Frog Pond Productions

Feature length documentary film project

DOCUMENTARY FILM OBJECTIVES

* Expand the reach of the message that the Maasai have a desperate need to develop reliable water resources.

* Highlight the beauty and glory of the Maasai people and their rich culture and tradition.

* Educate and create greater awareness of global water issues, in part by telling the Maasai story and sharing their joy in digging a well.

“Quenching the Thirst” the six-minute promotional film received the “Chairman’s Choice Award” at the Bucks Fever Film Festival sponsored by the Bucks County Chamber of Commerce on June 19 and 20, 2005. One of the goals of the project is to fund a documentary film about the Maasai. Hours of footage were filmed in May and June, 2005 while our Maasai friends visited the US, including the NYC trip to the United Nations 4^th Session on Indigenous Peoples Affairs on May 18^th. Volunteer crew and equipment as well as Shooters Post and Transfer, Inc. in Philadelphia have very generously donated time and equipment to the documentary project.

From November 26 to December 7, 2005 nine people (four-person film crew) traveled to Kenya to live with the Maasai for ten days and film the drilling of the first well. Travelers to Kenya were: Jen Ellsworth – Executive Producer; Phyllis Eckelmeyer – Producer; John-Michael Trojan – Producer/Director; John Gooch – Audio; Phil Bradshaw – Camera; Jason Contino – Camera; Susan Arns – Journalist; Michael Bird – Consultant; Skylar Bird – Student/Audio.

November 26 to December 7, 2005

Nine people (four person film crew) traveled to Kenya for 12 days to film the drilling of a well.

Please visit: www.quenchthethirst.org for more information about our amazing trip.

Crew filming at Chief Daniel's house - Kenya, East Africa

John-Michael - Director, Producer

John Gooch - Sound

Phil Bradshaw - Camera

Jason Contino - Camera

Please send donations to: MCEP Film Fund P.O. Box 222 Point Pleasant, PA 18950

Quenching the Thirst received the “Chairman’s Choice” Award at the Buck Fever Film Festival sponsored by the Bucks County Chamber of Commerce. The film was screened as part of the film festival held at the County Theater in Doylestown, PA on Sunday and Monday, June 19 and 20, 2005. Maasai tribe members Susan Naserian Nkitoria and Daniel Salau Rogie were present to receive the award. The film was also included in the Freedom Cinema Festival 2005 held in Park City, Utah from January 25 to 30, 2005

Five members of the Maasai tribe were hosted in Bucks County, PA in November, 2004. The Maasai performed cultural awareness programs at schools, churches and other venues. At that time, twelve-year-old Skylar Bird and fourteen-year-old Patrick Rodgers joined area volunteers to form an organization called Maasai Cultural Exchange Project (MCEP).

The students and Maasai guests worked together under the guidance of MCEP gathering footage to produce a six-minute promotional film titled “Quenching the Thirst.” The film also includes footage taken in December 2004 on location in Kenya when the Maasai hosted Phyllis and Fred Eckelmeyer. One of the primary goals of the Maasai and MCEP is to raise awareness of the Maasai community’s desperate need to develop reliable water sources. Skylar, Patrick and the Maasai also worked together to record traditional songs on a CD called “Isesia – Songs of the Maasai.”

“Quenching the Thirst” is being presented at film festivals, schools, churches and community organizations. The donations collected will go toward helping the Maasai drill wells, educate children, and empower and educate Maasai women. The six-minute film was premiered in Park City, Utah in January 2005 at Freedom Cinema Festival 2005 (FCF) where a worldwide audience views selected documentaries and dramatic films concurrent with Sundance Film Festival.