We have recently launched our production company and blog, Aberrant Films. The goal of Aberrant Films is to raise awareness about social issues in an entertaining way. The blog will include both articles/journalistic pieces on things happening in our community, and entertaining fiction, videos and short films with powerful messages inspired by things happening in our community and culture.
We've recently been getting involved in the fight against the Domain Awareness Center that the Dept. of Homeland Security is trying to build in Oakland. If we don't speak up, it could end up being a city-wide surveillance hub which has 24/7 surveillance on Oakland and surrounding areas. There are so many things wrong with the DAC and what it could mean for the privacy rights of everyone in the Bay Area.
We recently attended a meeting at Oakland City Hall, which was officially the one chance for the public to voice their concerns and opinions about a privacy policy for the Domain Awareness Center, and to get questions answered. The meeting itself was honestly quite comical, in terms of how obvious it was that no one with any decision power was listening to us and the answer to every single question was a very upbeat "I don't know."
There were many very tragic yet funny elements about the meeting, and we'd like to shoot a comedic skit which both makes fun of the way that meeting was handled, and raises important questions about the DAC that people should be asking.
For more info on the DAC, here are some links:
The big vote and protest on the DAC is on Tuesday the 4th and we'd like to get this skit out by then.
We will be shooting the skit on Monday (3/3), 12pm-4pm near 18th and Mission in San Francisco. We unfortunately cannot offer pay for this project, but it's going to be a lot of fun, for a great cause that affects our community, and a lot of people are going to see it.
The roles we need to cast are:
-- The Moderator: An upbeat good-looking middle-aged man with a gameshow host attitude and absolutely no knowledge or decision power on the DAC. Must have a suit and tie.
-- Two more City Council Members: Both men, middle-aged, serious looking, did very little talking aside from the occasional "we don't know" and hid in the shadows of the audience. Preferably one latin and one black as it was at the real meeting. Very few lines if any, but plenty of screen time. Must have a suit and tie.
-- Five Anti-DAC Speakers: Largely members of Occupy Oakland, regular citizens, protestors, etc. who spoke in opposition of the DAC. Each speaker will get several lines. Casual or semi-professional wear.
-- 10+ Anti-DAC Audience Members: Anti-DAC people who attended the meeting but do not speak in the skit. Casual or semi-professional wear.
If you're available and interested, please contact me and we'll give you more details. And if you know anyone else who might be interested, whether they would like to play a role or just be an audience member, please send them our way. Thanks!
Sincerely,
...
Aberrant Films