JAPAN PRIZE 2006 : Program Details

Special Prizes
The Maeda Prize
Program Title:Flag on Mars: The works of Franco
Organization:Universidad Nacional de Columbia, Unimedios U.N. Television
Country:Columbia
Content
This documentary about youngsters with fewer means in Bogotá, Colombia, introduces several young people who demonstrate their creativity in their jobs. They work in a variety of fields, such as apparel, music, party decoration or streets sales, believing in their own ability and maintaining hope for the future. The program consists of interviews by such youngsters. Their lively talk about their experiences, challenges and dreams helps viewers of the same age to feel that work is fun and give them hope for their own futures. Some interesting clips are inserted to explain how important work is and that they should use their creativity. Examples include showing ants with the onscreen credit "In 12 hours of work, an ant can carry up to 25 times its weight and travel the equivalent of 10 miles and doesn't complain" and showing animals with "Animals almost always have better results obtaining food when they use their creativity."
One of the youngsters, Franco, says that he loves Rap music and had asked his mother to make him rapper clothes. The clothes became very popular among his friends and neighbors so Franco started selling them. That was his staring point. He then opened Hop Pop music store and music studio to create his own productions. The program ends with Franco's promotional video.
Jury Comment
The Works of Franc o is an aspirational programme for youth that challenges its audience to consider alternative types of work both whilst studying and when they leave school.   It is an effective response to youth unemployment and challenges its audience to consider starting their own businesses,   becoming creative and to consider careers that may not be traditional choices in Colombia.   It shows young people who have taken control of their own destiny and started businesses in area they are passionate about.   The stories are well told and having young people motivate other young people is used effectively in this piece.   The programme style is one the youth audience is used to, and relate to, with an effective use of the music that appeals to them.
Producer's Comment
Both the protagonists and the objective public of "Flags on Mars" are young people from the popular layers of Bogotá, ranging from 14 to 24. The general purpose of the program is to open a channel of expression for these boys and therefore contribute to the transformation of the negative imaginaries that weigh on them. Besides, "Flags on Mars" aims to make a real contribution using communication and education as a means for young people to appropiate of such values as participation, solidarity, respect of diversity, and reconciliation. These values are necessary for the construction of the city we all want.
We are very proud of having recieved this prize just as we are grateful that you allowed us to show the advances we have made in educational television here in Colombia.  It is the very first time that a colombian program reaches a recognition of this sort. We hope that this serves as an incentive for all those that are trying different ways for television to contribute to the solution of our problems.  
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