JET, June 9, 2008
Sheila Johnson Empowers Women With New Documentary Film
By Melody K. Hoffman
Sheila Johnson is the executive producer of a powerful documentary A Powerful Noise. Johnson, CEO of Salamander Hospitality and co-founder of BET network, wants the 90-minute film to bring attention to the global issue of poverty among women.
"We have over 72 percent of women globally that are living on less than $2 a day," Johnson explains to JET. "This movie is to bring awareness to this issue. We're focused on three issues, maternal health, education and economic empowerment. With this awareness hopefully there will come action."
The film follows three women with three very different lives in very different worlds. Jacqueline Dembele works the slums of Bamako, Mali; Bui My Hanh is an HIV-positive widow in Vietnam and Nada Markovic is a survivor of the Bosnian war. What they all have in common is how they have empowered themselves to bring forth change and support others.
"We really wanted to connect our characters emotionally," director, Tom Cappello, said. "What draws them together is not only what they are doing, but what brought them there. The film takes you through those emotional highs and lows they struggle with in having a voice and making a difference in their community."
As an ambassador for CARE, an international humanitarian organization, Johnson developed interest for making A Powerful Noise. The film was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival last month.
"I have been traveling and I have seen [poverty] firsthand," reveals Johnson, a co-owner of three pro sports teams.
"This is an epidemic that is happening and it's something that if we don't get our hands around right now, this world will fall apart because the women are really the fabric of the community and they are really the strength of the families."