Several business in that community opened their doors to us, or offered to do so and everyone has been as kind as can be… we are truly honored and thankful.

Gosh, I never tire of saying this — Texans are just downright friendly! I love it! And for those of you who don’t live in Texas, the word itself comes from the Caddo Indian word “teyshas” meaning allies or friends.

At any rate, we’re making good progress, and the cast and crew have been and continue to be amazing.

We’re sure you will love this film of ours.

Val Gameiro
Writer / Director / Filmmaker

Sorry I’ve been so quiet of late – as some of you know, not only am I shooting this film with y’all, I have dayjob, a family, and a new business I’m starting with Bobby Sargent (including the stunt school, and a video/film production company), not the mention being a part of The Show! (www.theshowaustin.com)  – my hands are pretty full.

Anyway, I got a very touching call today from one of the extras, and it got me thinking…

First of all, if I have ever done, or ever do something that upsets you, please let me know!

I want you to know that I appreciate all you’re doing more than I can say. I mean, I can have all the ideas in the world (good or bad) but without you folks, and the people who are opening their doors to us, there would be nothing!

I am humbled that you all believe in me enough to throw your effort into this project. And if I ever make you feel anything less than that, I utterly apologize!

Whether you’re behind or in front of the lens, you’re making all of this possible, and I cannot thank you enough!

With as much care and love you have shown to this project it can’t help but come out great!

And I promise to do everything I can to make it as successful as we can!

Thank you! All of you!

Val Gameiro
Writer / Director / Filmmaker

As a strong advocate for human rights, we always wanted to speak out against these atrocities. This film is our effort, wherein we hope to scare, entertain and enlighten. Although these topics may seem so removed from the most of us, it’s frightening how close they can actually be. You never know when a friend or relative may be “Baker Acted” into an institution, or when an innocent child in your neighborhood may be approached by traffickers with promises of love and friendship and gifts, only to find themselves in a lifetime of torture and pain. By helping us get this movie made, you’re helping these people have a voice. You’re helping me tell the world that these are heinous crimes, and that we will not tolerate them… only in the light of truth will these cease to exist. People must be made aware and accountable.

WHY SUPPORT THIS FILM? Because it’s an important message, with a good story and a good surprise ending. Besides, we have an amazing cast and crew — we won’t let you down. You will be part of something special, that will get made. And, you’ll get AWESOME bragging rights!!

WHERE WILL THE MONEY GO? Our target goal, along with other money we already have pledged and used — mostly from the director’s pocket, and from the work of the cast and crew who have already put in some time to give you an idea of what this movie will be about (a teaser, and some character videos which, if you back us up — will be used to complete about half of our production costs for food, locations, wardrobe and props. This is a work of love and we’re stretching every penny. Pretty much, the cast and crew are working on deferred pay to get this film done — this means that once the movie is completed and released, and we make some sort of a profit, we’ll pay the cast and crew.

This last amount is the final stepping stone to wrap up production.

BEATING THE GOAL: our goal is the bare minimum we need to pay for locations, feed the cast and crew and buy props and wardrobe. If we beat the goal, we’ll have more money for post-production, and if we raise enough perhaps to pay the talented people who are working hard to make this happen.

IF WE DON’T HIT THE GOAL, we’ll get no money from Kickstarter. We’ll have to figure something else out. Not making the movie isn’t an option. We will get the film made one way or another, but it will take longer.

YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO SEE: videos from location scouting, interviews with cast and crew, things that may never even make it on the DVD, we will share those videos with you.

PICK YOUR OWN REWARD: is there a specific reward you’d like, but we’re not offering it… reach out to us, and we’ll figure something out!

This is the 2nd teaser:

Val Gameiro
Writer, Director, Filmmaker

I hope those dreams all come true.

As for me, other than the personal dreams which I won’t discuss here, I hope the New Year brings a greater awareness of human trafficking and other human rights violations, and a greater resolve to bring an end to these things.

May we all find greater friends in the world, and the world find greater friends in us.

Amnesia will resume shooting in January, and we can certainly use your support, so check out our Kickstarter campaign:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/idealsceneprod/amnesia-an-independent-psychological-horror-thrill/

Val Gameiro
Writer, Director, Filmmaker

Just a quick word to let you know that I will be speaking on the Truth Brigade Radio program (on American Freedom Radio).

Here is the link with the details:

http://truthbrigade.org/smf/index.php/topic,8493.msg13256.html#msg13256

If you have any questions, you can call them in:

http://americanfreedomradio.com/
Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Time: 7:00-9:00 PM Central

Call in: 218-339-8525

Spread the word!

Val Gameiro
Writer, Director, Filmmaker
Austin, Texas

But don’t forget one very crucial thing: while rescuing survivors is paramount, what about prosecuting the people who put them there? Since in a lot of cases some of those people are big names in the community, you find a lot less of those… and with simple slaps on the wrist, how are they to ever be discouraged?

Val Gameiro
Writer, Director, Filmmaker
Austin, Texas

(CNN) — Google Inc. announced Wednesday that it’s providing $11.5 million in grants to 10 organizations working to end modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

Gary Haugen, president and CEO of International Justice Mission, one of the grant recipients, called the move a “game-changing investment.” IJM is a Washington-based human rights agency that works to rescue victims of slavery and sexual exploitation in about a dozen countries.

“This is the largest corporate step up to the challenge that is beginning to apply direct resources to the fight against slavery,” Haugen said.

According to estimates by grant recipients, Google’s support will free an estimated 12,000 people from slavery and prevent millions more from being victimized. Numbers vary widely, but policymakers, activists and scholars estimate the number of modern-day slaves at somewhere between 10 million and 30 million people worldwide.

Google’s director of charitable giving, Jacquelline Fuller, said the company chose to spotlight the issue of slavery because the topic of freedom — “the most basic of human rights,” as she puts it — resonated with company employees around the world.

“Many people are surprised to learn there are more people trapped in slavery today than any time in history,” Fuller said. “The good news is that there are solutions. Google is supporting organizations that have a proven track record and a plan to make a difference at scale.”

Google made the announcement through a link posted on its web page. The gift is part of a total of $40 million the Internet giant is giving in charitable donations during the holiday season.

The grant will be shared by newly formed coalitions of international anti-trafficking organizations. The bulk of the donation, $8 million, will go to two coalitions led by IJM in India, with about half going toward direct intervention and government-led rescue operations, and half toward advocacy and awareness projects. In addition, $1.8 million will go to the U.S. Anti-Trafficking Initiative — a partnership between Polaris Project, which operates the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline, Slavery Footprint, an interactive Web site and mobile app that estimates how much of a user’s lifestyle relies on forced labor, and IJM.

IJM says most of its funding comes from private donations. In 2010, it notes, less than 1% of its funding came from major corporations or corporate foundations.

“It gives us a sense of what’s possible,” said IJM’s Haugen. “We can actually change the whole balance of resources between those who are the criminals, hurting human beings and those who are on the side of those who need freedom today.”

CNN has also joined the fight against modern-day slavery and collaborates regularly with many advocacy groups, including the recipients of these Google grants. Since launching the CNN Freedom Project in March, CNN has broadcast more than 200 stories and a half-dozen documentaries on the issue of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Nearly 2,000 people have come out of slavery, either directly or indirectly, as a result of those stories.

http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/overview/the-traffickers?tmpl=component&print=1&page=

The Traffickers

Human traffickers lure and ensnare individuals into labor trafficking and sex trafficking situations using methods of control such as force, fraud, or coercion.  There is no one profile of a trafficker.  Essentially, human traffickers can be anyone who is willing to exploit another human being for profit.

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/6088-vice-mayor-arrested-face-human-trafficking-raps

SULU: Philippine authorities have arrested a town vice-mayor and his aide who were both linked to human trafficking charges in Mindanao.

Limtajar Bandahala Hassan, deputy mayor of Lugus town, was arrested in an entrapment operation carried out by undercover police and military agents at Paseo del Mar park in Zamboanga City over the weekend.

Hassan is being accused of transporting illegal Filipino workers to the remote island of Taganak in Tawi-Tawi before they are transported to Malaysia’s oil-rich state of Sabah.

Two agents, one from the local police force and the army, and a civilian informant who are members of a government anti-human trafficking task force, set up the trap and paid P18,000 in marked money to the politician in exchange for their boat trip to Taganak.

Police also seized a .45-caliber pistol from the politician, who identified himself as Limtazar Baladji, but government records showed his real name as Limtajar Bandahala Hassan.

Hassan has denied all the accusations against him and said he merely owns a passenger boat that plies from Zamboanga City to Taganak Island.

“I was fixing the boat’s generator when a friend approached and told me that there were people who wanted to go to Taganak. I just told him to purchase the tickets from us, so I went out with my purser to collect the payments. I am really innocent on all these charges,” he told reporters from inside his jail in Zamboanga City.