Mildred and Edith

MILDRED & EDITH A documentary promoting creative ideas for long term development and sustainable enterprise.

In February 2011, Mzuribeads intend to produce a documentary with a Glaswegian producer named Martin Clark. This short film take you into the making of our recycled beads, and our journey so far. By showing the finished film in African film festivals, art centers and events in the UK and beyond, we aim to promote the importance of innovative ideas and fair trade as a tool for building self sufficient, sustainable projects.

Proposal written by Kirstie Maclean Director of Mzuribeads Contact: info@mzuribeads.com

Why Why a film documentary?

AN AN INSPIRING INSPIRING INSIGHT INSIGHT Video footage will skillful making making of of the the colorful colorful recycled recycled paper paperbeads beads Video footage will effectively effectively illustrate illustrate the the skillful and in Uganda.

Uganda. and the the working/living working/living conditions conditions of of the the producers producers in The account of of the the running running of of aa grassroots grassroots The interview interview style style will will show show an honest and personal account project. project.

AN AN EDUCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TOOL TOOL I I have UK and and beyond beyond that that will will use usethe thefilm filmtoto have contacts contacts with with colleges colleges and schools around the UK promote importance of of fair fair trade. trade. The The video videowill willbe be promote the the use use of of sustainable sustainable materials and the importance distributed bodies will will be be contacted. contacted. I I have have been been distributed to to these these contacts, contacts, and more educational bodies invited to talk at schools and colleges, and will be doing my first workshop/talk about the invited to talk at schools doing my first workshop/talk about the business Metropolitan college college early early December.

December. On On business in in the the jewelry jewelry department of the Metropolitan completion deliver and and talk talk alongside alongside showings showings atat completion of of the the documentary documentary I personally aim to deliver schools and and colleges. colleges. schools SOMETHING DIFFERENT DIFFERENT SOMETHING February aa 2011 2011 aa ‘Beyond ‘Beyond Bead’ design competition InIn February competition will will go go out out to to art art schools schools and and colleges. The The design design brief, brief, will encourage artists to submit colleges. submit an an idea idea for for an an art art piece piece to to be be incorporating the beads.

Proposals we be accepted from any discipline, fashion, architecture, incorporating the beads. from any discipline, fashion, architecture, sculpture, etc. etc. The The winners winners will showcase their work alongside sculpture, alongside the the first first screening screening of of the thefilm film documentary at at Che Che Camilles Camilles in August 2011. We documentary We will will push push for for features features inin the the local local publications that have previously taken an interest in the Mzuribeads and myself, and invite publications that have previously the Mzuribeads and myself, and invite larger press attention. larger press attention.

What do do we we need?

What We require require £5000 £5000 for for the the film film to to be be produced produced and We and directed directed by

by Kirstie Kirstie MacLean, MacLean,Martin MartinClark Clark and a sound technician. and a sound technician.

Travel -- flights flights and and hire hire car car -- £2,000 £2,000 Travel Expenses -- film film reels, reels, insurance, insurance, accommodation, accommodation, safety, Expenses safety, food food -- £1,000 £1,000 Wages for Ugandans assistants £1,000 Wages for Ugandans assistants - £1,000 Minimal wages to cover producer time - £ 1,000 Basic wage to cover editing time -editing £ 1,000

When do do we we need need it? it?

When The film film isis scheduled scheduled to to be be filmed filmed on on the the 12th January, The 12th February, January, 2011 2011 -- 22nd 22nd January, January, 2011.

2011.

Editing will take 3-4 months, and ready for first screening August 2011.

Editing will take 3-4 months, and ready for first screening August 2011.

Personnel KIRSTIE MACLEAN (full resume attached) I am 26 year old female, raised in the West end of Glasgow.

Educated at Kelvinside Academy, and prematurely left higher a degree in Community Education to invest into Mzuribeads.

The business now supports itself. Nevertheless, although my expenses are covered and I earn commission from wholesale orders, I rely on casual work to support myself. My dream is to see the Mzuribeads cooperatives taking full control of their businesses. Showing that innovate ideas and hard work can grown a respect for local materials and talents. Setting the pace for self sufficient programs that result in long term development for the communities involved. After Mzuribeads I have plans to establish a larger supporting funding umbrella for similar creative and educational grassroots projects.

CLARK MARTIN CLARK (full MARTIN resume attached) Laura introduced me to Martin he talked on his work to her class at The Glasgow school of Art. At this time Martin was completing his first film project abroad, and showed a keen interest in Mzuribeads, and a filming in rural Uganda. After getting to know Martin and viewing his work, I believe his style to be suitable to interview style documentary proposed and look forward to

Background In the summer of 2006, before retuning to education in the UK, I went to volunteer in Uganda, (where my brother was at the time also volunteering. He introduced me to four women making jewelry from beads they rolled out of recycled paper. I began to sell the jewelry around Scotland, and travelled back to Uganda on my breaks. In 2008 decided to leave education and invest into turning the small time charitable project into an sustainable/ fair trading bead business. By marketing and selling the beads in the UK and frequently traveling back to Uganda, I have grown an increasingly smooth and effective business structure. The beads are currently sent from the village, to the Glasgow office, and onward to wholesale and retail customers worldwide.

Mildred & Edith SYNOPSIS & BACKGROUND Mildred & Edith, is an 8 - 10 minute documentary film about a cooperative of women rolling beads from recycled paper in the urban village of Ndejje, Uganda. Volunteering in 2006, Angus MacLean, from the UK, encountered these women who were initially trained to work for a now defunct organisation. He formed a new empowerment project, selling their finished jewelry in a local town market, and encouraged them to keep up their skill. Under the direction of his sister, Kirstie MacLean, who later came to volunteer, the group matured into the ethical bead business it is today, Mzuribeads.

STORY The film will feature the bead making process, and follow the women into the local city market, where they source their recycled posters and magazines. A large meeting in a tiny room in a beaders home, will show where the sometimes heated discussions, tiring negotiations and lengthy translation takes place. Kirstie and Edith on two chairs, and the other 15 - 20 women strategically placing their bodies to fit around them on the floor. The women show their remarkable talents, tying craft string around their big toes enabling them to bead and breast feed whilst contributing to the meeting.

Interviews with Edith and Mildred, (two specific members of the group), will communicate their general standard of living and circumstances; abandoned, HIV positive, with 6-8 dependents. Footage of Edith with her lop sided synthetic wig, standing braless in her ‘footballers wife’ T-shirt (a purchase from a market selling 3rd hand UK clothing), portray a head strong, resilient individual. Quite evident are her unique qualities which have naturally empowered her to the position as head of general Mzuribeads operations in Uganda.

Conversions between Kirstie and Mildred highlight an artful and dishonest episode which caused upset amongst the group before the equal distributions procedures were put into place. The video finishes by reflecting on their journey so far, it’s development, successes and future intentions.

OBJECTIVES The film will present day to day challenges involved in the running of a grassroots enterprise.

It will portray improvements in the workers lives and the sense of pride flourished from working together as a cooperative, taking a small craft into an International selling brand. This film will promote the use of responsibly sourced materials, and fair/ethical business practice for more sustainable development.

Aim

YOUR SUPPORT

The main aim is for this film to promote an interest for plans to introduce a creative leadership, self sufficiency, and sustainability project to compliment Mzuribeads. This project will Allow for the members of the working cooperatives to not simply produce, but be trained inMAKE all areas of the business. Although Mzuribeads has been growing at a very healthy rate, A DONATION alike most small businesses, profits are continually reinvested into more materials, stock and other requirements enabling us to keep up with increasing demand for our products. In the light of our donations success so of far ÂŁ50 we would like to begin attracting of external and supporting Individual and business donations ÂŁ100 funding have name or bodies, aiming company logoforinthe filmproposed credits.creative educational project to begin by the end of 2011.

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On completion, this film is scheduled to be previewed at the CCA Glasgow, London and Edinburgh - African film festival, and particular International development and investment events. Personal invites and private screenings for particular individuals and organizations ORprojects. showing interest in our future

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All enquiries to info@mzuribeads.com