Actors And Athletes In Save The Children’s New Film Hit The Ground Running
Save the Children today launched a star-studded film featuring actress Isla Fisher, Disney actor Cameron Boyce, Bollywood megastar Kunal Kapoor and Kenyan former world record marathon holder Patrick Makau, to promote its World Marathon Challenge for kids.
The World Marathon Challenge, a global relay race in which teams of kids come together to complete a full marathon, is taking place globally throughout the month of October, and involves more than 50,000 children in 67 countries. The relay race aims to raise awareness and funds for programs focused on child survival and well-being.
The short film has each of the stars running a leg of the race in different corners of the world. The film kicks off in Kenya with athlete Patrick Makau deftly gliding through the rural countryside. It then cuts to Bollywood’s Kunal Kapoor as he charges past ruins on the outskirts of Mumbai, before passing the baton to the safe hands of Isla Fisher in the United States. Cameron Boyce (“Grown Ups,” “Grown Ups 2”) then takes center stage in Los Angeles, with baton-twirling breakdance moves his fans will love.
The action-packed film also features children, young acrobats, parkourists and free-runners from Los Angeles and around the world.
Isla Fisher said, “I recently visited Save the Children’s work in Brazil, and there is nothing more important than making sure every child gets the health and nutrition they need. All children should be able to reach their potential.”
Kunal Kapoor said, “This breath-taking film is energetic, exciting and fun. It is a celebration of the power, resilience and ingenuity of children and young people around the world. I have seen first-hand the work done by Save the Children, and ask people to back their global campaign to save children’s lives.”
Patrick Makau said: “Dramatic progress is being made around the world in saving children’s lives from poverty and disease. Change is possible, and I encourage people to join Save the Children’s campaign and be part of this movement. Growing up is hard enough. It shouldn’t be a race for survival.”
Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children, said: “Our global ambassadors have given their support to this critical issue. We want this energetic film to inspire people to take action all around the world. All children must be able to access life-saving care and be given the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they are born.”
To find out how to take part in the World Marathon Challenge, go to WMC.savethechildren.org or use #WMC2013 on Twitter.
Mason Rose puts Save the Children in global spotlight
Mason Rose’s film was launched around the world in conjunction with Save the Children’s global Day of Action on October 23, when more 50,000 children in 67 countries took part in campaign activities including a global relay race called the Race for Survival.
The aspiring film-maker has directed a global advertisement to showcase a new campaign for Save the Children.
Rose has worked with the best of the best on a project which is expected to be a global YouTube phenomenon.
The stunning photography and exuberant feel of this film were all the artistic genius of director Rose and executive producer Nabil Elderkin a world-renowned music video director who has worked with artists Daft Punk, Kanye West and Will.i.am.
Rose also savoured the opportunity to work with a number of celebrities and campaigners including Australian actress and Save the Children Ambassador Isla Fisher.
Others who appeared under Rose’s guidance were legendary Kenyan marathon runner Patrick Makau Musyoki, Bollywood star Kunal Kapoor, and US actor and dancer Cameron Boyce.
“The advertisement highlights the fact that every five seconds a child dies needlessly from poverty and it aims to inspire people to join Save the Children’s global campaign to end this injustice,” Patrick Makau said.
It is being launched around the world in conjunction with Save the Children’s global Day of Action when over 50,000 children in 60 countries take part in campaign activities including an actual global relay race called the Race for Survival.
“I recently visited Save the Children’s work in Brazil and there is nothing more important that making sure every child gets the health and nutrition they need. All children should be able to reach their potential,” Isla Fisher said.
In the opening scene, we see a young girl in rural Kenya. She hands a red baton to a boy who runs across hilly pasture to pass the baton to Patrick Makau Musyoki.
The former marathon world record holder completes his leg of this global relay and the baton is passed to children in Nairobi, Mumbai, Honolulu and Los Angeles. Locations twist and turn across graffiti filled streets and through crowded slums as the children do increasingly awe-inspiring things to get to the next baton exchange leaping over fences and off walls, performing cartwheels, front flips and more.
Kunal Kapoor runs along the ruins of an old fort on the outskirts of Mumbai, Isla Fisher sprints with the Los Angeles skyline behind her in the US, and Cameron Boyce breakdances with the baton in the city centre.
Finally, running through the California woods, the baton is taken by a small child Rose’s son, Phoenix who holds it out to the camera.
“It’s over to you” is the closing message as Phoenix symbolically passes the baton through the camera lens.