"I believe that education is the only way to brighten people's minds, empower women, stop war and conflict, and to break all barriers to women's progress. Never underestimate the power of arts and music, because I believe it is the light of the real world!"
- An Aspiring Musician in Kabul
Filming with friends in Kabul, Afghanistan
Girl With A Guitar is a documentary mini-series by director Hans Fjellestad (Sunset Strip, Moog) and musician Lanny Cordola that aims to bring music education to kids who live in conflict areas and in parts of the world where access to instruments and training is unavailable or extremely limited. We want to bring these young ones a musical peace offering and catch a glimpse of life through their eyes.
One aspiring young musician in Kabul wrote to us recently: "I believe that education is the only way to brighten people's minds, empower women, stop war and conflict, and to break all barriers to women's progress. Never underestimate the power of arts and music, because I believe it is the light of the real world!"
Music is our window, our way inside. The guitar is deployed as a symbol of hope and empowerment, to challenge stereotypes and negative perceptions of those living in regions deeply affected by violence and repression.
For example, the Hawa family: They lost two young daughters in a tragic suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan. These brave girls – Parwana (9) and Korshid (14) – saved the lives of Americans stationed nearby, sacrificing themselves in the process. Not long before the fatal attack, US military veteran Brad Pupello remembers Parwana (which means "butterfly") promising him: “I will be your body guard!”
To date, we have raised $10,000USD for the Hawa family and will deliver it to them in person, as well as guitars for the surviving children. This is the first story to be filmed for our series. Weʼll see how the family is faring in the aftermath, and learn more about their girls who loved music and skateboarding.
We'll also interview activists, educators, poets, musicians, visit some of the newest all-girl academies and music schools to spring up in the region, and produce collaborative performances with local musicians and special guest artists such as Peter Gabriel, Slash, Atif Aslam, and Eddie Vedder.
Mina Sharif, producer for the TV series Voice of Afghan Youth, asks in her recent article for Huffington Post: "How do we get the message across that there is a majority population here that wants to be a part of a peaceful and progressive world?" We feel this is a very important question and Girl With A Guitar is our humble contribution to an answer.
We are currently working and filming in Kabul, Afghanistan and really need your ongoing support while we're over there, so please help us however you can! Thanks!!
After Afghanistan, we plan to take our series to Pakistan. And after that, we have our eye on India, Iran, Morocco, Egypt, Indonesia. Our format is designed to be portable and ongoing. We are establishing a 501c3 nonprofit organization to support Girl With A Guitar as it grows.
And of course wherever we go, we'll be bringing guitars and playing music all along the way...
One aspiring young musician in Kabul wrote to us recently: "I believe that education is the only way to brighten people's minds, empower women, stop war and conflict, and to break all barriers to women's progress. Never underestimate the power of arts and music, because I believe it is the light of the real world!"
Music is our window, our way inside. The guitar is deployed as a symbol of hope and empowerment, to challenge stereotypes and negative perceptions of those living in regions deeply affected by violence and repression.
For example, the Hawa family: They lost two young daughters in a tragic suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan. These brave girls – Parwana (9) and Korshid (14) – saved the lives of Americans stationed nearby, sacrificing themselves in the process. Not long before the fatal attack, US military veteran Brad Pupello remembers Parwana (which means "butterfly") promising him: “I will be your body guard!”
To date, we have raised $10,000USD for the Hawa family and will deliver it to them in person, as well as guitars for the surviving children. This is the first story to be filmed for our series. Weʼll see how the family is faring in the aftermath, and learn more about their girls who loved music and skateboarding.
We'll also interview activists, educators, poets, musicians, visit some of the newest all-girl academies and music schools to spring up in the region, and produce collaborative performances with local musicians and special guest artists such as Peter Gabriel, Slash, Atif Aslam, and Eddie Vedder.
Mina Sharif, producer for the TV series Voice of Afghan Youth, asks in her recent article for Huffington Post: "How do we get the message across that there is a majority population here that wants to be a part of a peaceful and progressive world?" We feel this is a very important question and Girl With A Guitar is our humble contribution to an answer.
We are currently working and filming in Kabul, Afghanistan and really need your ongoing support while we're over there, so please help us however you can! Thanks!!
After Afghanistan, we plan to take our series to Pakistan. And after that, we have our eye on India, Iran, Morocco, Egypt, Indonesia. Our format is designed to be portable and ongoing. We are establishing a 501c3 nonprofit organization to support Girl With A Guitar as it grows.
And of course wherever we go, we'll be bringing guitars and playing music all along the way...