29 May 2012

HAITI / COMIC BOOKS

Chevelin Pierre, an illustrator, says comic books are an ideal medium to encourage societal change. In his latest work featuring the schoolgirls Deniz and Florans, his message is for young women to push past stereotypes and pursue the career they dream of. MINUSTAH

Posted at: May 29, 2012 12:02 am

Duration: 03:23

Available in: SD, HD

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STORY: HAITI / COMIC BOOKS
TRT: 3.23
SOURCE: MINUSTAH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: CREOLE / NATS

DATELINE: 24 APRIL 2012, PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI

SHOTLIST:

1. Med shot, Chevelin Pierre working in a room
2. Close up, Mike Charles's face
3. Close up, Chevelin's hands drawing
4. Close up, Chevelin's face 
5. Med shot, Chevelin and Mike
6. Close up, computer screen
7. Med shot, Chevelin drawing
8. SOUNDBITE (Creole) Chevelin PIERRE, Comic book artist: 
"The problem of discrimination between boys and girls in Haiti touches me deeply. In my family, for example, we always used to encourage girls to refuse what society imposes on them - this story of female occupations and male occupations. What I am saying is that whether it is a girl or a boy, everyone should choose the profession he loves."
9. Close up, comic book
10. Med shot, Chevelin drawing
11. Close up, comic book title
12. Close up, Chevelin profile
13. Close up, Chevelin hands 
14. Close up, comic book
15. Tilt down, Chevelin's face to hands drawing
16. Close up, Mike's face
17. Pan left, Chevelin drawing to Mike
18. Close up, hands drawing
19. SOUNDBITE (Creole) Chevelin PIERRE, Comic book artist: 
"This is an opportunity for me to also correct the situation. I am delighted to be part of this program; if you want this is my stone in the construction of the building. We wish that one day we have a fair society where girls and boys have the same rights and equal opportunity from the beginning."
20. Pan right, Mike to Chevelin scanning the drawing 
21. Close up, computer screen
22. Close up, hand on drawing board
23. Close up, drawing and painting on computer screen
24. Close up, Chevelin profile and computer screen
25. Close up, drawing on computer screen 
26. Close up, hand on drawing board
27. Med shot, front page of comic on screen

28. SOUNDBITE (Creole) Mike CHARLES, Script writer, International Organization for Migration (IOM):
"The most interesting part of the story is when the person has a student at home who is reading while she looks at the pictures. I think this is the best way of comics to raise awareness in the population in order to change a behavior."
29. Various shots, comic images
30. Med shot, Mike and Chevelin getting out of the house and sitting down
31. Pan left, Mike to Chevelin
32. Close up, Mike 
33. SOUNDBITE (Creole) Chevelin PIERRE, Comic book artist:
"In reality a comic is not an art for art, but it has a function, a purpose of conveying a message. We must not only see the drawing, but also the message. If it passes, this is what interests me. So I'm happy!"
34. Wide shot, Mike and Charles in the garden

STORYLINE:

Mike Charles, a script writer, and Chevelin Pierre, an illustrator, joined forces a couple of weeks ago. In Chevelin's studio they are at work on the next edition of a comic book with an educational twist.

Each edition of the "Chimen Lakay" comics – Creole for "the way home" – has a special theme. This time the story aims to encourage women and girls to pursue the career they dream of.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Chevelin PIERRE, Comic book artist: 
"The problem of discrimination between boys and girls in Haiti touches me deeply. In my family, for example, we always used to encourage girls to refuse what society imposes on them - this story of female occupations and male occupations. What I am saying is that whether it is a girl or a boy, everyone should choose the profession he loves."

"Chimen Lakay" is produced by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Since 2010, IOM has issued several publications on cholera, domestic violence, and road safety.

This edition on promoting equal job opportunities was distributed by IOM partners in camps, communities and schools. Helping to promote equality between women and men through his art is also the illustrator's personal goal.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Chevelin PIERRE, Comic book artist: 
"This is an opportunity for me to also correct the situation. I am delighted to be part of this program; if you want this is my stone in the construction of the building. We wish that one day we have a fair society where girls and boys have the same rights and equal opportunity from the beginning."

Once his draft matches Mike's script, Chevelin begins working on the computer. First he scans the drawings, then he corrects the images with software. He draws the comic designs and in the end adds Mike's text to the sequences.

The main characters of the comic are two girls, Florans and Deniz. They are classmates who look towards their future with great ideas and enthusiasm.

One day Forans' and Deniz' teacher asks the class what students want to do in their future. Deniz would like to work as an engineer and Florans wants to become a social worker.

Their teacher's message is encouraging: All professions are good as long as the students do what they enjoy and it is something that will be useful for Haiti.

With the support of their families, the two girls go on to be successful in their lives.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Mike CHARLES, Script writer, International Organization for Migration (IOM):
"The most interesting part of the story is when the person has a student at home who is reading while she looks at the pictures. I think this is the best way of comics to raise awareness in the population in order to change a behavior."

In the story, Deniz makes it as an engineer working for big companies. Forans is elected as a member of the community where she grew up. Both girls end up working in areas that are usually considered "men's professions".

Over nineteen thousand copies of the "Chimen Lakay" comic have been distributed in schools in Haiti's capital and regions. Mike and Chevelin are excited to see how their work will be received.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Chevelin PIERRE, Comic book artist:
"In reality a comic is not an art for art, but it has a function, a purpose of conveying a message. We must not only see the drawing, but also the message. If it passes, this is what interests me. So I'm happy!"

And Mike's and Chevelin's message is to show what the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which Haiti signed in 1981, should mean in daily life.