Michael Moore collaborator joins Aussie film-makers for ’empathy deficit’ doco
Michael Moore collaborator Kurt Engfehr has teamed with a crew of Australian film-makers to create a new feature documentary, Stand In My Shoes.
The ‘social change’ film is based on the ’empathy deficit’, a term coined by President Obama, cautioning against the dangers of a world without empathy.
Australian co-creators and producers Anna Reeves, Vivienne Somers with producer Elizabeth Nakano and creative director/executive producer Ahmed Salama who was EP on The Tunnel have teamed with Engfehr, co-producer of Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 and director of The Yes Men Save The World.
Craig Davis, chief creative officer of Publicis Mojo and co-founder of Brand Karma will be among the interviewees of the film. He will be joined by Google’s Chade-Meng Tan, spiritual author and lecturer Marianne Williamson, voted as one of Time Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Babyboomers and William Mobley, head of Neuroscience at USCD.
The film also follows Reeves, Somers and Nakano, who were drawn to each other after noting what they felt was a lack of empathy in society, as they attempt to expose the ’empathy deficit’, covering a wide canvas of corporations, narcissists, dictators and internet ‘trolls’.
Engfehr, on joining the Standing In My Shoes team, said: “I’m excited to be leading this team of talented film-makers as we explore the lack of empathy in society today. From the health care debate here in the USA to austerity measure in Europe to sectarian violence in the Middle East and Africa, the lack of empathy has a real impact in how lives are led around the world. I’m also looking forward to participating in this exciting crowd-funding experiment. I’ll be writing blog posts and am eager to engage with our audience and learn what interests them about this topic.”
The project is due to launch a kick-starter crowd-funding campaign on 23 August.
Proceeds of the film will go towards research for the Science & Education Centre of Empathy and Compassion, founded by Bill Mobley.
Man where do I sign up!!!, having around half my family under the poverty line and being the only income earner in my family capable of earning enough to make any real difference to the situation, this subject is WAAAYYYY over due for a decent doco.
cant wait to see if any real social change happens as a result.
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Do I have to stand in Lara Bingle’s shoes? just kidding. I love the idea of this and will be interested to see if it can have impact – I truly hope so. I tend to think one is born with empathy and so I don’t know that those without will ‘get it’ even if given clear instructions – but good luck with that. A bit like ethics, ie a barrister friend tells me that is one of their topics for professional practice points. He figures if you haven’t got it by the time you’re in your 50s maybe it’s never gonna happen, alas.
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Hi Damien,
You can sign up to support us at http://www.StandInMyShoes.com. We also have a Facebook account at Facebook.com/SIMStheMovie and a Twitter at twitter.com/standinmyshoes.
Thanks for your willingness to support!
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Further to Colin’s awesome article above….
Don’t forget to SIGN UP to the Stand In My Shoes Website.
standinmyshoes.com
Special surprises install when you sign up.
Thanks guys!
Best
Anna Reeves Producer (Stand in My Shoes)
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