Wednesday October 10, 2007: Australians are being called to action, to change the world in simple, achievable ways via a new Film Australia/SBS online initiative Change the World in 5 Minutes www.sbs.com.au/changetheworld which goes live today.
Inspired by the book Change the World for Ten Bucks the website showcases how individuals can make a difference to the world through everyday actions such as recycling waste paper, saying thank you, shopping locally and walking to work.
“We are providing a platform for people to demonstrate how to make a small, but significant difference, in a world where large scale social and cultural issues often become overwhelming,” said Film Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Daryl Karp.
Short films from nine filmmaking teams, selected by Film Australia, SBS, NSWFTO and AFTRS earlier this year, provide a trigger for users to upload their own relevant photos, videos and news content to the Change the World in 5 Minutes website.
“Online initiatives such as Change The World in 5 Minutes and The Movie Show demonstrate SBS's rapidly expanding cross-media strategy,” said Marshall Heald, Manager of Digital Media, SBS.
"Change the World in 5 Minutes encourages 'user generated content' recasting our SBS audience from passive viewers to active participants as well as providing the opportunity to form a community that is actively creating a conversation for change,” he said.
Users on the Change the World in 5 Minutes website can create an individual profile page, allowing them to personalise their presence and to communicate their ideas with like-minded people.
Registered users can enter the youCan2 competition, where every positive action made on the site will earn users points. At the end of the competition the user with the most points will win a $3000 Australian Ethical investments portfolio, with all entrants in a weekly prize draw for an Optus phone pack.
The Film Australia produced short films are also downloadable for portable devices.
Change the World in 5 Minutes is a co-production between Film Australia, SBS Digital Media, the New South Wales Film and Television Office and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, in association with We Are What We Do.
Media Contacts:
Andy Brown, Avviso PR for Film Australia andyb@avviso.com.au 02 9368 7277
Bridget Stenhouse, SBS bridget.stenhouse@sbs.com.au 02 9430 3792