Positive Exposure - the Documentary

Dear Readers,

My friend Rachel Pikelny now works for Kartemquin Films and has a personal message to share about a special project she is working on right now, so listen up! (or, rather, read up!)

Dear friends and family,

As many of you may know, I am both thrilled and proud to now be working at Kartemquin Films, one of the longest-running and most prestigious documentary companies in the world. Kartemquin's documentaries (including its best-known film, "Hoop Dreams") have won prizes at festivals throughout the world and have been broadcast nationally and internationally. Kartemquin brings the study of humanity to film by making documentaries that investigate and critique society through the lives of real people.

I'd like to tell you about an exciting project that I will be co-producing. “Positive Exposure” will follow former fashion photographer Rick Guidotti (www.positiveexposure.org) as he skillfully employs his lens to redefine beauty by photographing children who are often relegated to the shadows because of elongated limbs, cleft palates, facial markings, lack of pigmentation, and other differences that make some turn their heads. His images are not the grotesque medical studies of the past; they are celebrations of life.

Through his amazing work, Rick Guidotti is redefining beauty. Our film will have a enormous educational component, especially in middle and high schools, sensitizing youth to difference. In a society obsessed with perfection and body image, Rick’s images and the words of his young subjects will challenge the way their “normal” counterparts see and experience difference and disability.

I truly believe in this project, its message, and its power to stimulate positive change. This is why I am writing to you for your attention and help.

We are desperately seeking funding to get this project on its feet. We will use these initial development funds to travel to two genetic disease conferences this summer in order to create a demo reel that will convey to our future funders and distribution partners the far-reaching benefits Rick Guidotti’s work has on the disability community. We will also use the funds to travel with Rick this fall to Africa, where he is using his photography to fight widespread discrimination and prejudice against the Albino population.

I realize that most of you are not in a position to give at this time. However, I ask that you please pass along this information to anyone you may know who might have a personal connection to this film -- the parent of a special needs child... a friend with a disability... or anyone else who might be interested and in a position to make a donation to this important project.

Thank you so much for reading this long email. And thank you for any help you can send our way!

So if you have interest in this project in any way, let me know and I'll put you in contact with Rachel. Thanks!

Bowtie,

Bowtie