Documentary series, 10 episodes x 20 minutes. | Humanitarian Bazaar and host/director, Daniel J Gerstle, present “Journeys on the Edge,” stories about inspiring local heroes we meet on our journeys producing creative projects on how people survive war and disaster. We travel from the front line of eastern Afghanistan to the frontline of eastern Ukraine learning how locals survive. We also explore how war-affected cultures adapted music, art, film, photography, humor, and food culture to warm people’s hearts in tough times. The series is already produced in Afghanistan, Austria, Bosnia, France, Germany, Kenya, the Netherlands, Somalia, South Sudan, Ukraine, and with Syrians in EU. Along with tough and sometimes fun stories, the series soundtrack is co-produced by Natch Nadjafi. It includes music by Alsarah (Sudan), the Casualty Process (Iran), Gato Loco Coconino (USA), Qais Essar (Afghanistan), Waayaha Cusub (Somalia), YXFM (Israel), the people of Nyamlel (South Sudan), and others.
Format & Distribution
We created the series originally as Humanitarian Bazaar “behind the scenes” clips for the other work we were doing in emergency response, refugee assistance, and documentary production. That is why we funded it ourselves; costs were covered indirectly by the team as we were on contracts to do other work. That gave us complete freedom, creatively, but limited us in terms of production, timeline, and finances. However, now that these HB behind the scenes clips have grown into enough story for 24 short documentary video web segments (3-5 minutes each), or could be bundled and edited as 10 full TV or video web shows (20 minutes each), we find ourselves ready for partnership with the right distributor, funder, or may still consider running it to promote our own platform directly.
Storytelling
Episodes currently in production could be distributed as full TV episodes, or as individual segments, so we present them here so both options can be explored together. The order is flexible as follows.
Contact
If you would like to help us complete post-production and launch this series, or support future episodes, please let us know via Daniel J Gerstle, Executive Producer, skype: Daniel.j.gerstle
EDGE #1. PILOT. Afghanistan’s Danger Highway
(Afghanistan, 20 min) Opening scene posing question: How do people survive the toughest environments, and what can we learn from them? Montage of episode highlights. Smash cut over series theme song. Then ==>
EDGE #2. Afghanistan’s Creative Minds
(Afghanistan, 20 min) Opening scene posing question. Montage. Smash cut. Theme: ==>
EDGE #3. South Sudan & Somalia: Responding to Famine
(Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, 20 min) Opening scene posing question. Montage of episode highlights. Smash cut to credits over series theme song. Then ==>
EDGE #4. Bosnia’s Postwar Search for Meaning
(Bosnia, 20 min) Opening scene posing question. Montage of episode highlights. Smash cut to credits over series theme song. Then ==>
EDGE #5. Tough Music in Tough Places
(Syrians in EU, Afghanistan, Kenya, 20 min) Opening scene posing question. Montage of episode highlights. Smash cut to credits over series theme song. Then ==>
EDGE #6. Muslims & Jews Searching for Peace in a Concentration Camp
(Austria, Bosnia, 20 Min) Opening scene posing question. Montage of episode highlights. Smash cut to credits over series theme song. Then ==>
EDGE #7. How Survivors Cope, Emotionally
(Afghanistan, Bosnia, EU, 20 min) Opening scene posing question. Montage of episode highlights. Smash cut to credits over series theme song. Then ==>
EDGE #8. Filmmaking in Tough Places
(Somalia, Kenya, 20 min) Opening scene posing question. Montage of episode highlights. Smash cut to credits over series theme song. Then ==>
EDGE #9. Ukraine’s Double-Edged Survivors
(Ukraine, 20 min) Opening scene posing question. Montage of episode highlights. Smash cut to credits over series theme song. Then ==>
EDGE #10. Humor in Tough Places
(Bosnia, Ukraine, Somalia, 20 min). Opening scene posing question. Montage of episode highlights. Smash cut to credits over series theme song. Then ==>
EDGE ONWARD
If the episodes already produced, now in post-production, do well, we have many other themes we would like to explore: How Native Americans Cope with Tough History; Finding Equilibrium Between Police & Threatened Communities in the US; Mexico’s Non-Political Refugees; Venezuela’s Hunger Solvers; Colombia’s Pre-Post-War; and much more.
CREDITS (SO FAR)
Produced in Afghanistan, Austria, Bosnia, France, Germany, Kenya, the Netherlands, Somalia, South Sudan, and Ukraine, by Humanitarian Bazaar. Funded by Humanitarian Bazaar.
Director / Executive Producer / Editor / Host Daniel J Gerstle
Featured Co-Hosts Dikriyo Abdi, Shiine Akhyaar, Tamana Ayazi, Zarlasht Sarmast, Seth Chase, Jake Simkin
Cinematography Daniel J Gerstle, Seth Chase, Jake Simkin, Zarlasht Sarmast, Erika Rossi, Attila Varfalvi, Shaheedullah Sangin, Naiemullah Sangin, Fanny Hagmeier, Ahmad Mahmoud, Hajooj Kuka, and more.
Field Production & Support Nur Hassan, Mohamed Artan, Tamana Ayazi, Omaid Alokozai, Abasin Selab, Melad, Zarlasht Sarmast, Abdulwasay Hewadmal, Margarita Vismara, Erika Rossi, Attila Varfalvi, and many more.
Music By Alsarah (Sudan), the Casualty Process (Iran), Gato Loco Coconino (USA), Qais Essar (Afghanistan), Waayaha Cusub (Somalia), YXFM (Israel), the people of Nyamlel (South Sudan), and others.
Host Organization Special Thanks Sound Central Festival, The Venue, Adeso Africa, International Commission for Missing Persons, Impassion Afghanistan, Muslim-Jewish Conference, People in Need, Sesame Street, and many more.