Concert for Hope Film
A Documentary Short 'Call to Action' Start a Ripple - Find out How!
"People who read Tracks of Hope should also watch
A Concert for Hope;
The story about the runaway train of poverty and the need to change its course comes out loud and clear in these two
related productions... the mixture of spoken words with music is especially appropriate to reach more educated and trained viewers such as the leaders of Silicon Valley."
-Prof. William Julius Wilson of Harvard U.
What would you do, to start a ripple? This film explores the question, and captures a moment in time which caused a ripple, bringing waves of change we are still feeling. Director Lauren Speeth mixed up a magical brew of transcendant musical performances, stirring speeches, and enchanting animations; the result is a compelling call to action. Recorded live in 2007 at Stanford University's Memorial Church at a concert of the same name, A Concert for Hope captures a celebration concert in honor of the opening of the The Center for the Study of Poverty and Inequality at Stanford University and the launching of their website, inequality.com. Featured speakers include Stanford Dean of Humanities and Sciences Richard Saller, Center Director Professor David Grusky and Elfenworks Foundation CEO Lauren Speeth. Visual feast includes animated story, slides from the Stanford Center and striking excerpts from the film Faces of Poverty.
- A new major composition, La Povertà by Stanford composer / professor
Giancarlo Aquilanti and performed by the
Elfenworks Festival String Ensemble [Christina Mok, Violin 1;
Randall Weiss, Violin 2;
Rick Shinozaki, Violin 3;
Pat Burnham, Violin 4;
Patricia Whaley, Viola 1;
Janet Sims, Viola 2;
Peter Gelfand, Cello 1;
Cheryl Fippen, Cello 2] with sopranos Shawnette Sulker and
Rebecca Plack, under the baton of maestro Mitchell Sardou Klein of the Peninsula
Symphony. Set to music:
***Deuteronomy 15:11: For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
*** Mother Teresa: Serve the poorest of the poor. Do not wait for leaders. Do it now, person to person. - Special gospel music I Shall Not Be Moved and a second original composition, In Harmony With Hope celebrating the opening of the center, written by pianist / composer / arranger / long-time Stanford Jazz Workshop faculty member Tammy Lynne Hall, Featuring Ms. Hall conducting and at the piano, with Rhonda Benin, Valerie Joi Fiddmont, and La Tonya Reed vocals, Michaelle Goerlitz, percussion and Don Kane, bass.
- Copyright © 2008 The Elfenworks Foundation, LLC
- Distributed by The Elfenworks Foundation, LLC
- Produced & Directed by Lauren Speeth
- Speaking: Richard Saller, Ph.D.,, David Grusky, Ph.D., Lauren Speeth, D.B.A.
- Audio recording, mixing, and mastering by Stephen Hart
- Editing, effects, and animations by Tim Schaller
- Running time:26 minutes
Members of the press, please write about domestic poverty issues... we'll help you get what you need for a compelling story! Please contact our for assistance in arranging an interview with Professor David Grusky (Director of the Stanford Center for the study of Poverty and Inequality) and/or a member of the Elfenworks team. We can also provide information regarding the awareness-raising campaign surrounding this compelling film.
