Inspired Cinema is committed to making the world a better place. We are constantly seeking opportunities to work with organizations whose purpose is to bring about positive change. This is something we all want to be involved in!
Projects Inspired Cinema has partnered with:
Voices for Belumbu
bulembu.org
Teldon Media Group presents Voices for Bulembu with The Canadian Tenors—a campaign and concert benefitting the town of Bulembu, Swaziland.
Bulembu is a small town in Swaziland facing immense social challenges. Not only does Swaziland have the highest HIV-AIDS rate in the world, Bulembu itself also, until two years ago, had no hope for the future—economically, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The Bulembu Foundation is a unique social development initiative that is empowering the community of Bulembu both economically and socially. With a vision to provide 3000 jobs and care for 2000 orphans by 2012, Bulembu is a rare charitable initiative working to empower local leaders for the town's future.
The Canadian Tenors visited Bulembu in 2008 and caught the vision for the town. Inspired Cinema provided the 15 person crew with all the gear required to capture the Tenors' experience of the town. With Inspired Cinema's help, the story of Bulembu will be told to thousands of people through concerts and events hosted by Teldon Media Group and The Canadian Tenors.
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Union Gospel Mission
ugm.ca
On behalf of the camera crew of
Facing Ali, we have made a donation to the
Union Gospel Mission. UGM is a non-profit urban
relief organization serving the Lower Mainland,
providing hope for the hungry, hurting and
homeless since 1940. Their desire is to provide
assistance for people striving to regain the basic
necessities of life and to assist in the restoration
of dignity and hope. The staff of UGM work to
empower the homeless with the ability to rejoin
the community as full and active participants.
The Cordova Street Shelter and facilities are a
few city blocks away from our Inspired Cinema
Office. Sharon had the privilege of touring the
main facility and learning more about the
organization. Their work is clearly impressive.
The donation will go
towards an educational scholarship fund being
established this year. It will be awarded to
hardworking individuals who have completed a
drug and alcohol recovery program through
UGM who require additional training in order
to re enter the work force, and would not
otherwise qualify for financial assistance.. The
gift of education is a huge step forward towards
regaining independence and dignity. |
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Union Gospel Mission
ugm.ca
"Its not often that you have the privilege of meeting individuals with a
very clear sense of care and compassion towards others in need. I met one
such person in Sharon van Dijk from Inspired Cinema - I toured Sharon around
the Cordova Street facility, explaining what the Mission did, why, and how
Inspired Cinema's philanthropy made such a difference in the lives of real
people. When individuals and businesses recognize the needs of their local
community, and act with compassion by financial gifts or volunteering, it's
a real statement of 'love in action.' Bless you, Sharon and Inspired Cinema,
for caring."
Hilary Beard, former Corporate Giving Officer |
Union Gospel Mission - Send A Kid To Camp
ugm.ca
One of the goals we have is to make the world a better place. We’ve been privileged to make small contributions to a variety of individuals and organizations who are making a difference in our communities and around the world. This is something we are excited about and hope you will be as well!
On your behalf we are helping to send a child from the Vancouver Eastside to Summer Camp and giving them an experience that will last a lifetime! For many children living on the Vancouver Eastside, going to camp is the first time they have been away from the noise and bright lights of the city. It is an opportunity to make new friends, to build confidence, to broaden horizons and to develop skills that can produce lasting change in their lives. Each child that goes to camp receives a brand new backpack which includes a flashlight, camp t-shirt, first aid kit, rain poncho, socks, baseball hat, tooth brush, toothpaste and a disposable camera to capture the memories! Union Gospel Mission works with 18 quality Christian camps throughout BC. Children and their families can choose which camp they go to -- whether it’s one that focuses on horseback riding, one that offers sailing and water sports, or one that a child’s friends are also attending. The staff at UGM work hard to ensure that teach child has a summer to remember and one that may impact them for life!
On behalf of 'Dear Mr. Gacy' we have made a donation towards 'UGM's Send a Kid To Camp' campaign. To find out more about this project or to participate in their fundraising efforts visit their website UGM.com
We find this inspiring! |
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Trey Purcell
treypurcell.com
In an industry not always known for their generosity or charitable
contributions, Inspired Camera has opened a new door. With the long and hard
hours that production support and film technicians work, to think of anyone or
anything other than your business, yourself and your immediate family is
difficult. Inspired Camera has brought forth the possibility and the idea that
the motion picture industry can be more. Inspired Camera is truly inspiring.
On a personal note, Inspired Camera has donated numerous times to our cause. Our
son, at the young age of 2, was diagnosed with a rare and progressive disease
called Hunter Syndrome (also known as MPS II). With no government support and
only meager donations put into research for his disease, my wife and I started
an MPS II Research Fund within the Canadian MPS Society, a registered Canadian
charity, with the hopes of inspiring more doctors to research his disease and
with the ultimate hope of finding a cure. Our quest is ongoing and without the
continued support of companies like Inspired Camera and people like Jim and
Sharon van Dijk, our efforts would be useless. Their support and donations are
more than just helpful or generous or charitable. To us, their donations touch
us at the deepest level of our beings. They are helping us find a cure for our
son's disease. They are helping us save his life. They are a part of our family.
Sincerely,
Ryan and Deb Purcell |
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Powell Place Women’s Shelter
www.sjcss.com
Money given on behalf of the camera crew of Playing for Keeps will go to the
outreach program of the shelter, providing basic
necessities, towels and household items for
women in transition from the shelter to more
permanent housing. This is a significant way to
assist a woman on the road to greater
independence. Thank you!
The shelter, run by the St. James Community
Services Society, works with women considered
most marginalized in society, providing
temporary housing and services, supporting
them in their quest to survive the harsh realities
of life on the streets of Vancouver. Having
visited the shelter, it was evident that women
seeking help from this organization are cared for
in very personal ways. They quickly begin to
experience a sense of community and
connectedness, which is so essential to their well
being. The staff do all they can to treat these
ladies with kindness and respect.
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Kebede
On behalf of the Sanctuary Production Crew, we have provided Kebede with a Sony TVR 900 camera and tripod!
Kebede lives in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia with his wife and his two sons. Much of his work has been assisting groups such as World Vision, Food for the Hungry and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank with their productions within Ethiopia.
Jim and Sharon van Dijk met Kebede in 2007 while filming a program for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank in Ethiopia. Kebede acted as a camera assistant and a cultural host for the production.
Kebede’s desire is to continue to improve his skill in the areas of filming and editing as well as to expand his local business. In order to service clients from North America, Kebede needs to obtain equipment that is compatible with the systems used by his clients (NTSC). The camera he has been using for his productions was recently broken beyond repair.
In return for this gift, we are asking him to either train another Ethiopian in his area of business, or to provide his skill and equipment free of charge to a charitable organization.
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Life Project & campusfire
Craig Harris of Temperance Street Productions recently produced some projects for two non-profit organizations based in Canada. 'Life: Just Add Water' - a social change organization that provides clean water in many countries and Campusfire - a student initiative which is operated by Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Association of Canada.
Craig pointed out, "The budgets in each project presented large challenges in terms of the production value and content that we wanted to acheive for each group. We knew that in order to acheive our goal we needed to shoot with RED, and thankfully the team at Inspired Cinema made it possible!"
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LIMANI
(Feature Release, Andrew Coppin DOP, State Controlled Media Production Company)
IMANI is a film that illustrates the widely varying realities of young people in Uganda today. IMANI skillfully weaves together three stories which take place over the course of a single day. We follow a young Acholi
couple who are reunited with their young son, a returning abductee LRA child soldier. A young man who found break-dancing as a way to escape a life of poverty and deprivation who now returns to his old ghetto community to stage a free concert with his local
troupe of dancers. He finds that much has changed in the neighbourhood as circumstances spiral out of control. Finally there is a young domestic servant who works in a posh city home, for whom a family crisis in her home village leads her to make hard
choices in order to survive. IMANI follows these young people whose lives traverse between vastly different ?worlds? within the same national boundary as they strive to overcome the specific challenges that come up during the day of action.
I am at JFK NY late in my epic 40 hour return journey. Even with simple coverage and sparse lighting, we seemed to get it done. I was thrilled with the image I got from the Red. You seem to be able to just set the stop and go. The camera worked without
any problems in the hot and dusty environment of Uganda. This is the first feature to be shot in the native language of Lugandan. There is historical value in that, and I am excited to be part of a show that allows an audience of millions the chance to see a
feature in their own language without dubbing or subtitles. Thanks again for your support, and your gear is on its way home.
-Andrew Coppin, State Controlled Media
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