Launching Janssen Storytellers Series
With the help of Janssen Immunology + Tonic Life Communications we have recently helped launch The Janssen Immunology Storytellers series on the Janssen Global channel!
We’re proud to share the story of Brian, one of Janssen Immunology’s scientists who is dedicated to innovation for people living with and susceptible to immune diseases.
Field Journal: Kenya
Project Kenya
Field Notes From Our Journey To Kenya
We had the honor of joining U.S. based non-profit, A Voice is Heard, on their journey to Kenya to capture footage of their mission. Filming took place over 17 days in Kenya’s Amboseli region in the shadows of Mount Kilimanjaro The following are thoughts and journals from our travels.
The Mission
Director Justin Jarrett
As a documentary filmmaker, it’s rare to travel without a plan. Usually, we go through our scripts and our outlines with a fine tooth comb narrowing down every last detail. We map out our locations and engage ourselves in the research ritual where we lock ourselves away and read books and live on wikipedia for weeks on end in preparation for the shoot ahead. I know in our heart of hearts we want to be prepared, but we are also losing something….something sacred to every true filmmaker —the art of discovery. There’s something sacred that every artist engages in when he or she ventures into the unknown with nothing more than a camera and a taste for discovering the real story. It’s raw and emotional meeting someone for the first time and earning their trust in that very moment.
This would be our challenge as we touch down in Kenya.
On one hand,we have a mission. We were invited to travel alongside our hosts, A Voice is Heard a non-profit organization working in partnership with communities in developing nations. They work to provide life’s basic necessities through sustainable solutions for the provision of food, water, medical care, education, and alternative sources of income. They have been traveling back and forth from the states to this same region for the past 7 years, befriending the Maasai and working side by side with them. We have been tasked with creating a Brand Film for AVIH in order to help show donors first hand how important their ongoing mission is to the Maasai. On the other hand, we were given permission to create our own companion piece of our choosing – a filmmaker’s dream. No creative boundaries….just discovery.
Amboseli
Associate Producer Sonia Bhagat
Amboseli is 4 hours southeast of Nairobi . Historically Maasai land, much of the park harbors a vast array of wildlife, which attracts safari tourists/adventurers alike. The setting of Hemingway’s The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Amboseli lies on the border of Kenya and Tanzania, boasting gorgeous views of wildlife and the famous Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Maasai, one of the largest tribes in Kenya, are historically nomadic or semi-nomadic. Today, because of the effects of globalization and western aid and development, the tribe has settled in numerous villages where children can attend school and women can focus on beadwork. Beading is one of the main sources of income and often a trademark of the tribe’s culture.
The Maasai
Associate Producer Sonia Bhagat
During our first day in Amboseli, we traveled to Inchurra, a Maasai village 8 miles west where we were introduced to the Amboseli women’s beading group, a collective of women from different Maasai villages that comes together on behalf of A Voice is Heard to make designs created by one of the founders.
It was our first taste of Maasai life. The village was encircled by dried acacia bush creating a secure fence around the bomas (mud huts made from dried cow dung and thatched roofs). Dogs, goats and cows roamed the manyatta and children played near the homes, all coexisting peacefully together.
The woman sat under small trees to escape the heat of the sun, working on their beaded bracelets, hand stitching colorful beads one by one onto leather bands. They spoke amongst themselves while working, seemingly ignoring our photographer and film crew or perhaps commenting on how absurd we looked with our sun burnt skin, sound gear and film equipment. We were the mzungu (the white people) and we were strange but not necessarily unfamiliar.
Tourism Welcome
Associate Producer Sonia Bhagat
The Maasai’s main source of income, after the selling of goats and cattle, is tourism. Trucks of tourists stop at each village, where the Maasai greet them, offer chai and perform a traditional song as a gesture of welcome. Maasai beading is a hot commodity among travelers and brings in a modest but essential income to the villages.
While the women worked, the men sat separately amongst themselves talking and relaxing. Suyianka Ole Noomek, an 82 year old Maasai, sat in a lackadaisical fashion, while describing his role as advisor to the Maasai men and boys. As he snorted snuff (powdered tobacco) into his nostrils, he explained that he had three wives and 30 children. His most recent marriage occurred at the age 57 and his bride was a mere 13 years old. Girls are commonly betrothed at a very young age often, in exchange for livestock.
The Currency of Life
Associate Producer Sonia Bhagat
The Maasai’s main source of income, after the selling of goats and cattle, is tourism. Trucks of tourists stop at each village, where the Maasai greet them, offer chai and perform a traditional song as a gesture of welcome. Maasai beading is a hot commodity among travelers and brings in a modest but essential income to the villages.
Livestock (goats and cattle) are the main source of income for the Maasai. They are used for their milk, dung and on special occasions, their meat and blood. Nothing is wasted and during a ceremonial slaughter, even the head will be boiled down for a soup.
In 2009 a severe drought wiped out most of the animals, leaving the Maasai in a dire state of poverty. Because the tribe relies solely on the animals for their livelihood, the effects were devastating. Without the animals, the tribe had no milk for their children, which resulted in many cases of malnutrition. With no animals to sell, there was no money to be made. Many Maasai went to the surrounding safari camps to find work where they make less than two dollars a day. Tourism became even more essential to survival and remains today an important part of financial stability within the community.
After the drought, the Maasai were able to slowly rebuild their livestock with the help of non-profits like a AVIH working with the community.
Patrick Papatiti
Carmen Myers AVIH Founder
Patrick Papatiti is a true leader of his people, young and old. His voice has resonated throughout the land, garnering a much need shift in perspectives on girls rights, importance of education, land management and traditional culture. He understands the need to preserve the history of the Maasai yet sees a vision of moving forward with the steady change of the world. A Voice Is Heard is extremely proud, honored and thankful to have his guidance, immense knowledge and steadfast heart for his people shape our work. As our Kenyan Director and Chief of his age sect, Patrick Papatiti is selflessly offering support for his people and leading them into an improved way of life. Generations to come will benefit from his unrivaled leadership.
Education
Carmen Myers AVIH Founder
Seeing the confidence wash over the face of a girl, a girl who had been quiet and marginalized in her own community; we knew education began to change her.
Community members came from a far to celebrate our first “Non – Cutting Ceremony.” The symbolic “Coming of Age” is a milestone in the life of a girl. Our girls were draped in black cloth, mothers by their side, sharing a Maasai ritual practiced for generations. One difference separated our girls, they were there to speak out, celebrate becoming a woman without “Female Genital Mutilation.”
In each word spoken, we heard confidence radiating from her as she shared a powerful message to her people: a message of hope, telling a story of change on the horizon. And in that moment, hearing her voice speaking out for all girls, we knew she had become empowered.
Education really does change everything!
This project was made possible through our Projects That Matter Initiative. The Projects That Matter Initiative is a Philadelphia based video production program with the mission of providing professional digital media services to Non-Profits at a discounted rate. To learn more about how your organization can join the initiative and qualify for creative content production discounts click below.
PTM: Favorite Projects of 2016
Favorite Projects of 2016
Since launching our Projects That Matter Initiative six years ago, we have created over 150 videos for non-profit clients around the world. This year alone we collaborated with 15 different non-profit organizations ranging from Washington, DC to Chicago to Portland. We had video shoots in seven different states and our work has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people. However, our greatest accomplishment has been the opportunity our partners provide us with to meet a multitude of unique and inspiring individuals who consistently display the good that can be found inside of us all. Click below to watch some of our teams favorite projects from the year!
JTWO
Big change often happens when one person makes a change within themself. Their family. Their community. This is especially true when it comes to responsible drinking.
JTWO
Working with Simone Biles + Ask Listen Learn
Ask, Listen Learn: Simone Biles + USA Attorney General PSA
Our team recently had the opportunity to film twenty one PSA’s for Ask, Listen Learn featuring Olympic Gold Medalist and Dancing with the Stars Contestant, Simone Biles along with numerous prominent United States Attorney Generals aimed at helping educate parent’s on how they can help their kid’s say “yes” to a healthy lifestyle and “no” to underage drinking. Simone is the newest Superstar to join Ask, Listen Learn, a program that the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org), a national not-for-profit dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, developed alongside a team of educators and organizations specializing in middle school-aged students.
The PSA’s to be completed over the course of the next month were written and directed by our Principal Creative Director, Justin Jarrett. This is one of several projects we have worked on with Ask, Listen Learn and The Foundation for Alcohol Responsibility. Stay tuned for the full spot…
Projects That Matter Debuts New Work @ Fred's Footsteps Party in the Yard
Party in the Yard @ Urban Outfitters, Inc.
On Saturday March 4 at Urban Outfitters, INC. at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, our Projects That Matter Initiative debuted a new short film, highlighting the Weiss Family’s journey at Fred’s Footsteps Annual Party in the Yard Event.
Our Projects That Matter Initiative works with non-profit organizations around the world to help share their stories by providing production services at a fraction of the traditional costs. We have been working with Fred’s Footsteps for three years in order to help continue sharing their tremendous work of providing direct financial assistance to otherwise financially stable families facing a child’s hospitalization. They provide a funding bridge to working families for a period of one year to help them adjust to their child’s changing needs. Their Annual Party in the Yard event continues to be a sold-out success, raising over $1.2 million.
JTWO Wins 2 Golds, Silver at Addy Awards
2017 Addy Awards
Our team picked up some more hardware Thursday night at the 2017 Philadelphia American ADDY Awards for our :30 AXE Bat: Axe Academy Commercial. The spot won Gold for Best Cinematography & Best Editing while also picking up a Silver for best Regional/National Television Commercial. Our Axe Bat: Axe Academy project also recently won Best Video Editing at the 2017 Louix Awards. The Axe Bat: Axe Academy Commercial was written and directed by our Principal Creative Director, Justin Jarrett and Executive Produced by Travis Capacete, Jelani Thomas in conjunction with Will Redmond and our sports arm, FullCircle Intermedia.
About the American Advertising ADDY® Awards
Sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, the American Advertising ADDY® awards honors excellence in advertising and cultivates the highest creative standards in the industry. Nationally, over 60,000 entries are submitted annually. The competition begins at the local level with the Philly Ad Club and 210 AAF member chapters nationwide. Local winners proceed to 14 regional competitions and those winners go on to the national finals. Entries must begin at the local level. All Gold winners are automatically forwarded to the regional competition.
JTWO Wins Best Video Editing at Louix Awards
2017 ANNUAL ADCP LOUIX AWARDS
Our team recently picked up some hardware at the 2017 Annual ADCP Louix Awards held at the Ballroom at the Ben for Best Video Editing for our :30 AXE Bat: Axe Academy Spot.
Behind the Scenes
Intern Hall of Fame - Bill Kirner
Intern Hall of Fame
One of our proudest achievements has been the creation and establishment of one of Philadelphia’s top Internship Programs. Our interns are challenged, pushed and encouraged to create meaningful pieces that challenge the status quo throughout the course of JTWO.U (similar to Trump U, but not 😉 )
Over the coming weeks, we will be showcasing some of our top interns from the past year. This week’s honoree is the talented William “Bill” Kirner.
William “Bill” Kirner
Delaware Valley University
Bill was a summer 2016 intern with a passion for creative storytelling and a desire to get involved in the film industry. Prior to his time at JTwo, Bill had a multitude of experiences including serving our country in the United States Military. During his time with us, Bill was able to show an immediate knack for set work on our AXE Bats shoot and parlayed his ability on set into a full time job at Expressway Grips.
To learn more about Bill, check out the video below!
A Year to Remember
A Year to Remember
Eight years. It has been eight years since we began this journey and each and every year the stories get bigger, the stage gets brighter and we get more excited about what comes next. However, it is not lost on us that none of this would be possible without all of you. You continue to trust us with your stories and the stories of those dearest to you. Today, we honor you…thank you for another incredible year!
Fred’s Footsteps: 2016
Fred’s Footsteps: 2016 Year In Review
This year as part of our Projects That Matter Initiative we had the amazing opportunity to work with Fred’s Footsteps and the families they help. It was an absolute honor to be a part of their best year yet and share their story!
They served over 100 families in the Philadelphia region and provided $625,000 to the community.