ProjectExplorer is a documentary short film series. The films, directed and produced by ProjectExplorer's Founder, Jenny M Buccos, focus on histories and cultures of foreign places and people using interviews with subject experts, artists, and public figures including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. John Kani, Greg Marinovich, and Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse. Produced for a child and young adult audience, segments in each series depict everyday life and the challenges and concerns of those living in the locations and regions featured. Each film is 2–4 minutes in length, with each series containing approximately 40 films.
The ProjectExplorer series is distributed internationally without charge via the web by ProjectExplorer, LTD. an American not-for-profit organization.
Three series have been produced and distributed.
In fall 2009, ProjectExplorer's third series, Jordan, received a GOLD level Parents' Choice Award for excellence in web programming.
Shakespeare's England (2006)
The first series was filmed in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and New York City. The series includes more than 30 film segments.
United Kingdom locations and individuals include:
The London EyeThe Tower of LondonThe Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which demonstrates the process of making a bellSimon Hughes, Member of Parliament and President of the Liberal DemocratsThe Old VicThe Royal Shakespeare CompanyThe National Archives (UK)Segments filmed in New York City include:
Michael Cumpsty discusses and performs monologues from Hamlet (while starring in the Classic Stage Company production)Michael Stuhlbarg discusses and performs a monologue from MacbethFilmed in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and KwaZulu Natal, the series contains over 40 film segments including:
Ntate Thabong Phosa, a lesiba player from Lesotho. Due to the rarity of lesiba players globally, this is one of the only publicly available examples of the lesiba played on film.A Robben Island piece, filmed at the cell in which Nelson Mandela was held for 18 of his 27-year imprisonment.JSE Securities Exchange with Leigh Roberts, correspondent for CNBC Africa.A 3-part series on HIV/AIDS with amfAR Director of Research, Dr. Rowena Johnson. Dr. Johnson discusses high cost of anti-retroviral drugs and testing in South Africa.The June 16, 1976 Soweto Uprising, with archival film footage and photography from SABC and The Sowetan newspaper.Prominent South Africans featured in the series:
Dr. John Kani, Chairperson of the Apartheid Museum and TONY Award Winning ActorMusician Sipho “Hotstix” MabuseFormer U.N. Ambassador Dave A. Steward, Executive Director of the FW de Klerk FoundationDirector and producer, Duma NdlovuMalcolm Purkey, Artistic Director of the Market TheatreFilmed in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and New York City, the series contains over 10 film segments.
Prominent South Africans featured in the series:
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureatePhotojournalist Greg Marinovich, Pulitzer Prize winner and co-author of The Bang-Bang ClubVusi Mahlasela, musicianAuthor, Max du PreezFilmed in Amman, Petra, Umm Qais, Jerash, Madaba, Bethany, the Dead Sea, and New York City, the series contains more than 45 film segments.
Jordan series segments include:
A tour of the throne room of King Abdullah II, at Raghadan PalaceSharing mansaf with a Bedouin family in the Wadi Rum desertThe UNRWA Jabal Hussein refugee campThe Siq, Treasury, and Monastery at PetraThe ruins of Gadara at Umm QaisJerash, the capital and largest city of Jordan's Jerash GovernorateMadaba, home of the Madaba Map and the mosaic capital of JordanThe archaeological site at BethanyTraditional clothing from Salt and Ma'anThe reintroduction into the wild of the endangered Arabian OryxThe Desert CastlesThe science of the Dead SeaHer Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Ali and her Royal Botanic Garden