10 Days of Social Media That Shook Us Up!

December 10, 2011

"We Are Many", a documentary about the amazing story of the largest protest in history, and its legacy witnessed in current social and poltical movements around the globe, reached its fundraising target on Kickstarter in the early hours of today. What's more heartwarming and remarkable is that this people powered film is continuing to exceed its target every minute as it approaches its campaign deadline of 5:35 am (EST) Tuesday 13th December. The film has clearly captured the public's imagination surpassing all our expectations leaving us speechless with gratitude and a strong sense of belonging to a fantastic community.

10 days ago on 1st December on this blog I wrote the following:

10 DAY COUNTDOWN CALL TO ACTION

Many TED Fellows and subscribers to this blog and their Facebook friends and Twitter followers have backed this important documentary by either pledging and/or helping spread the word. The production team of We Are Many are grateful for your generosity and support. Together we have raised $20,000 which is fantastic. But we still have a long way to go and need your help in reaching new donors.

We now have 10 days to raise the remaining $50,000 to reach the set target of $70,000.

Raising $5000 per day from today! It is a huge ask but not impossible. Our network of friends and followers, our circles of influence, can do it. This is a true test of the power of social media to do good. Let’s stretch it to its limits in a truly deserving case study: a documentary about people power crowd-funded by people.

The Humanity of the Crowds proved our huge mountain to climb was indeed within reach and then some! We Are Many did raise $5000/day and more. Thank you for backing this project in whatever way you did. We are truly grateful.

But - there's always a but ! - with 70 hours to go we are not resting or complacent.

Now is the perfect time to invite your friends to play a part. Join our already 480-strong community of backers. If everyone of you succeed in getting just ONE friend to play a part, the number of backers will be almost 1000! Let’s go as far as we can. Pass the word to everyone by Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Email, and/or Direct Call! Be the 1000th backer! Help us reach the ultimate crowd!

Can we attract 1000 plus backers? I believe, with your help, WE CAN! It's not over until it's over!

This is the all important link to share

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/733111346/we-are-many

Finally a reminder of what it's all about.

Taghi Amirani

TED Senior Fellow 2010

@tagz23

Filed under // Amir Amirani Amirani Films Aslan Media Iraq War Kickstarter Occupy Occupy Wall Street Peace Protest TED TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani We Are Many

Posted by Taghi Amirani

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Join Oliver Stone, Danny Glover and Stephen Fry In Supporting Global Protest Film "We Are Many"

December 2, 2011

We Are Many, a documentary on the untold story of the biggest protest in history, launches on crowd-funding website Kickstarter and gets off to an impressive start in gathering support. 256 backers have pledged over $20,000 since the short trailer for the work in progress appeared on Kickstarter.

We Are Many tells the story of the globally coordinated protests against the invasion of Iraq on 15 February 2003, and its legacy, through the Arab Spring to the Occupy Movement. The day that saw an estimated 30 million people in over 700 cities around the world march and give birth to a new global social movement.

OLIVER STONE EDORSES "WE ARE MANY"

Academy Award winning director Oliver Stone has joined the growing list of the film’s supporters with this statement:

"The global protest against the Iraq War on 15 February 2003 was a pivotal moment in recent history, the consequences of which have gone unreported. Amir Amirani's ‘WE ARE MANY’ chronicles the struggle to shift power from the old establishment to the new superpower that is global public opinion, through the prism of one historic day. I urge you to support this film in whatever way you can." Oliver Stone, November 2011

ROCKY HORROR SHOW’S RICHARD O’BRIEN PLEDGES $5000

Among the film’s supporters is the creator of The Rocky Horror Show Richard O’Brien who has pledged $5000. In giving his wholehearted backing to the film O’Brien said: “The greatest tragedy of this event and the reasons surrounding it, is that Bush and Blair drove a final nail in the coffin of democracy on that day.”

Novelist Arundhati Roy said 15 February 2003 was the “most spectacular display of public morality ever”.

HOW RICHARD BRANSON NEARLY STOPPED THE WAR

The ground-breaking documentary has also secured an interview with the British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson who for the first time on camera will talk about his failed attempt to stop the invasion of Iraq by flying in with Nelson Mandela to take Saddam Hussein out of the country. Branson, with the backing of the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, had a plane on stand by at Johannesburg airport for the mission, only for Britain and the US to start bombing. Branson is a great believer in the power of film to change things. On 24 November 2011 he wrote in his blog about films that make a difference.

STEPHEN FRY AND DANNY GLOVER IN TWITTERSPHERE

10 DAY COUNTDOWN CALL TO ACTION

Many TED Fellows and subscribers to this blog and their Facebook friends and Twitter followers have backed this important documentary by either pledging and/or helping spread the word. The production team of We Are Many are grateful for your generosity and support. Together we have raised $20,000 which is fantastic. But we still have a long way to go and need your help in reaching new donors.

We now have 10 days to raise the remaining $50,000 to reach the set target of $70,000. What you can do here and now in less than a minute:

1. Tweet the Kickstarter link to your followers with the hashtag #wearemany

2. Post the Kickstarter link on your Facebook wall.

3. Or if you happen to have a personal blog or a newsletter please consider including a post about the film. You can use this Press Release.

Raising $5000 per day from today! It is a huge ask but not impossible. Our network of friends and followers, our circles of influence, can do it. This is a true test of the power of social media to do good. Let’s stretch it to its limits in a truly deserving case study: a documentary about people power crowd-funded by people.

A final thought from the Olivier, Tony and BAFTA winning actor Mark Rylance currently in Jerusalem in London’s West End

Thank you!

Filed under // 15 Feb 2003 Amirani Films Arundhati Roy Danny Glover Documentary Iraq War Kickstarter Mark Rylance Oliver Stone Richard Branson Richard O'Brien Rocky Horrow Show Stephen Fry TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani We Are Many

Posted by Taghi Amirani

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"We Are Many" on Kickstarter kicks off with fantastic momentum!

November 14, 2011

Our documentary project We Are Many launched less than a week ago on Kickstarter has got off to a great start thanks to the TED Fellows spreading the word. Thank you!

Here's another mention for those who may have missed the post. Please take 6 mins to take a look at the trailer and help put it out there in your social media.

To capture the spirit and energy of the spectacular global Occupy movement Amirani Films has just launched a Kickstarter campaign for a major new documentary called We Are Many.

This is the trailer for the film

And this is the Kickstarter page

Like the film on Facebook

Follow the film on Twitter

And visit the film's website

Directed by Amir Amirani and Executive Produced by TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani, the film tells the remarkable story of the biggest protest in history which took place on February 15, 2003. The unprecdented worldwide march againts the impedning invasion of Iraq failed to stop an illegal war based on mass deception. But it drew a new map for protests to come. What happened in Cairo's Tahrir Square during the Arab Spring, and the subsequent global Occupy Movement, have a direct link to what happened on February 15, 2003. A seismic shift took place, and we are only now beginning to understand its impact.

If this movie project strikes a chord with you in any way please give it your support. Of course Kickstarter is all about crowdfunding and you can help in that way if you wish. But we need something more valuable than money; we need your help in reaching your communities. Your Twitter followers, Facebook friends, blog subscribers, website visitors, your mailing list, your real life friends and fanily..Please take a few minutes to share this post and the links below with your network. Share the TED Fellow love and see it reciprocated in ways you can't yet imagine!

TED Fellow and Kickstarter Co-Founder Perry Chen has started the ball rolling:

Special thanks to Perry, Elisabeth Holm and their brilliant team at Kickstarter.
Now it's over to you.

Many thanks.

Taghi Amirani

TED Senior Fellow 2010

Amirani Films

@tagz23

Filed under // 15 Feb 2003 Amir Amirani Amirani Films Documentary Iraq Iraq War Kickstarter Occupy Occupy London Occupy Wall Street Peace Perry Chen TED Fellows TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani We Are Many

Posted by Taghi Amirani

Comments [5]

From the Iraq war to Occupy Wall Street...You can connect the dots

November 11, 2011

To capture the spirit and energy of the spectacular global Occupy movement Amirani Films has just launched a Kickstarter campaign for a major new documentary called We Are Many.

This is the trailer for the film

And this is the Kickstarter page

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/733111346/we-are-many

Directed by Amir Amirani and Executive Produced by TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani, the film tells the remarkable story of the biggest protest in history which took place on February 15, 2003. The unprecdented worldwide march againts the impedning invasion of Iraq failed to stop an illegal war based on mass deception. But it drew a new map for protests to come. What happened in Cairo's Tahrir Square during the Arab Spring, and the subsequent global Occupy Movement, have a direct link to what happened on February 15, 2003. A seismic shift took place, and we are only now beginning to understand its impact.

If this movie project strikes a chord with you in any way please give it your support. Of course Kickstarter is all about crowdfunding and you can help in that way if you wish. But we need something more valuable than money; we need your help in reaching your communities. Your Twitter followers, Facebook friends, blog subscribers, website visitors, your mailing list, your real life friends and fanily..Please take a few minutes to share this post and the links below with your network. Share the TED Fellow love and see it reciprocated in ways you can't yet imagine!

TED Fellow and Kickstarter Co-Founder Perry Chen has started the ball rolling:

Special thanks to Perry, Elisabeth Holm and their brilliant team at Kickstarter.
Now it's over to you.

Links to share:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/733111346/we-are-many

http://www.wearemany.tv/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/15-February-2003/300254259003

http://twitter.com//15Feb2003

Many thanks.

Taghi Amirani

TED Senior Fellow 2010

Amirani Films

@tagz23

Filed under // 15 Feb 2003 99% @tagz23 Amir Amirani Amirani Fims Arab Spring Iraq War Kickstarter Occupy Occupy London Occupy Wall Street Peace Perry Chen TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani We Are Many

Posted by Taghi Amirani

Comments [6]

"The War You Don't See" - A Must See Documentary

December 26, 2010

Some of the world's leading star reporters from mainstream and highly influential networks come clean about their role in war reporting. "The War You Don't See" by John Pilger is an unflinching, powerful and timely documentary about the role of media in making wars like Iraq and Afghanistan possible.

Taghi Amirani

TED Senior Fellow

@tagz23

Filed under // Afghanistan Aljazeera BBC News CNN Dan Rather Embeded Journalism ITN News Iran Iraq John Pilger Rageh Omar TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani War Weapons of Mass Destruction media

Posted by Taghi Amirani

Comments [18]

Chevron Spoofed in a Fantastic Hoax by the Brilliant Yes Men

October 18, 2010

You got to love the Yes Men and their audacity in coming up with elaborate hoaxes in mocking corporations. Today they have pulled off one of their best attacks yet by spoofing a major advertising campaign launched by Chevron.

Chevron "We Agree"

Yes Men "We Agree"

And as if that wasn't enough they even issued their own version of Chevron's press release. Compare them below:

Chevron's press release

Yes Men's press release

How did I hear about this? Well, Chevron sent me an email warning me not to confuse their original campaign with a spoof one created by "a group of environmentalists cyber-posing as Chevron officials". Itself part of the whole spoof! Note the email subject line.

A nice touch of the prank is how they punked Fast Company and how graciously well the guys at Fast Company took it on the chin.

For this post I was going to reflect on BP's Deepwater Horizon fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico and the remarkable rescue of the Chilean miners, exploring themes of human incompetence below sea level and human ingenuity deep below earth's crust. But the Yes Men spoof with such a strong sense of purpose just blew me away and stole the show.

Taghi Amirani

@tagz23

http://amiranifilms.com/people/taghi_amirani

Filed under // BP Chevron Deepwater Horizon Environmentalists Fast Company Hoax Spoof TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani We Agree Yes Men

Posted by Taghi Amirani

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"We Are Many" Picks Up Three PUMA Creative Awards at The Good Pitch

October 3, 2010

We are delighted to share the good news that our feature documentary We Are Many presented at The Good Pitch in London on 10^thSeptember 2010 had an overwhelming response and picked up three PUMA Creative Awards. PUMA, through its PUMA.Creative initiative, launched a unique long-term partnership with Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation on September 10. The new PUMA.Creative Documentary Awards will provide financial support, creative counsel and industry recognition to documentary filmmakers whose work address creative, social justice, peace or environmental issues globally.

Directed by Amir Amirani, We Are Many will tell the story of the biggest peace march in human history. On 15 February 2003, in over 800 cities around the world, 30 million people protested against the planned invasion of Iraq. In telling this remarkable story, the film will harness the passion and political energy of this phenomenal movement as a force for good in giving people a voice.

See the 4-min trailer here

The Good Pitch brings together inspiring social-purpose film projects and a group of expert participants from charities, foundations, brands and media to form powerful alliances around groundbreaking films. In the new partnership between BritDoc and PUMA, We Are Many received a PUMA Creative Catalyst Award and two PUMA Creative Mobility Awards.

Maxyne Franklin, Jerry Rothwell (Director, Town of Runners), Amir Amirani (Director,We Are Many), PUMA Chairman & CEO Jochen Zeitz, Taghi Amirani (Producer, We Are Many), Jen Arnold (Director, Writer, Producer, A Small Act), and PUMA.Creative Director Mark Coetzee at the PUMA.Creative and Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation Gala Awards Ceremony

Together with pledges of support and collaboration from Saatchi & Saatchi, Avaaz (6 million members), CND, The Elders and Greenpeace We Are Many has received a great boost on what will be an extraordinary global journey.

To join in or simply keep up with the latest developments on this project become a fan of our FB page and follow us on Twitter@15Feb2003. There will also be news on the Amirani Films FB page. If the film strikes a chord please spread the word.

Taghi Amirani TED Senior Fellow @tagz23 Amirani Films

Filed under // 15 Feb 2003 Amir Amirani Amirani Films Avaaz BRITDOC Documentary Jochen Zelts PUMA PUMA Creative PUMA Creative Awards Peace Saatchi & Saatchi TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani The Elders The Good Pitch War We Are Many

Posted by Taghi Amirani

Comments [6]

Good News, Good Film, Good Pitch, Good People

August 12, 2010

Good News

Our feature documentary We Are Many has just been selected as one of eight projects to be presented at The Good Pitch in London on 10^th September 2010. The Good Pitch brings together inspiring social-purpose film projects and a group of expert participants from charities, foundations, brands and media to form powerful alliances around groundbreaking films.

Directed by Amir Amirani, We Are Many will tell the story of the biggest peace march in human history. On 15 February 2003, in over 800 cities around the world, 30 million people protested against the planned invasion of Iraq. In telling this remarkable story, the film will harness the passion and political energy of this phenomenal movement as a force for good in giving people a voice.

Good Film

You can see a 4-minute trailer for the film below

And a longer 8-minute version here.

Good Pitch

The Good Pitch is just one of many fantastic initiatives run by the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation, a new social entrepreneurship organisation bringing new thinking to public service delivery. This is what the good people of BRITDOC say: “Films are the best medium for changing hearts and minds and lives, by bringing stories and issues to the widest possible audiences. Films inspire people to engage and act. That’s why we broker relationships between Foundations, Charities, NGOs and Filmmakers.” Over the past three years BRITDOC have supported two projects at Amirani Films, and we love them for that. So a big shout out to Jess Search, Beadi Finzi, Maxyne Franklin, Elise McCave, Sarah Ross, Katie Bradford, Matt Jones and Sarah Mosses.

Good People

That’s you and your friends. Please help spread the word about We Are Many to as many people as you can. Come on board early and be part of the movement that gets the ball rolling on this important social action project. With your help we can make this film a catalyst for a global dialogue about the fundamental right of citizens to have their democratic voice heard when it comes to governments’ decision to go to war. Let’s put peace firmly on the agenda and ask: is a referendum before declaring war the only answer? Transparency and accountability must become the watchwords.

You can become a fan of the Facebook page, follow the film on Twitter, contribute to the content of the film’s website, blog and tweet about it. Even share your own story and perhaps take part in the documentary. If you have ideas for making this work we would love to hear from you. Whatever you do, however small, will make a difference.

Wish Amir and his film luck on September 10th!

Thank you.

Taghi Amirani

TED Senior Fellow

@tagz23

@amiranifilms

Amirani Films

Filed under // Amir Amirani Amirani Films BRITDOC Documentary Iraq Peace Protest TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani The Good Pitch War We Are Many activism

Posted by Taghi Amirani

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Crowd-sourcing a Music Video for Cash

July 15, 2010

TEDGlobal 2010 final night grand party was held at Oxford's Malmaison Hotel, a former prison. For the after party a whole lot of TED Fellows and TEDsters braved the wet streets outside to go dancing at a club called Escape. Not making this up.

I decided to stay behind and mingle in the "quiet" chill out room, thinking it's not every night you get to stay in a prison voluntarily. Took the lift to the chill out room which I found to be anything but quiet or cool. The place was a riot of loud overexcited TEDsters, doing what they're supposed to do: great thinking and doing. It wasn't long before I ran into Jon Kamen whom I had met at a previous TED and later @radicalmedia . We found an empty corner to catch up.

Over the din I heard Jon talk with great infectious enthusiasm about a project he and his super talented team @radicalmedia have been working on: a Johnny Cash music video. So I came back to my college dorm at Keble and thought I'd check it out before bed,

Boy, was I in for a fantastic surprise. This is no ordinary music video. The Johnny Cash Project is an online global collective public art project and visual testament to the life and career of Johnny Cash. Read about it here and see it here to have your mind blown.

Taghi Amirani

TED Senior Fellow

http://amiranifilms.com/

@tagz23

Filed under // @radicalmedia Johnny Cash Malmaison Oxford TED TED Senior Fellow Taghi Amirani

Posted by Taghi Amirani

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Ask an Iranian about BP But Not Before Breakfast

July 14, 2010

From the Global Breakfast Club

Day 2 at TEDGlobal 2010 and the two morning sessions manage to blow me away (that would be funnier if you knew the content). Titled Found in Translation and Irrational Choices, the themes explored in the talks and performances on this grey rainy Oxford morning warmed up the cockles of my Middle Eastern heart. During this TED so far the one subject that keeps coming up is "story". How to tell it, who tells it, who owns it, who has the best ones, and why they must be told. From internet visionary Ethan Zukerman and Turkish novelist Elif Shafak, to comedy impresario Jamil Abu-Wardah, and the fantastic stand up and actor Maz Jobrani, the message was loud and clear; let us tell our own stories in our own way. Reclaim! Even game changer Peter Molyneux in his talk the day before wanted to be part of his own game story.

Those who follow this blog know that my recent posts about BP have been less than gushing. One titled "Iran and USA: The Gulf Between Us" has been a particular favourite. Another tells you everything you wanted to know about BP but were afraid to ask. No, this is not a Woody Allen joke.

Now past 2 am, just before crashing after a long day in Oxford, I notice this headline on The Guardian site:

BP faces Lockerbie accusations amid delays over oil cap tests

It turns out there are now charges from a group of US senators that BP lobbied for the release of the Lockerbie bomber as part of an oil-for-terrorist deal.

What next? You wonder.

If you really want to know the FULL story about British Petroleum (BP) you must ask an Iranian. But not before he has invited you to breakfast. You see, rather than bang on about the human and environmental disaster in The Gulf of Mexico, let's take our cue from TEDGlobal's theme "And Now the Good News" and join the Global Breakfast Club instead. So much can be shared and learned over breakfast.

Taghi Amirani

TED Senior Fellow

http://amiranifilms.com/

@tagz23

Filed under // Amirani Films BP Elif Shakaf Ethan Zukerman Global Breakfast Club Iranian Jamil Abu-Wardah Maz Jobrani Peter Molyneux TED TED Senior Fellow TEDGlobal TEDGlobal 2010 Taghi Amirani Woody Allen

Posted by Taghi Amirani

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