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INDEX
• Overview………………………..…………………..1 o What is UNITED? o Log Line o Synopsis
• About the Filmmakers…………………………..2 o Mary Shuttleworth, Executive Producer o Taron Lexton, Director o Leslie Brown, Producer
• What is Youth for Human Rights?………..….3 o What is YHRI?
• What is TXL Films?...... 4
• Quick Facts…………………………………………..5
• Production Credits………..…………………….…6
• Production Stills………………………………..…..7 o International Filming o Principal Photography in Los Angeles o Celebrity Cameos
• Awards/Recognitions…………………………...12 o Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California o James K. Hahn, Mayor of Los Angeles o Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Councilmember o Bernard C. Parks, Los Angeles City Councilmember o Youth for Human Rights Day Proclamation
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What is UNITED?
“UNITED” is a sensational new human rights music video.
It was filmed across 14 countries in 4 continents. The filmmakers completely circumnavigated the globe over the course of production.
It includes celebrity cameos from Isaac Hayes (South Park), Jenna Elfman (EdTV, Keeping the Faith), Erika Christensen (Traffic, Upside of Anger), Catherine Bell (JAG), Lynsey Bartilson (Grounded for Life) and Bollywood star Sheeraz Hasan (Tinseltown).
It was produced by TXL Films, Inc., for the benefit of Youth for Human Rights, International, who now use it as a centerpiece for their global campaign for human rights education.
Most importantly, UNITED is a youth project. The director was a teenager, and the majority of the cast and crew were all teenagers or pre-teens.
Thus, UNITED is a testament to the voice of today’s youth.
Log Line: An inner city kid with a heart for basketball rallies the people of the world to fight for his right to play.
Synopsis: An inner-city kid with a heart for basketball is the only one willing to stand up to a fearsome group of local hoodlums. But he can't do it alone, and pays a dear price for his bravado. Now his only chance lies in a frail hope that he might unite those like him, across oceans and ethnic boundaries, to ultimately return for a final climactic showdown on the court.
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About the Filmmakers
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What is Youth for Human Rights?
“UNITED” was produced by TXL Films for the benefit of Youth for Human Rights, International (YHRI). So what exactly is YHRI?
The purpose of YHRI is to teach kids around the world about human rights, and to foster youth-to-youth mentorship.
YHRI uses the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights as its foundation for education. Ratified soon after WWII by all 191 member nations of the UN, the document clearly defines the 30 human rights we are all born with. Sadly, this document has not been widely taught, and thus we have a society that can’t even define what “human rights” are.
To remedy this, YHRI created a booklet, “What are Human Rights?” which simplifies the UN Declaration into words a child can understand. The booklet has been published in 19 languages, with tens of thousands of copies distributed to children on five continents. Many more translations are in progress.
YHRI also sponsors numerous global activities, including international art and essay contests, youth summits, book drives, AIDS awareness pamphlets, and most recently the music video, “UNITED”—all with the purpose of teaching kids their human rights.
YHRI has recently won praise from the President of India, the Prime Minister of Guyana, the Deputy Director of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights in the UN, and many others. Mayor James K. Hahn officially proclaimed October 1st, 2004 as “Youth for Human Rights Day” in the city of Los Angeles.
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What is TXL Films?
TXL Films, Inc., is a new independent film production company based in Los Angeles.
It was formed in 2000 by Taron Lexton, to facilitate the growing demand for his filmmaking services. The company was officially incorporated in 2005, following an influx of new staff, and the phenomenal success of the music video, “UNITED.”
The passion of TXL Films is to create beautiful, idea- driven films with broad marketability and appeal. This includes the work of a wide variety of directors, writers, and filmmakers.
The TXL team is a motley crew of industry veterans and fresh talent, selectively chosen for their rare and distinctive filmmaking ability. Leslie Brown, drawing from a lifetime of on-set experience, heads Film Production as lead producer. International business magnate Tony Ciotti heads Acquisitions & Development. The Board of Advisors is chaired by Ambassador for Peace Award-winner Mary Shuttleworth, who is also the founder of Youth for Human Rights International. Lexton leads the company as its CEO.
The fate of TXL Films and Youth for Human Rights are inevitably intertwined through their founders: Taron Lexton and Mary Shuttleworth, who are mother and son.
TXL Films continues to expand its repertoire with new and innovative films in a variety of genres. TXL Films is now in development on several full-length feature films which are scheduled for pre-production in the coming months.
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Quick Facts
• Filmed over a period of 8 months, in 14 countries throughout 4 continents. The filmmakers completely circumnavigated the globe over the course of the project.
• Over 2000 volunteers contributed to this project through their time, resources, or other support.
• Premiered inside the United Nations World Headquarters in New York City on August 22, 2004, to an audience that included numerous UN officials and human rights leaders from around the world.
• The film includes cameos from the likes of Isaac Hayes (South Park), Jenna Elfman (EdTV, Keeping the Faith), Erika Christensen (Traffic, Upside of Anger), Catherine Bell (JAG), Lynsey Bartilson (Grounded for Life) and Sheeraz Hasan (Tinseltown).
• The film is now available with subtitles in 15 languages.
• Director Taron Lexton was 19 years old when he directed “UNITED,” with the rest of the crew being mostly teenagers and pre-teens, making it truly a youth project.
• Filmed exclusively with the Panasonic DVX-100a 24p MiniDV camcorder, and the Panasonic AJ-HDC27 HD VariCam. Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 on a Sony VAIO home computer.
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Production Credits
CAST CREW
MAIN KID WRITER/DIRECTOR André Boydon Taron Lexton
VILLAIN PRODUCER Erick Forté Leslie Brown
MAIN GIRL EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Jazzlyn Liggins Mary Shuttleworth
MAIN KID’S FRIENDS CINEMATOGRAPHER Jonathan Kramer Taron Lexton Rashad Emery Chet Andrews 1st AC Lucas Kumangai Landon Bennetts
THUGS KEY GAFFER Damien Xavier Johnson PJ Severtson Sammy Montero Omar Fathy MUSIC PRODUCERS Jose Pillado Hiroko Hayata Chris Thomas MAIN GIRL’S FRIENDS Janessa Gallarde MUSIC WRITERS Bethany Greenlaw Chris Thomas Charles Gee GIRL WITH HEADPHONES Hiroko Hayata Lai Lai Lai Lai Harriet Schock BULLY Geoff Levin Brady Frome ENGINEERED & RECORDED BY CYNICAL SCHOOL GIRL Bruce Chianese Kylie Paige
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