiQYom_9FUZHneAdK8nxZy52tAwRt1DHlkSnmZfEuOlOZk1WgmvJgjeE3A6gvnT8twFl1B_no/s1600/viewFreetown.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbNQA7BjygmqZyFNdJfeSv7x_InoO-8ekq0QZ3bhJyF0WSZpb3OYYI34qO2WVJjwvCobCiQYom_9FUZHneAdK8nxZy52tAwRt1DHlkSnmZfEuOlOZk1WgmvJgjeE3A6gvnT8twFl1B_no/s320/viewFreetown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594750195342600178" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjS9bUWUCVZsEaklwQoe5X16RsqiL4-QZZRQIkmqmitvYQm3et99wHHhruVLVBIjKS8ytnidBWdPpiEipFUQhJbVoM8_lSu2W4j4lOo24KoaPcXW6OrAGhKQT0dKKijjpjdF3lo2Svhu9/s1600/stadiumview.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjS9bUWUCVZsEaklwQoe5X16RsqiL4-QZZRQIkmqmitvYQm3et99wHHhruVLVBIjKS8ytnidBWdPpiEipFUQhJbVoM8_lSu2W4j4lOo24KoaPcXW6OrAGhKQT0dKKijjpjdF3lo2Svhu9/s320/stadiumview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594750195601938210" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhaxE_yVW3dQa4UfMnQ_dWeHu9VIjdw3n1navcWIOxOMqV6-JkGHwZWcjP5ms8FYfooHA6C6mLWfPHhnpIHo-O9aPCVFSZ9TOD_k6g8ETg5hSNkuUgB0S0TAI7G4Gc77zaNWggcYGQdiB/s1600/colincamera.JPG"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >some views of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone</span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhaxE_yVW3dQa4UfMnQ_dWeHu9VIjdw3n1navcWIOxOMqV6-JkGHwZWcjP5ms8FYfooHA6C6mLWfPHhnpIHo-O9aPCVFSZ9TOD_k6g8ETg5hSNkuUgB0S0TAI7G4Gc77zaNWggcYGQdiB/s1600/colincamera.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhaxE_yVW3dQa4UfMnQ_dWeHu9VIjdw3n1navcWIOxOMqV6-JkGHwZWcjP5ms8FYfooHA6C6mLWfPHhnpIHo-O9aPCVFSZ9TOD_k6g8ETg5hSNkuUgB0S0TAI7G4Gc77zaNWggcYGQdiB/s320/colincamera.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594750191838765202" border="0" /></a>Cinematographer Colin shooting the view, Johnny and Hasmiyun (our guide) in the background<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynVWCEf5-ofLbNjp9yAla1N8Tq5s3DbaBPxWGAxVQht8RbJ8DIOIhd60MfS4vjdPIwg38giXCE1dcaxTjoKm4VwJGYhb4pL-0u_WdPrfiA87cdcTwU59w_OlQKzoAJeBom4zm1dHZn_p0/s1600/BusyFreetownstreet.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynVWCEf5-ofLbNjp9yAla1N8Tq5s3DbaBPxWGAxVQht8RbJ8DIOIhd60MfS4vjdPIwg38giXCE1dcaxTjoKm4VwJGYhb4pL-0u_WdPrfiA87cdcTwU59w_OlQKzoAJeBom4zm1dHZn_p0/s320/BusyFreetownstreet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594750200424475666" border="0" /></a>busy Freetown street<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnytHBzQpN_8sDcWg8dOdx6cpFNNF-wMWhCWv26p9953rwoWfgow1zectvKoIJrKT7NxKBK-cXZRkfe_u66t7eBaTbJC-a4IOFkpfK9mkj1U0TcEacJdVPHFjJnNWoRUqtAygB4d-nBKRF/s1600/CottonTree.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnytHBzQpN_8sDcWg8dOdx6cpFNNF-wMWhCWv26p9953rwoWfgow1zectvKoIJrKT7NxKBK-cXZRkfe_u66t7eBaTbJC-a4IOFkpfK9mkj1U0TcEacJdVPHFjJnNWoRUqtAygB4d-nBKRF/s320/CottonTree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594750222129898674" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_Tree_%28Sierra_Leone%29">The Cotton Tree</a>, a historic symbol of Freetown<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtLA7yIHvvxZW7hxDqGwOK7b84kOvr0PlEmrTw84mg31aIH_N7vgwb1K0VGC0ms_seZysCz1nRdJgjCnaLnLV_ABHh0VDeuG-gxaG0pcG6OvFFcHfzZ2RprKTRTzHQHpS2XcJkJGpQvFV/s1600/UncleJohnny.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtLA7yIHvvxZW7hxDqGwOK7b84kOvr0PlEmrTw84mg31aIH_N7vgwb1K0VGC0ms_seZysCz1nRdJgjCnaLnLV_ABHh0VDeuG-gxaG0pcG6OvFFcHfzZ2RprKTRTzHQHpS2XcJkJGpQvFV/s320/UncleJohnny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594750355844491842" border="0" /></a>A few kids look in as Johnny takes a photo of Bono, a member of the single leg amputee football club prepares a meal with his family<br /></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-66615974031083395582011-04-02T10:11:00.003-04:002011-04-02T11:01:14.482-04:00video: the crew sets up in Bo provinceHere's a quick and dirty <a href="http://johnnyvong.com/files/sierra_leone_2011/videos/setting_up_bo.mp4">video </a>of the crew setting up in Bo, shot by photographer and production assistant <a href="http://www.blogger.com/johnnyvong.com/">Johnny Vong</a>. That's co-director <a href="http://www.mattrumedia.com/">Ngardy Conteh</a> holding the boom mic, and cinematographer <a href="http://www.colinakoon.com/">Colin Akoon</a> wearing the camera on a Steadicam:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UUWTsDOuG98" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="349"></iframe><br /></div><br /><a href="http://johnnyvong.com/files/sierra_leone_2011/videos/setting_up_bo.mp4" target="_blank"><br /></a>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-15895340218577470162011-03-30T16:31:00.001-04:002011-03-30T16:32:33.929-04:00Farewell & thank you, Sierra Leone<div> <p><em>The crew are wrapping up a long, hard, but productive shoot that has seen its share of adventures. P.A. Johnny writes as he leaves Sierra Leone:</em></p> <p>Got away from the big city for a few days, loved the sweet folks in Bo and Matru. People of Sierra Leone have nicknamed me JOHNNY BE GOOD. Swarm of children spontaneously broke out in song just for me (got video!). We stopped traffic in the crowded streets, and just about everywhere we went. Turned down a marriage proposal from an 11-year-old village girl.<br /></p><p>Amazing time.</p> </div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-51029500856462549332011-03-28T14:24:00.003-04:002011-04-02T11:23:12.083-04:00A week of filming: Ngardy's notes<span style="font-style: italic;">Ngardy and the crew have returned to Freetown after filming in the countryside for most of last week. They were away from internet, which is unheard of outside the capital. Filming has been round-the-clock in the humidity of west Africa and the crew has shown amazing resilience. Here are Ngardy's notes:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday</span><br />Went to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bo</span>, about a four-hour journey including the stops along the way. We met the amputee team in Bo. They are the national champs (won the first national competition in December) and made me their honourary team manager.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87gaoGFKf5mQrHmnfkU9M8p64B3F9QorT_APoLrYmijZwPYpzsWLdGjEyjgNkzatW12dEgX3sYJrSI6SrPPY_y-YbYdavCqKgmZv9gaepoXUlROiLM3EbWXqfKq4VHBtyau28_4YXXDIc/s1600/SL+map.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87gaoGFKf5mQrHmnfkU9M8p64B3F9QorT_APoLrYmijZwPYpzsWLdGjEyjgNkzatW12dEgX3sYJrSI6SrPPY_y-YbYdavCqKgmZv9gaepoXUlROiLM3EbWXqfKq4VHBtyau28_4YXXDIc/s320/SL+map.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589200466813728962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday</span><br />Visited my Grandpa. Very emotional as it was my first time meeting him and he is very old now. Spent the afternoon interviewing two members of the Bo team.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</span><br />Shot some B-roll in Bo before traveling to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mattru Jong</span> on a very bumpy three-hour ride. Met my Grandmother, haven't seen her in at least 5 years. Very joyous.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</span><br />I was able to interview a former solider from the Kamajor Militia who gave good insight into the civil war. Almost seven hours back to Freetown, exhausted!!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</span><br />Back in the capital to shoot the practice of the Freetown team.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday </span><br />Colin and I rigged the movcam to the car and drove around to get B-roll.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-71440034060200095182011-03-24T11:45:00.010-04:002011-04-02T11:21:12.267-04:00Filming the Saturday practice & visiting Bono Kabo<em>Ngardy has sent notes about filming the weekly team practice last Saturday on Aberdeen Beach in Freetown. The beach rests on the shores of the Atlantic and is the only time each week when all the players meet. Otherwise it's extremely difficult for Ngardy to reach the players since hardly any have a phone of any kind, never mind access to e-mail.</em> <p>Some shots Colin took, mostly <a href="http://www.movcam.com"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Movcam</span></a>*:</p> <p>* team publicist <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wizzy </span>welcomed me to the team</p> <p>* Wizzy introduced me to every member of the team</p> <p>* the team sang their song, then surrounded me singing it<em></em></p> <p>* coach talking to team, on sideline and in the middle of the beach pitch, coaching, yelling</p> <p>* scrimmage/practice games, they split into 3 team and rotated playing 10-15 minute informal games at a time </p> <p>* we lav-miked [portable microphone attached to person] the coach during warm-ups and drills and various players (including Bono Kabo) during the scrimmage games</p><p>* players after practice putting on their prosthetic legs, chatting<br /></p><p><br /><em></em></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3xZBPyIwFigtRIoCrz66coUz09jzHzERLoW8i901TjGLEqw7ES-uMulGanBMie3abYpEzmKmw2tiHU1caWi1U9oQvTYmCAV5S9V8z5iUNA6_2CnSW40f86SR_-vdj8CMxXdUsomsWh69/s1600/SLASCS+fall+2010+%25283%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3xZBPyIwFigtRIoCrz66coUz09jzHzERLoW8i901TjGLEqw7ES-uMulGanBMie3abYpEzmKmw2tiHU1caWi1U9oQvTYmCAV5S9V8z5iUNA6_2CnSW40f86SR_-vdj8CMxXdUsomsWh69/s320/SLASCS+fall+2010+%25283%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587676407302410162" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Game last fall. Since uploading images from Sierra Leone is slow, Ngardy's images will be sent later</span></span><br /></p><p>After practice we took a break to dump footage [to portable hard drives so that the camera had film new footage] and eat lunch. Then we went to Aberdeen road where seven members of the team live.</p> <p><em>Also that weekend, the crew visited the site of the </em><strong>refugee camp</strong><em> where the team met in 2001 and formed the club. Why are some players still living here, long after the end of the war? The camp is gone, but they're still on this spot?</em></p> <p>Ngardy: They were very vocal about this. They have nowhere else to go--waiting for a donor or an angel to get them out of there. Or the gov't to care.</p> <p><em>Ngardy then visited the home of one of the players, </em><strong>Bono Kabo</strong><em>. After listening to Fiona Aboud's 2007 interviews I suggested that Gad interview him. He sound articulate, passionate and intelligent. </em> </p> <p><strong style="font-weight: normal;">Bono</strong>, went to his place, a two-bedroom house but with no electricity or running water. He built it himself. His eldest child is in boarding school so she wasn't around.<em></em></p> <p>We spent about four hours with him. Colin followed me and him on Steadicam as we walked to his house. Mostly talked about how he got his house. Shot him while he made a meal for his kids outside on coal pots. </p> <p>His interview was very captivating. He wept when talking about becoming a soldier, speaking in detail about that experience, and losing his limb. </p> <p><em>More to come....</em></p>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873026287774634074.post-11881546206214274842011-03-22T12:34:00.004-04:002011-03-22T12:42:29.655-04:00Shooting in Freetown: Ngardy's notes<em>Ngardy writes from an internet cafe in Freetown. Messages from her lately have come from her cell phone across the Atlantic to Allan. As she e</em><em>xplains:</em><div class="body"><p>So, we haven't been to the internet cuz we've been exhausted at the end of everyday shooting and it is quite an effort to get to the cafe.</p><p>Shooting from 9-6 everyday - in the hot sun - very exhausting. Getting to be late after dump<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPag9Kfxfg-qTZ1mK33i_kgvqL0qIUgCv4SuMniBOUOXUNm51KGPuJCbTDtyJ8nbr6fbM6L10QB0uXz0GcOh33WLycK0UGU2SB-lQGOfWaQqfq7UcmoJpWE8ePhhdQnjz2Z6Q_Ml_7mwoc/s1600/rooster.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPag9Kfxfg-qTZ1mK33i_kgvqL0qIUgCv4SuMniBOUOXUNm51KGPuJCbTDtyJ8nbr6fbM6L10QB0uXz0GcOh33WLycK0UGU2SB-lQGOfWaQqfq7UcmoJpWE8ePhhdQnjz2Z6Q_Ml_7mwoc/s320/rooster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586944962932042226" border="0" /></a>ing the footage to hard drive, getting used to the dogs, roosters, and the 5-hr time difference has also impacted all of our sleep [DP Colin Akoon & PA Johnny Vong]. But spirits are high and we're having an incredible experience.</p><p>Shooting in public: pretty much you have to seek permission before you can even hold a camera in public if you are not a local. The general feeling is that foreign media has come here and exploited peoples' images. Understandable.<br /></p><p>Yesterday, we had [team publicist] Wizzy and some team members walk around the streets. Since they were are focus and this took place around their office people we were fine shooting the cameras in public.</p></div>Allan Tonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274259524672129558noreply@blogger.com0