Fulfilling Rugby Dreams: Film Screening Fundraiser

Posted: May 21st, 2013 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: A Day In My Life, Charity, Film & Movie Reviews, Upcoming Events | Tags: "Red, Alameda, Beijing, Black & Blue", Dave Archer, Dulwich College Beijing, Film Documentary, Film Screening, Fundraiser, Hatsune, Hong Kong, ICEF Rugby, ISB Girls Rugby Team, New Zealand, Pie Squared Pizza, Shanghai, Stuart Krohn, The Hutong, The Hutong Education, White | 6 Comments »

ICEF Rugby from LA (USA) Takes on New Zealand in an Award-Winning Documentary

The best moments in life are often the most unexpected. That’s how I feel about the kids I met who play for ICEF Rugby.

As a member of The Hutong’s Education Team, I had the delight and privilege to spend quality time with these kids when they came to visit Beijing for the first time in March 2013.

When The Hutong Education first heard from Stuart Krohn, the rugby coach of an inner city foundation in Los Angeles, California called ICEF, we had no idea what was coming our way.  The Hutong’s Education Program is more accustomed to working with international schools around Asia so this was definitely not our typical inquiry and the fact that it all seemed so out-of-the-blue, sparked our interest from the start. All we knew was that they’d be making a quick 2 1/2 day trip to Beijing as a part of a two-week China Program (Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong) for their rugby program.

Beyond the fact that I didn’t even know kids in LA played much rugby, I was impressed and intrigued that these 10 boys and 10 girls between the ages of 14-17 were coming all the way from LA, only accompanied by their rugby coaches and a few chaperones – oh, and we were also told that they would be followed around by a trio from New Zealand acting as a film crew.

Knowing that none of these students have set foot in China’s capital, we were pumped to show them as much as our limited time would allow, to give them a taste of the real Beijing – taking them on scavenger hunts through hidden hutongs, teaching them the power of Qi Gong (a traditional Chinese breathing meditation), showing them how to make Chinese dumplings, treating them to a proper Peking Duck banquet dinner, leading them on a hike up to the Great Wall and one of our favorite moments, taking them to get schooled by local elders in pull-up competitions in the park perimeter of Temple of Heaven and dancing with old Chinese ladies in the park.

ICEF Rugby Embark on Scavenger Hunt in Beijing’s Hutongs

ICEF Rugby Shop in Local Chinese Markets

The Hutong’s Education Program Director Josh Kernan Teaches the History of the Great Wall

Though they were only in Beijing for two and a half days days, the impressions they left on all of us was deep and lasting. Exceptional and bright, the ICEF group were among the most polite, courteous, appreciative and curious kids that I have ever had the pleasure and privilege to host. These kids are a credit to ICEF, to South LA, and they served as exemplary ambassadors of the US.

In an effort to support and do what we can to help this admirable ICEF Rugby program, I am proud to be teaming up with The Hutong to host China’s very first screening of their award-winning documentary, “Red White Black & Blue” which was filmed on the group’s previous international trip to New Zealand for a U16 tournament. A beautifully shot film, it shows the story of the team’s leaders and a few of the players who rise above their circumstances of growing up in the inner city, and travel abroad together to play rugby in a land where rugby is its national sport.

“Rugby is a chance for our students to step outside the box and try something different. The camaraderie in this sport is special – we stay with host families and eat meals with the opposing team, so kids get the opportunity to see how other people live. Our kids have the ability to suspend judgment and defy the stereotypes that other people might have of them.” – Stuart Krohn, Director of ICEF Rugby

“Red White Black & Blue” won Best Documentary and Honorable Mention for Best Director at the Idyllwild Cinema Fest in January. It received the Canada International Film Festival’s 2013 Rising Star Award and is a finalist in the Africa World Documentary Film Festival, which will have screenings in the United States, United Kingdom, and Africa. Locally, it was recently screened at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles.

All proceeds from The Hutong’s screening of this moving documentary to help pay for ICEF’s school-based and international programs so that they can continue to spread their inspiring spirit, genuine curiosity and positive energy to other corners of the world.

We’ve worked hard to lock down some great raffle prizes for our lucky draw as well.  A few of our prized sponsors include Hatsune, Pie Squared (who hosted ICEF when they were just starting their soft-opening), Alameda Restaurant, and of course The Hutong!

Film Fundraiser Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, May 26, 2013

• Time: 5PM welcome reception, screening starts at 6:00PM

• Location: The Hutong 

• Address: #1 Jiu Dao Wan Zhong Xiang Hutong 东城区九道弯中巷1号

• Price to sign up: RMB 100 per person (includes film, snacks and a drink ticket)

• Raffle Tickets will be available for sale: RMB 25 for 1 ticket or RMB 100 for 5 tickets

• Portion of ticket sales and all raffle ticket sales will be donated to ICEF

• RSVP: Click here

About ICEF Public Schools

ICEF Public Schools was founded in 1994 with the goal to transform the South Los Angeles community by providing high-quality educational opportunities for its students and preparing students to attend and compete academically at the top 100 colleges and universities in the nation. ICEF has achieved great success in closing the achievement gap for African-American and Latino students through an established K-12 model based on academic rigor, high expectations for its students, parental involvement and rich extracurricular offerings in athletics and performing/visual arts. ICEF currently serves over 4,200 students, 81 percent of whom are African-American, 16 percent are Latino and 82 percent are low-income, across 14 elementary, middle and high schools across South Los Angeles.

To learn more about ICEF Public Schools, visit http://www.icefps.org.

 

About “Red, White, Black and Blue”

“Red, White, Black and Blue” is a documentary film chronicling the ICEF rugby program’s tour of New Zealand in spring 2012. Shot in both Los Angeles and New Zealand, the film follows 38 male and female high school rugby players as they travel abroad to play international teams, interweaving rugby matches with features of several students. “Red, White, Black and Blue” provides a sensitive take on a rough game, blending on-field triumph with off-field tragedy.

“Red White Black & Blue” won Best Documentary and Honorable Mention for Best Director at the Idyllwild Cinema Fest in January. It received the Canada International Film Festival’s 2013 Rising Star Award and is a finalist in the Africa World Documentary Film Festival, which will have screenings in the United States, United Kingdom, and Africa. Locally, it was recently screened at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in Los Angeles.

Click here for the youtube film trailer,  or here for the vimeo trailer.

LDS Snapshots of ICEF Rugby in Beijing:

Dulwich College Beijing Head Rugby Coach Dave Archer Leads by Example 

ICEF Rugby Group Conquer the Great Wall of China

Rugby Dance-Off: ICEF Girls vs. ISB Girls Rugby Team

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