'Sold' is a 12-minute short film that I produced and starred in that was made as a demo for the feature version that we are currently seeking funding for. We screened the short at more than a dozen film festivals in 2011, most recently at the Austin Film Festival and won BEST DRAMA at the 2011 Malibu and Hollyshorts Film Festivals. A spot edited from the film won the highly competitive MTV contest to raise awareness for human trafficking on television and with MTV's global concert campaign.

The short also stars Fernanda Romero (Without Men, The Eye), Maria Elena Laas (Pastor Shepherd, The Hot Chick), Hector Jimenez (Sin Nombre, Nacho Libre), Jesse Garcia (Quinceanera, Under the same moon), Maria Olsen (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief), Andrew Keegan (10 Things I Hate About You, O, Independence Day), David Alan Graf, Ashley Sawyer, Wilmer Calderon, Rey Borge and Carmen Corral.

Sold was written, directed and edited by John Irwin - vimeo.com/johnirwin

Human trafficking is not usually a hot topic of conversation or a commonly discussed social issue. Yet it's the third most profitable crime in the world (just behind drugs and gun sales), providing around $30 Billion in revenue, worldwide. This is not just a foreign epidemic - in the U.S. alone, there are an estimated 100,000 children in the sex trade.

We hope that the demo for 'Sold' can help raise awareness for human trafficking (Please share!) and get people excited about the feature film that is currently in development. We would love to hear your thoughts on the film and if you would love as much as us to see the expanded feature version of this story be made. Feel free to leave a comment below. The film's website is soldfilm.com

University of Miami students created a new campaign for 600 Million Stray Dogs Need You, a non-profit organization seeking to actively prevent dog overpopulation and their inhumane treatment, during the philanthropic advertising event, PhilAdthropy. This video is a jumping off point for the new campaign set to target college-age people. The campaign is entitled Fix the Bitches.

Visit their website for more information: 600millionstraydogs.com/

and like them on facebook:
facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/600-Million-Stray-Dogs-Needs-You-Fan-Page/139244986110477

This is my one night shoot at Singapore Turf club using a pre-production Canon Eos1DmkIV loaned by Canon Singapore. It was all shot at 720p/60 and then slowed to 23.98 fps using Cinema tools. Footage is Ungraded. Edited in Final Cut Pro

Thanks to Canon Singapore, Cathay Photo and Yeo Wee Han for all their help.

For more info please go to dslrnewsshooter.com