|
Young
Director
Creates
a
Music
Video
for
Human
Rights
Los
Angeles resident and 19-year-old
director Taron Lexton has just
completed filming the primary
footage for a music video to
promote the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights. The video is
being produced by Youth for Human
Rights International (YHRI),
a Los Angeles-based organization
that teaches human rights to
young people.
Taron
was joined in the project by
a 150-strong multi-ethnic cast
who donated their time and talents
to the project.
“Human
rights is a vital issue, it spans
all countries, races and religions
that often divide people. Human
rights are universal.” stated
Taron.
Taron
began working on this project
just after graduating from LA
Film School and has so far devoted
almost 7 months to the music
video. Says Taron, “When
I finished film school there
were several films that I could
have pursued but I decided to
ask my Mom what I could do to
help her with my new skills and
she mentioned this human rights
project. I liked it and decided
to jump on board.”
Taron’s
passion for film began at a very
young age and has blossomed into
a full blown career. Besides
his paid pursuits, he has donated
his talents to create footage
that speaks to youth about the
importance of human rights. This
includes a 35-day YHRI World
Educational Tour through 13 nations,
in which he produced footage
that conveys the essence of human
rights in many nations and which
is included in the music video.
Taron
says he was drawn to film because “You
can speak to people who might
not otherwise listen to you.
They’ll
watch a film but might not read
a book or listen to speech. Film
making is the most powerful means
of broad scale communication.”
|
19
July, 2004
PRESS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact
Person:
Tracie
Morrow
714 – 319
7339
e-mail: tracie@scientology.net
Filming
for Youth
for Human
Rights
Music Video Wraps Up
Youth
for Human
Rights
International
has just
completed
filming
the primary
footage
for a music
video to
promote
the Universal
Declaration
of Human
Rights.
The music
video features
a 150-strong
multi-ethnic
cast who
donated
their time
and talents
in the
cause of
human rights. More
information
and photos
of some
of the
cast.
“It’s
something
to benefit
the nation,” said
12-year-old
Melissa
Lee, a
volunteer
actress
chosen
to represent
her Korean
culture. “I
wanted
to do it
because
the video
has a clear
message
that everyone
should
know their
human rights.”
The music
video features
a new theme
song for
YHRI written
by award-winning
composer
Geoff Levin
and lyricist,
singer
and songwriter
Harriet
Schock.
It is directed
by a mother
and son
team of
educator
and YHRI
director,
Mary Shuttleworth,
and 19-year-old
Taron Lexton,
a recent
graduate
of the
Los Angeles
Film School.
Both are
Los Angeles
residents.
The producer,
Leslie
Brown,
came out
from Florida
to dedicate
her time
to this
project. “This
video is
about the
key issues
we are
dealing
with,” she
commented. “Abuses
like child
slavery
often go
un-addressed
and art
is a great
way to
deal with
them and
at the
same time
educate
people.”
Youth
for Human
Rights
International
(YHRI)
is a Los
Angeles-based
organization
that teaches
human rights
to young
people.
Since its
foundation
in 2001,
one month
after 9/11,
YHRI has
grown rapidly.
It now
operates
in 25 countries
across
the globe,
teaching
tens of
thousands
of youth
about human
rights.
Working
closely
with YHRI
and helping
to supply
volunteer
support
are the
Human Rights
Department
of the
Church
of Scientology
International
and the
International
Foundation
for Human
Rights
and Tolerance,
of which
YHRI is
an outreach
project.
Actor,
15-year-old
Brady Frome
stated “Human
rights
is about
freedom,
it’s
about being
able to
live. It’s
enjoying
everything
life has
to offer.
I read
the United
Nations
Universal
Declaration
of Human
Rights
and I saw
that it
is about
freedom
and that
it protects
everyone.”
The music
video is
due to
be released
with fanfare
on August
24 at the
United
Nations
in New
York as
part of
a Youth
for Human
Rights
International
Youth Summit
and awards
ceremony.
The video
builds
on YHRI’s
35-day
World Educational
Tour in
February
and March
that brought
increased
understanding
of human
rights
to 13 countries
from Japan
to India
to Ghana.
Said film
director
Lexton, “This
video will
generate
interest
and help
make people
realize
human rights
are cool.”
More:
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Young
Director
Creates
a Music
Video
for Human
Rights
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