In this episode of OWC RADiO, host Cirina Catania, talks with Orlando Luna (Producer/Benefactor) and Andy Stein (Founder and Executive Chairman) of the Orphaned Starfish Foundation, as they unveil the behind-the-scenes stories of how this organization came about and how OSF is now teaching technology, creativity and story-telling using mobile hardware and software.

OSF was founded in 2001 to help orphans, victims of abuse, survivors of trafficking, indigenous populations, refugees and at-risk youth worldwide escape their cycles of poverty and abuse through education and job training.

As of this broadcast, over 15,000 children in countries around the world have seen their lives changed as mentors from the organization arrive to empower their inner creativity. By taking away the thought that filmmaking is "hard," and giving them simple but powerful tools, all the team has to do is train them and give them the inspiration to create! The results are surprising.

In a new association with Mobile Phone Studio and WeMakeMovies, The Orphaned Starfish Foundation’s emerging tech-arts program is reaching out even further to enable children to tell their stories through film. Yes, it is about gear, but it is even more about freedom of expression and a safe field in which to run.

The work is as powerful as it is important.

We are proud that Other World Computing sponsors our show. Please visit their website and give them some love!

Find out more at: www.osf.org

Write to us at [email protected] or comment below.

For more information about our amazing sponsor, Other World Computing, go to MacSales.com or OWCDigital.com, where you’ll find hardware and software solutions and tutorial videos that will get you up and running in no time.

For more about our host, filmmaker, tech maven and co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival, Cirina Catania, visit cirinacatania.com.

If you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe and tell all your friends about us! We love our listeners. And, if you have ideas for segments, write to [email protected]. Cirina is always up for new ideas!

In This Episode

00:04 - Crina introduces Orlando Luna, producer/benefactor, and Andy Stein, founder and executive chairman, of the Orphaned Starfish Foundation.02:41 - Andy shares his story of how he started forming the Orphaned Starfish Foundation.09:55 - Orlando shares the equipment that they bring to the orphanages for children to use for learning.15:03 - Orlando shares the process on how the children practice shooting, creating scripts, and editing videos. 22:50 - Cirina shares how amazed she was with elementary and middle school kids who are not afraid of using technology. She discusses visiting Rancho Bernardo with We Make Movies and Smartphone Studio team.26:56 - Orlando shares how the foundation helps children prepare for getting jobs in the production industry.31:48 - Orlando shares how all the kids and teens in the center work well together with projects. This inspired them to help people interested in filmmaking.36:32 - Orlando shares how Andy helped the centers in getting a good Internet connection for seamless learning.40:50 - Cirina shares what she read on the foundation’s website about them being transparent with the money that goes toward the administration and foundation itself.44:16 - Visit osf.org to donate, get involved, and to know more about the Orphaned Starfish Foundation.

Jump to Links and Resources

Transcript

Oh, here we are together again. This is OWC Radio, and today we are sharing something with you that makes me very happy. The Orphaned Starfish Foundation, Orlando Luna, producer and benefactor, and Andy Stein, founder and executive chairman, spend some time talking with me about three of my favorite subjects: technology, creativity, and storytelling.

I'm your host, Cirina Catania, inviting you to listen in. I have Orlando Luna here with me. We're going to talk about an amazing program t...