sarah maclachlan took the $150,000 she should have spent for the video for her song "world on fire" (video, quicktime) and distributed it to various charities around the world. here is a list of the recipients of her donations. using budget line items for a video shoot as reference points, the video itself is a shame-inducing visualization of the paltry sums of money it takes to improve lives in the developing world.
this video highlights for me the dichotomy of using media and all other things meant to help the poor, but don't have a direct impact on their immediate wellbeing. does it make sense to spend money on things like film productions, when the cash itself could be redirected to helping the poor with their clear and present needs? but on the other hand, inspiring hope, firing the imagination, educating, entertaining, even providing momentary escape, all these things are the foundations on which we build our lives and keep going, even in the face of hopelessness. that is the food of the soul; film, music, art provide that.
[via filmaid international]
Posted by kamau at May 16, 2005 12:07 PM