aaus-list @ ukrainianstudies.org -- [aaus-list] CHORNOBYL FILM UPDATE

[Irene Zabytko <irenezabytko@yahoo.com>]

CHORNOBYL FILM UPDATE--SUMMER, 2007

 

 

Hello Friends,

 

We are amazed at how much we have accomplished in the few short months since we began working on LIFE IN THE DEAD ZONE our documentary film about the elderly inhabitants still living within the highly contaminated "exclusion zone" surrounding the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

 

It’s because of you!

 

Thanks to the continuous generosity of our many donors for LIFE IN THE DEAD ZONE, we have come so far! Without you we wouldn't have achieved anything!

 

Because of YOU we:

• Traveled to Ukraine in February, 2007 to research and film archival photos  at the Chornobyl Museum in Kyiv
• Hired a guide to bring us directly to Opachychi in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and interview two elderly survivors for the documentary
• Wrote an in-depth three-part series of articles about the trip to Ukraine that appeared in the April 15, 22, and 29 issues of “The Ukrainian Weekly”
• Produced a promotional DVD trailer about the film project highlighting the women we interviewed in the exclusion zone village of Opahcychi.
•  Built and are currently maintaining a website: www.lifeinthdeadzone.com
• Traveled to the Ukrainian and American communities for fundraising events in Hartford, CT, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA and Chicago, IL which brought tremendous attention and awareness of this film project
•  Hired a professional sound technician for an on-film interview with an acclaimed Chornobyl photographer in Chicago
• Shot film footage in Chicago's Ukrainian Village for background scenes
• Partnered with a professional grants-writer for major proposals to corporations and foundations

THANK YOU!! You have been so supportive over the months and we hope we can rely on you to help us accomplish even more!

 

Our goals include: 

·         Returning  to Ukraine to shoot the documentary with a film crew

·         Travel to Canada to shoot the fictional portions based on my novel about Chornobyl, THE SKY UNWASHED

·         Editing and distributing the movie for theatrical release

·         Producing a CD of the music soundtrack.

• Publishing a study guide for high school and college students
• Publishing a travel memoir about this film project

 As always, we need your help to continue our film project. Please keep us on the road to Chornobyl so that we can show the world the extraordinary people who continue to live in the abandoned, irradiated and highly contaminated villages within the thirty mile radius of the Chornobyl exclusion zone.

 

Please make out your tax deductible contributions to:.

 

The Ukrainian Artistic Center

2657 W. Iowa Street, First Floor

Chicago, IL 60622-4755

 

Please earmark it as "Chornobyl Film."

 

A print-out form is also available at:  www.lifeinthedeadzone.com  All donors will be acknowledged on the website and on the film credits unless they wish to remain

anonymous.

 

Speaking of our new website, www.lifeinthedeadzone.com, please take the time to visit us there. It's stunning and very informative about the film project. We will be updating it with new information, articles and photos soon. Thank you to our brilliant webmaster, Marcelo Lozada and his creative crew who donated countless hours into building our fabulous website.

 

THANK YOU HOSTS!

 

We also want to express our heartfelt thanks to the following organizations who hosted fundraisers where I had the privilege of screening the DVD trailer of LIFE IN THE DEAD ZONE and to sign copies of my novel on which the film is based, THE SKY UNWASHED. It was wonderful meeting so many supporters and well-wishers who came out to hear me talk about our film and who believe in us and our work.

 

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO:

 

The Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund, Greater Hartford Chapter.

The Women's Association for the Defense of the Four Freedoms of Ukraine, Greater Hartford Chapter

The Ukrainian National Women's League of America--Chapter 106

The Ukrainian National Home of Hartford

The Cornelia Street Cafe, NYC (in conjunction with "Ukrainian Night")

Big Blue Marble Book Store, Philadelphia, PA

Mary Kalyna and Friends (private fundraising event)

The Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center, Jenkintown, PA

The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago

The Ukrainian Business and Professional Group of Chicago

Nuclear Energy Information Service, Chicago

And to the many, many individual donors whose names are on the website. Diakuyu!

 

If you or your organization would like to host a fundraiser for LIFE IN THE DEAD ZONE, please contact me at info@lifeinthedeadzone.com 

 

THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR US! HELP US TO CONTINUE ON THE ROAD TO CHORNOBYL. WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH MORE BECAUSE OF YOU!

 

Peace,

 

Irene Zabytko

Producer, Writer

LIFE IN THE DEAD ZONE

info@lifeinthedeadzone.com

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