Global Kids Youth Leaders Premiere Animated Film Discovered, Exposing the Global...

Global Kids Youth Leaders Premiere Animated Film Discovered, Exposing the Global
Tragedy of Child Sex Trafficking

NEW YORK, June 29, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On July 1, 2009, fifteen New York
City public high school students will premiere their film Discovered (2009,
discoveredmovie.com), a digital "machinima" film produced in Second Life that
explores the powerful issue of child sex trafficking through the fictional story
of one Mexican teenager.

Discovered is the final product of a year-long, intensive digital filmmaking
program called the Virtual Video Project (VVP), an after-school program
conducted by Global Kids, Inc. in New York City. The students gathered regularly
during the past year to learn about film production, human rights, and virtual
worlds, culminating in a serious issue machinima film produced entirely by the
youth filmmakers.

The students, ages 15-18, represent a range of high schools from the Bronx,
Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, including Hostos-Lincoln Academy, James Baldwin
School, University Neighborhood High School, the Academy of American Studies,
New York City Museum School, and Bryant High School.

Event Details:
* When: Wednesday, July 1st, 6pm-8pm
* Where: Sony Wonder Technology Lab [550 Madison Avenue at 56th St.]
* What: Meet & Greet Filmmakers, Premiere of Discovered, and Q & A
with students
* GK Press Contact: Arti Sheth, 212-226-0130, ext 106,
arti@globalkids.org
Hundreds of thousands of women and girls every year are forced into sexual
slavery, a crime that happens in Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, and in
communities all around the United States. Discovered is a fictional account, but
it is based upon research conducted by the VVP filmmakers with the feedback and
input of experts on child sex trafficking from organizations such as ECPAT-USA
(End Child Prostitution and Trafficking), and individuals from Mexico.

While the problem is daunting, the Global Kids teen filmmakers wanted to put a
human face on the issue, and to leave the viewer energized to do something to
help end sex trafficking. The VVP youth led every single stage of film
production, from costuming the "avatars," writing the script, voice acting the
various roles, filming the scenes, choosing background music and effects, and
editing the footage together. Global Kids and the young filmmakers plan to
stream the video in Second Life, disseminate it online, and submit it to
numerous film festivals to further expose the work.

The Virtual Video Project is part of Global Kids' Online Leadership Program
(OLP) and made possible with funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
Foundation and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development.

About the OLP:

Global Kids' Online Leadership Program (OLP), now in its ninth year, integrates
the use of the Internet into GK's programming. The OLP equips youth with the
skills necessary to use the Internet as a tool for research and social change
and develops online resources for educators and young people to promote civic
engagement and global literacy. Discovered was created in the virtual world of
Second Life, a "virtual world" that offers a three-dimensional environment where
online participants are represented by avatars. Second Life has millions of
users and a growing non-profit community. To access the OLP, please click here:
http://olp.globalkids.org

About Global Kids, Inc.

Founded in 1989, Global Kids' mission is to transform urban youth into
successful students and global and community leaders by engaging them in
socially dynamic, content-rich learning experiences. Through its leadership
development and academic enrichment programs, Global Kids educates youth about
critical international and domestic issues and promotes their engagement in
civic life and the democratic process. Through professional development
initiatives, Global Kids provides educators with strategies for integrating
experiential learning methods and international issues into urban classrooms.
Over ninety percent of the high school seniors who participate in Global Kids'
leadership program graduate from high school. To access the Global Kids website,
please click here: www.globalkids.org

The Global Kids, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4850

-0-
CONTACT: Global Kids
Sofia Oviedo
212-226-2116
sofia@globalkids.org
Arti Sheth
212-226-0130, ext. 106
arti@globalkids.org
www.globalkids.org