DOCUMENTARY "CITY OF HOPE: A CHILDREN'S STORY"

City of Hope: A Children’s Story documents the stark life of Brazil’s favela (slums) children, and is a feature-length documentary capturing the lives of displaced children caught in a seemingly unending web of drugs, violence, prostitution, sexual slavery and deliberate acts to exterminate these unwanted children. In a country with an enlightened government, it is also a film of hope and salvation as both government and Brazil’s affluent private sector work to save these children.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Kimberly and John Taking a Break

My partner John and I taking a break from working on "City of Hope: A Children's Story. This photo was taken by a very charming 3.5 year old twin. She shot it on a Kodak digital camera. Very impressive.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Getting The Word Out


It's been too long since I've written. On Wednesday June 16th I had the pleasure of speaking to the Hamilton Rotary Club. I believe that this story really has to be told. Capriole Productions is seeking funds to make this film. We are a non-profit company so any donations would be tax deductible. If you would like more information please feel free to email us at kim@caprioleproductions.org.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Child Prostitution In Brazil


While doing research for our documentary "City of Hope: A Children's Story" I came across many articles about Brazil's epidemic with prostitution. According to one Brazilian Congressional report, Brazil has the highest rate of child prostitution in Latin America and the second highest rate in the world. The Brazilian Centre for Children and Adolescents has estimated there are 500,000 Brazilian children involved in prostitution.

The trafficking of women and children for prostitution is widespread and an institution in the Amazon basin of Brazil.

In an article dated June 21, 1993 Time Magazine estimated that 25,000 girls have been forced into prostitution in remote mining villages in the Brazilian Amazon.

In Brazil's two largest cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. there are an estimated 150,000 child prostitutes, boys and girls, controlled by a strong and organized mafia working in bars, prostitution houses, massage parlors and hotels.

I came across the following organization called Guardian Angel / Jubilee Campaign in the UK and wanted to share what they published.

REAL LIFE CASE STUDIES

1. In Foz de Iguacu, in the south of Brazil, a council investigation reported that children as young as eight are involved in prostitution, coming to the town from all over the country. Their photos and prices are presented in menu form for potential clients. Arriving in the city, sometimes fooled by the promise of a legitimate job, the young girls are enslaved, unable to leave the premises, made to prostitute themselves, their hair is painted, their documents falsified and their names changed. The report stated that the town judge and children's council were negligent, as they were reluctant to act against those using the children, many of whom were powerful and well-known public figures.

2. In the North eastern outback, the poorest region of Brazil, children are often forced to sell their bodies by their own parents, to the long-distance lorry drivers that travel the main motorways. In the poor interior town of Araripina, for example, children as young as eight prostitute themselves for as little as 1 real, or 30 pence. The highest price that a child can manage is 5 reais, about £1.50.

3. In the coastal North-Eastern cities of Brazil, such as Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador, children are also forced into prostitution by poverty. These are favourite resorts for foreign sex tourists, who arrive in the cities for the sole purpose of procuring sex with children.

4. In Belem, on the mouth of the Amazon, foreigners reportedly control the prostitution of children. According to the Prosecution Service, of the 114 prostitution houses in the city, 77 offer children from 11 to 17-years-old. Five of them are exclusively dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children, all five of which are owned by foreigners. A Kenyan mariner told a reporter from the Brazilian newspaper O Globo that Belem is the world's sexual paradise and that you can get a girl of whatever age you want whenever you want.

One experienced worker with Brazilian street children and child prostitutes has complained that the frequent demeaning sexual portrayal of young women and children in the Brazilian media helps create a mindset and culture where the sexual exploitation of such people becomes more acceptable.

In various State Parliamentary Commissions of Enquiry people in high positions including some politicians and judges have been discovered to have been involved in the sexual exploitation of children.


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Two Street Children

Two Street Children
Where will they find food today

Favelas

Favelas
This is where the poor live

Child and Dog

Child and Dog
Sleeping in Front of Shop

Let's Ride

Let's Ride
Child Riding Bareback

Street Kid

Street Kid

Street children

Street children
Sleeping

street children

street children
Huffing Glue





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City of Hope: A Children's Story

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Princeton, New Jersey, United States
I grew up in Princeton, NJ. Spent my summers on Fire Island and Deer Isle Maine, riding my horse , traveling and exploring Princeton University. I fell in love with film at any early age and decided to go to film school. I've been able to combine my love of horses with the love of filmmaking. I also love to read what ever I can get my hands on. I found that I've excelled at still photography and love to watch people.