Peace Takes Courage

Alternative GO ARMY audio ad

Sat, 08 May 2010 19:33:07 -0400

This is my final project for Sound Image, my audio drama class at NYU. I recently saw a new GO ARMY spot and decided to use it as the basis for my final project. In my version, I took the format of the ad, which used the U.S. Soldier's Creed, and altered it to give what I believe is a more honest portrayal of the current U.S. Army experience, which is very different from the fun action-filled portrayal in the GO ARMY advertisements. Listen below (tip: turn up your volume):

http://www.peacetakescourage.com/multimedia/goarmy.mp3

Video: I Do

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:35:55 -0500

This is a group short (7 minutes) documentary project that I made along with my two other group members for digital frame & sequence, my first semester production course at NYU. The rally took place at Union Square in November of 2009 and was hosted by Marriage Equality New York.
Find out more information about MENY at: http://www.meny.us/

Created by Ava Lowrey, Spyros Papavassiliou, and Martin Smith

VIDEO: Jail Bird

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:31:00 -0500

This is my final project for Digital Frame and Sequence, my first semester production class at NYU. This video is based on a poem about prison and isolation.

VIDEO: I Am New York / I Am The Nation

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:53:16 -0500

Watch Video: YouTube | Vimeo
This is a project for my freshman film class, Digital Frame & Sequence. In the class we take photos and make short videos. For this project I decided to contrast wealth and affluence in New York City with the city's poverty and dead end streets. Often people visiting or living in New York are distracted by the glamor and the rush of the city to notice the things around that matter the most - the people. When I first arrived in the city I was surprised when I would see homeless people sleeping on steps and the sidewalks at night. Now I find myself passing by without noticing because it is so common. This video only represents a tiny fraction of a large problem in New York and other cities.

Huffington Post's 7 Young People Making a Difference!

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:26:59 -0400

I got an email today congratulating me. I had no idea what I was being congratulated for until I looked at the Huffington Post website! HuffPost just released an articled titled "ADOLESCENT ACTIVISTS: 7 Young People Making A Difference" and I'm included in the list. I'm honored to be on the list and appreciate the support.

quote:
As a new string of youth activists have shown, you're never too young or inexperienced to start making a difference in your community. HuffPost Impact is proud to detail the stories of the following young people, dedicating their time and energy in service to others.
Vote on who you think is the biggest difference-maker!

You can read the article and vote at the link below.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/20/adolescent-activists-5-yo_n_292411.html?slidenumber=4

Also, the video I'm currently working on for one of my film classes will be done in a couple weeks. At that time I'll be posting it here along with a more detailed update from NYC!

FALLOUT at the NewFilmmakers Summer Festival 2009

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:16:22 -0400

Check out FALLOUT: Coming Home from the War in Iraq at the NewFilmmakers Summer Festival on July 4th!
The 2009 NewFilmmaker Summer Festival will take place July 1 - 6 at Anthology Film Archives in New York City. On Saturday July 4th NewFilmmakers in the Deren Theater celebrates the Fourth of July with first hand accounts of the Iraqi War and its aftermath. FALLOUT: Coming Home from the War in Iraq begins at 6pm. Admission is $6.

FALLOUT: Coming Home from the War in Iraq is a documentary about three veterans of the war in Iraq. Each veteran speaks about their experience as a soldier in Iraq and the challenges they faced while readjusting to civilian life here at home. These firsthand witnesses explain how their experiences have affected them and altered their views on the war, the media, the public, and the leaders who put their lives on the line. FALLOUT is the premiere film of Ava Lowrey, an 18 year old film/video activist from rural Alabama. Together with her brother Gordon, Ava set out with a single camcorder and drove across the South East to interview three veterans. Honest and straightforward, this unbiased documentary gives Staff Sergeant James C. Bailey, Corporal Michael Prysner, and Staff Sergeant Charlie Carlson a platform to open up with the public and share stories and opinions that might otherwise go unheard.

Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue
New York, NY

View the trailer below -

FALLOUT - Watch it NOW!

Tue, 26 May 2009 12:35:06 -0400

Watch the full film now at www.iraqfallout.com

FALLOUT: Coming Home from the War in Iraq - Watch it now!

Fri, 22 May 2009 11:18:13 -0400

As some of you know, I've recently been working on finishing up my first "full-length" documentary. This project was a two person project(my brother was a huge help with planning our filming trips and took still photography for the film) and self funded. It was a hard and at times incredibly frustrating experience, but sitting down with each of these veterans and listening to their stories inspired me to keep going. I wanted to give these three Iraq War veterans a platform to tell their own stories with viewers.

I learned so much through this experience, things that I will take with me when I begin my college studies in the fall. Thank you for the support and encouragement, and I hope you like the film.

Watch it now at -
http://www.iraqfallout.com

Online Tomorrow - FALLOUT: Coming Home from the War in Iraq

Thu, 21 May 2009 12:32:26 -0400

Beginning tomorrow "FALLOUT: Coming Home from the War in Iraq" will be available for online viewing at the film's website: www.iraqfallout.com

FALLOUT has also been accepted to the NewFilmmakers Summer Festival in New York City. I will have more details within the next few weeks. Thank you everyone for the encouragement and support. I learned a lot through making FALLOUT, my first full-length film. It's been a hard and long process, but it has been worth every moment and every penny.

Tomorrow!

- Ava

The Role of the Media - A short clip from FALLOUT

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:26:39 -0400

A short clip from FALLOUT: Coming Home from the War in Iraq

Iraq War veteran Mike Prysner talks about the role of the media in the war.
www.iraqfallout.com