With my films I want to draw attention to topics in their own environment and culture that many people ignore: problems, but also important events and positive aspects of society.
The idea for Wiser Film arose in 2004. I filmed a series of educational health films for the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Haiti. The films are used by the hospital to provide information to the local population. It soon became apparent that other organizations in Haiti also needed similar films. In collaboration with Project HOPE, a series of health films for the homeless in Camden, New Jersey followed. After completing my MA in Film and Television Studies in 2006, I decided to continue the work. After some work experience with award-winning filmmaker Joost Ranzijn of ZigZag Film, I founded Wiser Film in 2007.
Wiser Film helps humanitarian and development organizations with their promotion by producing film material for a Western audience. For example, Wiser Film made a film for the Child In Need Institute in Calcutta (India) for screening in the Netherlands. Wiser Film is also involved in projects that relate to Dutch society. Themes such as religion, culture, immigrants and problems with young people of different origins are discussed. An example is the film 'Vol Overgave', a documentary about different religions, which was made with two secondary school classes from Amsterdam.
Wiser Films chooses projects and films mainly based on the possibilities they offer:
- to inform people;
- to create awareness for issues in society;
- to strengthen the position of people anywhere in the world.
Wiser Film wants to continue to record and share developments in society. Developments that shed a positive light on topics that often generate negative attention. Film can lead to democratization and empowerment.