To Touch the Soul: Make Art/Stop AIDS in Cambodia

"To Touch the Soul" (2007, 70 minutes, color, English)

In January 2005, Cal State University Long Beach art education professor Carlos Silveira took twenty-seven of his students to Cambodia, where they worked alongside students from a local university to conduct art projects involving impoverished children affected by HIV/AIDS. While grappling with issues including cultural differences and language barriers, the group learned the true meaning of kindness, selflessness, courage, community and social activism. The documentary features a mix of diary voice-overs and interviews with Carlos, his students and their young charges, and highlights the growing problem of AIDS orphans in Cambodia. A Q & A with Carlos Silveira, Teresa Hagen (producer), and Ryan Goble (director/editor) follows the screening.

Ryan Goble, director/editor, was born in Portland , Oregon , but has spent most of his life in California . He graduated from California State Long Beach with a B.A. in Film and Electronic Arts in 2004, emphasis in production. While in school, he wrote and directed three short films. His last film, “This is It,” was chosen for the 14th Annual Student Showcase held at the Directors Guild of America. At present, he is editing several music videos for the Frank Stagliono Band and working as a director/editor for AVP’s “Dig,” a show currently running on the Fox Sports Channel. He has also founded a nonprofit organization to buy computers for the Cambodian children featured in the film.

Teresa Hagen, producer/owner of Cut Loose Productions, is a writer with more than 30 years’ experience. She has written for print, radio and film.  Among her many achievements, she has co-produced a recruitment video for California State University, Los Angeles College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology, and has served as the writer for a documentary titled “A Reflection of Margaret Mitchell,” East Heights Productions.  At California State University , Long Beach , she works as an editor/writer for Public Affairs and University Publications. In addition, she was the communications coordinator in 2004 for the non-profit organization, We, The World.  She is a member of the International Documentary Association and Film Independent.

Carlos Silveira is a Professor of Art at California State University–Long Beach who developed the project on Art and Social Action in Cambodia along with a similar project in Brazil.  He has an article about the experience online at http://www.diversityweb.org/DiversityDemocracy/vol10no3/silveira.cfm.

The screening opens with a performance by the UCLA student group UKS Traditional, who will demonstrate the Robam Kous Troloak, or Coconut Dance. The dance is Khmer culture’s most popular folk dance and celebrates youth, fertility and the life-giving coconut fruit.

Co-sponsored by the Fowler Museum of Cultural History in connection with the "Make Art/Stop AIDS" exhibit through June 15, UCLA's United Khmer Students, and the UCLA Art|Global Health Center.

Parking at UCLA costs $8.

Cost : Free and open to the public.

www.international.ucla.edu/cseas/

Sponsor(s): Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Fowler Museum at UCLA, UCLA United Khmer Students, UCLA Art|Global Health Center