Today marks the beginning of International Justice Mission’s summer campaign – 5 Weeks for Freedom.

I was thrilled to be asked to be a part of helping getting the word out and stoked to be the first stop on their blog tour, click for the link. That post was the intensely personal side of the issue of human trafficking and how the awareness to such an issue eventually sidetracked my life in a very good way. It’s important to note that I wasn’t paid in any way for my blog services for this cause.

But over here at the Lab, I thought we’d talk about the communication, the website and some of the technology behind www.5weeksforfreedom.org. This site and campaign of IJM will be tracking the movements of a group traveling from Mobile, AL to Buffalo, NY in the next several weeks.

Highlights:

Multiple Touch Points – IJM has done a great job with social media integration and they’re building on their brand by starting another account on Twitter @5WFF There’s also going to be regular updates via their blog on what’s happening on the road and report backs on successes.

Access – The site allows for the viewer to check in with the riders via GPS. And also they’ll being doing uStream video live when they make certain stops.

Options – There are a lot of ways to get involved with what IJM is doing.

Humanity – I love the option to meet the individual riders (Personally my money is on Deborah Go, gotta represent SoCal!) A quick minute on why each rider is there, with so many stories it’ll be a lot easier to catalyze others in involvement and think about what their doing in their communities.

Time Limit – theres an end. So many times NGO’s aren’t thinking about a natural arc. How are your campaigns flowing? They should be like a good story – a beginning, a middle and an end. IJM’s campaign is a quick one and they’ve already set their day of completion of July 30. Having that end date helps communicate a lot to their audience – to the longtime connections, there’s an understanding that their will be a lot of talk about this campaign over the next 5-8 weeks. To the new connections, a time limit allows for a great introduction to what IJM is all about and as they continue to educate these new supporters who are passionate about making modern day slavery a thing of the past.

Over all marks – there’s no guarantee on any campaign but this looks like a fun time. I’m still waiting for some smart app developing company to make the IJM iPhone app.

IJM worked with Grafik for the creative and Capital Idea Ventures for the development of the site.

The end of September kicked off with a bang as International Justice Mission’s (IJM) Premiere for their first Documentary – At The End of Slavery. Today kicks of the Weekend to End Slavery and we encourage you to click here and watch Gary Haugen via Livestream at 8PM EST.

At the premiere, Portnoy Media was able to work with IJM to help facilitate a trailer contest that lead up to the premiere event. (See the winners video here)

IJM called upon Portnoy Media over the summer to give some ideas that took advantage of the incredible content and great mission of IJM. We took care of all the details of the event from setting up digital invitations and registrations, coordinating the food and taking care of all the technology to make the event a success. We also worked with IJM’s press core to invite college press agencies to give them unprecedented access for the big night. In attendance were several officials from the State Department, including Ambassador Luis CdeBaca. There’s another post launching soon with the coverage of the event and our approach that the event was the 50% point to this entire movement to end human trafficking. It was an incredible pleasure to work with them and please make sure that you check out Gary Haugen at 8PM EST

Below are the pictures of the event taken by Snaptography, LLC.

International Justice Mission (IJM) launched their new site to support their first documentary, At The End of Slavery. (www.AtTheEndOfSlavery.com) The site is just a piece of the promotion that’s been put forth from this powerhouse NGO battling the terrible tragedy of human trafficking. IJM is providing a lot of opportunities for abolitionists to come along side them and join in the fight to stop modern day slavery.

Here’s how you can get involved and joined the movement:

Create Your Own Trailer Contest

Order The Film/House Party Kit

Register Your Screening

Get Planning and Party Resources

Post-Screening Action Steps

How will you get involved to stop modern day slavery??

If you are a filmmaker, video/motion graphics professional or simply a film enthusiast, International Justice Mission (IJM) wants you to be a part of the At the End of Slavery movement today!

At the End of Slavery is a powerful 30-minute documentary that takes viewers into the dark and dangerous underworld of human trafficking, bringing into the light some of the world’s 27 million slaves. IJM is looking for talented film professionals to participate in a trailer contest that will help us spread the word about the film and start a modern-day abolitionist movement.

Interested individuals should complete the free contest registration online at www.AtTheEndOfSlavery.com and receive a toolkit that includes official rules and guidelines, a digital, high-resolution version of ATEOS, and a series of design files, video clips and audio files to be used with their trailer entry as they see fit.

Guest judges include:
• Phil Cooke, a filmmaker, producer, media specialist and consultant whose work focuses on creating personal and organizational (with a specialty in non-profit and faith-based) cultures where real change happens.
• Craig Detweiler, director of the new Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture at Pepperdine University in Malibu. His documentary, “Purple State of Mind”, won Best Spiritual Film at the 2008 Breckenridge Festival of Film and the Audience Award at the 2009 Tallahassee Film Festival.
• Brent Gudgel, film director who co-directed and award-winning documentary “Dear Francis” about the most HIV-infected nation in the world, which has aired on Showtime, and been used by universities and churches around the world. The latest project from him is DEIDOX
• Gregg Helvey, who directed and produced “Kavi,” the winning film of the 2009 Student Academy Award gold medal, about a young boy who is a modern-day slave in a brick kiln in India.
• Dave Mahanes, a partner in the production company Chronicle Project, who has overseen the production of documentaries, promotional videos and film shorts, including “Dear Francis.” The latest project from him is DEIDOX.

The trailer contest officially ends Friday, September 18, 2009 and entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET to be eligible for judges and audience voting.

Here’s the current trailer

At The End Of Slavery – Extended Trailer from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

Grand Prize is:

• A trip for 2 to Washington DC’s Premiere Event on September 30th
• A public viewing of your trailer before the event and recognition.
• The winning trailer becomes the trailer seen by thousands across the country as THE trailer for the film.

Don’t miss out on this chance to play a part in starting a modern-day abolitionist movement! Send in your trailer contest entries, and be a part of the At the End of Slavery movement today!

Sign Up Today