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*Press Release :
Sharing the
Rough to World Premiere at WorldFest Houston Film Festival
Sharing the Rough documents the never before captured
process of the travels of a gemstone from mine to market while exploring the
challenges of an emerging mining economy in East Africa.
When a shopper walks into their local
jewelry store, he or she is thinking about cut and color, the special person
who will wear a piece, and how much money they are prepared to spend. They are
probably not thinking about the emerging economies their purchase is
supporting. But in East Africa, where precious gems are pulled out of hand-dug
mines, there is potential for a mining industry that changes the face of a
region.
Sharing the Rough documents the never before captured process of mine to
market in the fine gem industry. But more than that, it tells the story of the
intricate relationships and passion that make jewelry more than just pretty
stones but an expression of our collective humanity. From the determination of
the miners who chop away for years without finding a single gem to the students
attending schools that the mines fund to the consumer purchasing an heirloom
piece of jewelry, the film introduces the chain of individuals impacted by the
presence of gems.
Shot mainly in East Africa with a
skeleton crew and completely crowd funded, the film follows gem-cutter Roger
Dery as he explores mines in Tanzania and Kenya looking for "The One"
to later be turned into an exquisite piece of jewelry by designer Mark
Schneider. Described as "Impressively polished and cohesive," by
Eileen McClelland, the managing editor at INSTORE Magazine, the film reveals an
entirely unseen perspective of the world of colored gemstones.
"The beauty of this film is that
everything you see is 100% organic, and in true documentary style. There was no
script. As we left for the shoot, it was unclear if we would find a miner to
work with us much less a viable piece of rough. We were able to capture
something that the world has never seen before, and that is the beauty of the
collaboration of film," says Director Orin Mazzoni.
Mazzoni, a Graduate Gemologist, grew
up in a third generation family jewelry business and spent ten years learning
everything he could about the gemological trade. He switched gears and received
a Masters Degree in Motion Pictures and Television from the Academy of Art
University in San Francisco, where his films won a record 7 awards over 10
nominations.
Sharing the Rough premieres at
WorldFest-Houston in April 2015, followed by appearances in USA Film Festival
(Dallas), and 2 screenings at the Newport Beach Film Festival (CA).
In post-production, the film was thrilled to have Jill Bogdanowicz,
known for her work on The Grand Budapest Hotel, join as the film's
colorist.
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Please see below for our original campaign.
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