Just about to head into Soho with my friend Cassandra from Cleo. We have some great charity events lined up with some A-list celebrities, such a refreshing end to the year. To be honest the last few months on the charity circuit have just been hideous. I have even moved out of the “just passing by backgrounds” of many a Hello and OK magazine photographers shots recently. I just couldn’t bear to be associated with the B-list. Thank god we still have Tyra Banks and Phil Collins as Inepd Good will Ambassadors. I have even seen some charities courting Theatre and Musical stars; certainly brings a touch of class but absolutely no revenue potential. You’re better off going for the weather presenter!

Now where was I. Oh yes, this post is really about something exciting that has been happening in the charity world recently. Last month I made a post about the incredible work of Warchild with their superb film premier The Silent Army or Wit Licht. Through 2009 Inepd International has been involved in an Inepd film project of our own Green Light. The plot centres around a plucky development worker who saves a village from starvation through mainstreaming gender. Phil Collins plays a sceptical country manager who in the end supports the young(ish)first mission Inepd field worker played by Tyra Banks in her struggle to mainstream gender against incredible odds. We have had a few delays in production mainly due to Phil and Tyra’s problems in mastering Swahili, but we hope to release the film in February.


I also criticised MSF in the same post for failing to get behind the gold standard bearer for humanitarian drama Beyond Borders. It was so disappointing to see an organisation such as MSF fail to grasp such a unique opportunity which would have put them years ahead of the competition. Well MSF has an amazing move called First Mission  coming  out in March 2010(see trailer above). Part of me is so angry with this production. It appears that our Inepd Logistician and Inepd Nurse, Shane and Shirley’s story of their first mission has been taken up by an unscrupulous producer. We rejected the script last year as we felt many elements at the time were pure fantasy. Shane had put on paper the story as a tribute to Shirley and the breaking of their relationship due to their conflicting humanitarian impulses. In retrospect, getting to know and follow the antics of this pair and their renewed romance recently. It does seem that that the script about their first mission together was completely plausible. I feel a little silly that I pushed so hard against taking an option on the script. In the end the decision was made by our Inepd film committee and I can’t be held responsible.

I just wanted to say congratulations to MSF for once again pushing the boundaries of humanitarian marketing and communications. Inepd International also is looking forward to competing for Box Office supremacy with these fantastic Poverty Development dramas on the big screen.

Lastly, wherever you are on this amazing planet I hope you have a happy and safe 2010!