VaLou

Family, friends, philanthropists, colleagues, friends of friends, help me tell "VaLou", the extraordinary story of Valeria and Loulou

Project visual VaLou
Successful
42
Contributions
18/02/2015
End date
€2.313
Out of €2.260
102 %

VaLou

<p> <strong>The beginning...</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> I am a Sicilian freelance video journalist, who has been traveling for the past 13 years. I spent the last one in Argentina, and it was in Buenos Aires that I met Valeria and Lourdes, the most important encounter of 2014.</p> <p> The day before I left Buenos Aires, at the end of 2014, Valeria surprised me asking to tell her story. And this is exactly what I want to do. For Valeria. For Lourdes. For all people affected by SMA. For their families. For all the people. For me.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Valeria's story</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Valeria is a 29-year-old Argentinian biologist and researcher, from Buenos Aires. The youngest of four children, she was soon diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disease affecting the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement. </p> <p>  </p> <p> First she was supposed to live only 2 years, then 5, 8, 11, 14 and so forth, Valeria never stopped fighting for life. She spent many years traveling to get surgery and treatment. She keeps on studying to better understand her illness. </p> <p>  </p> <p> Due to her disease, Valeria needs care 24 hours a day. Nevertheless, she travels, she dances, she sings, she swims, she cooks, she dreams. And she always knew that one day or another she would become a mother.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="432097_337387036390314_1953580569_n-1421170398" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/152241/432097_337387036390314_1953580569_n-1421170398.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> That day came when Valeria was 26. Still studying and without a companion, she wasn’t looking for a baby at that time, but when it happened, she decided that she wanted absolutely to carry the pregnancy to term.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="264410_10151720445952660_2013530660_n-1421170442" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/152242/264410_10151720445952660_2013530660_n-1421170442.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> Valeria was told that her SMA made her pregnancy more dangerous for her and her baby, but she remained firm in her convictions and managed to face her family and the doctors to go ahead with it.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Against all predictions, in July 2013 Valeria gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby, Lourdes, the best gift of her life.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="999588_376846969110987_1255870880_n-1421171022" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/152244/999588_376846969110987_1255870880_n-1421171022.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="736811_377941232334894_410525501_o-1421171186" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/152247/736811_377941232334894_410525501_o-1421171186.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="1920627_465638386898511_1215235349_n-1421172080" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/152252/1920627_465638386898511_1215235349_n-1421172080.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> Today Lourdes is a lively, smiley, 18-month-old kid. Like most of her contemporaries, she is now taking her first steps. And Valeria, thanks to her daughter, is having a second chance to walk.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="10887254_626141024181579_4841097892029425786_o-1421172160" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/152255/10887254_626141024181579_4841097892029425786_o-1421172160.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>My work</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Below some samples of my work (shot with my Canon 60d and edited with Avid/Final Cut):</p> <p>  </p> <p> - <strong>Lampedusa, Italy /</strong> THE ISLAND DOCUMENTARY / A web documentary made in the aftermath of October 2013’s sinking, in which at least 366 would-be asylum seekers died: <a href="http://theislandocumentary.com/" target="_blank">http://theislandocumentary.com</a></p> <p>  </p> <p> - <strong>Rio de Janeiro /</strong> International Interest in Rio’s Pacified Favelas (4min/ITALIAN - commissioned by <a href="http://doveviaggi.corriere.it/" target="_blank">doveviaggi.corriere.it</a>): <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjZPBeOtSeU&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjZPBeOtSeU&amp;feature=youtu.be</a></p> <p>  </p> <p> - <strong>Paris /</strong> Fine Tea vs Fine Wine (2min/ENGLISH - Published by France 24 English and French Channels): <a href="https://vimeo.com/58016275" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/58016275</a></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>- Paris /</strong> Street Pianist (2,50 min/FRENCH - Published by France 24 English, French and Arabic Channels): <a href="https://vimeo.com/52349197" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/52349197</a></p> <p>  </p> <p> - <strong>Rio de Janeiro /</strong> Sustainable food project from a Pacified Favela in Rio (55 sec TEASER/ENGLISH - Not yet published): <a href="https://vimeo.com/68698862" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/68698862</a></p>

Allocation of funds

<p> I plan to live with Valeria for 3 to 4 weeks, in order to film her and Lourdes throughout their daily life. What I want to do is a short documentary in spanish with english subtitles to be showcased internationally.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>The budget in detail:</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>- € 1000</strong> &gt; Round Trip flight Palermo-Buenos Aires</p> <p> <strong>- € 400</strong> &gt; Room and board for 30 days</p> <p> <strong>- € 700</strong> &gt; Postproduction and editing</p> <p> <strong>- € 160</strong> &gt; KissKissBankBank fee (8% total)</p> <p> <strong>= € 2260 Total Amount</strong></p> <p>  </p>

Rewards

€5

A special thanks!

€15

  • 5 contributions
A special thanks + your name written in credits

€20

  • 10 contributions
A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou

€30

  • 10 contributions
A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou + the DVD of the documentary

€40

  • 3 contributions
A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires written by VaLou + a dedicated DVD of the Documentary

€50

  • 5 contributions
A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires written by VaLou + the DVD of the documentary + a cake made by VaLou if you are in Argentina OR a recipe from Valeria's cookbook if you are abroad

€60

A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires written by VaLou + #3 classes of Italian (or spanish) conversation on Skype (30 minutes each)

€70

A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires written by VaLou + the DVD of the documentary + 12 empanadas special made by VaLou if you are in Argentina OR a recipe of empanadas from Valeria's cookbook if you are abroad

€80

A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou + #4 classes of Italian (or spanish) conversation on Skype (30 minutes each)

€100

  • 3 contributions
A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou + a dedicated DVD of the Documentary + a special surprise for you

€150

A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou + the DVD of the documentary + 1 hour introduction class to video reporting (live or skype)

€200

  • 1 contribution
A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou + the DVD of the documentary + 1 hour Final Cut Pro introduction class (live or Skype)

€250

  • 1 contribution
A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou + the DVD of the documentary + 1 special food and wine tasting in Palermo (Sicily) or Favignana (Egadi Islands, Sicily), or Buenos Aires

€300

  • 1 contribution
A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou + the DVD of the documentary + 1 seafood dinner for 2 in Palermo (Sicily) or Favignana (Egadi Islands, Sicily), or Buenos Aires

€350

A special thanks + your name written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou + the DVD of the documentary + 1 hour introduction class to video reporting (live or Skype) + 1 hour Final Cut Pro introduction class (live or skype)

€500

A MEGA-ENORMOUS-THANKS + your name as SPECIAL DONATOR written in credits + a postcard from Buenos Aires by VaLou + the DVD of the documentary + a VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE

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