This is a short trailer video of Nosy Mena: Voices from the Red Island. We're planning some screenings soon in Cape Town and other festivals relating to climate change at COP17.
Watch this space!
Jacqueline
Friday, 1 July 2011
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
New Silky Sifaka film by Earthtouch
This is a beautifully produced conservation video about the endangered Silky Sifakas in the Marojejy region in north-east Madagascar. 'Silkies' are beautiful, white lemurs that only exist in this region, and in our last two visits to Madagascar, we were privileged to see them both times, deep in the Marojejy National Park rain-forests. This film, Trouble in Lemur Land, shows how their habitat is being destroyed by the illegal Rosewood logging, which also formed an important part of our documentary film, Nosy Mena: Voices from the Red Island.
One of the featured scientists in this film, primatologist Erik Patel was also a core funder and supporter of our documentary film.
It's well worth the watch, as they have some spectacular footage of these endangered lemurs as well as saddening but powerful footage of the Rosewood logging.
Jacqueline
One of the featured scientists in this film, primatologist Erik Patel was also a core funder and supporter of our documentary film.
It's well worth the watch, as they have some spectacular footage of these endangered lemurs as well as saddening but powerful footage of the Rosewood logging.
Jacqueline
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
PARAPHERNALIA in Cape Town
PARAPHERNALIA, our quirky visual theatre show is finally in Cape Town!
Come and share the magic from 16 to 21 April 2011 at the New Africa Theatre, in Sybrand Park.
This show was developed in 2008 and has grown from its original ideas into an 'endearing' and 'innovative' production that has inspired audiences at the National Arts Festival two years in a row.
Directed by Jacqueline van Meygaarden and co-created with Daniel Robinson and Andrea van Meygaarden. The latest incarnation of the show showcases the mask design of Jesse Kramer and Liesel Reddeck, and has Nadia Caldera (now Woodward) in the new role.
Tickets are R50 and R35 for block bookings.
To book, contact Tahirih Cook on 084 873 4711 or tahirih.cook@gmail.com
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Oscar nominated film about Madagascar
I recently watched this exquisitely beautiful short film about Madagascar and the journey of a traveller through the culture of the island. It's an animated film that uses many different animation and drawing styles.
I learned today that it was nominated for an Oscar! Watch it yourself, it takes you on a sensual journey...
It also brings me back to Madagascar in a heartbeat - the music, the colours and sights ... We'll have to plan to go back soon....
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Nosy Mena documentary review
We held a screening of our film, Nosy Mena: Voices from the Red Island to a public audience for the second time on 22 January. The first time was at the COPART Climate Fluency Exchange in December 2010, which gave us some excellent feedback!
This January screening, held at the Mountain Club of South Africa in Cape Town was attended by about 50 of our friends and colleagues, and some mountain club members.
Brenda Martin from Project 90 by 2030, one of our colleagues and friends wrote this great review about the film.
Click here to read it on her blog:
Saturday, 8 January 2011
More about memorable vanilla...
Vanilla
BOTANICAL NAME: Vanilla Fragrans, syn V. planifolia
FAMILY NAME: Orchidaceae
Aroma and Flavour:
Real vanilla is highly fragrant, with an exotic and memorable aroma. On our travels around north- east Madagascar, we were always surprised by the heady scents that wafted out of villages as we approached them. The taste reflects the smell, with a soft, flowery mellowness.
Culinary Use:
One of the finest flavours, used almost exclusively in sweet cookery, vanilla is added to cakes, ,biscuits, puddings and desserts. It is used to flavor confectionery, and has a special affinity to chocolate. (in Madagascar there is a good quality chocolatier called 'Roberts' who makes delicious dark chocolate slabs and truffles, and they all have real vanilla as an important ingredient).
Vanilla is one the distinctive ingredients in creme de cacao and Galliano, two popular liqueurs.
Medicinal and other use:
Vanilla is used as a pick me up, and an antidote to fevers. It is also associated with aphrodisiac qualities, and is used in perfume productions.
Storage:
Store one vanilla pod in in a jar of sugar (usually caster sugar), allowing 3 or 4 weeks for the full flavour to permeate the sugar fully, and just top up the jar with more sugar as required. This gloriously flavoured vanilla sugar is marvelous in cakes, biscuits, sweet pies, ice creams, and milk puddings. a good quality pod, with plenty of vanillin crystals, will remain potent for as long as four years!
Vanilla Flavourings:
Natural vanilla flavouring, extract or essence is made by finely shopping the beans or pods and infusing them by dripping alcohol on the pieces. Inferior pods are used; they may not be fgood enough for selling whole, but their flavour is fine. Madagascar bourbon is one example of a title given to superior vanilla flavouring.
Artificial vanilla essence or flavouring is light years away from the true flavour of vanilla. The flavour is synthesized from wood pulp waste, coal tar or coumarin, which is banned in many countries. Substantial quantities of the artificial flavouring are sold and used each year. This type of vanilla essence has a harsh flavour with a definite aftertaste.
Buy the vanilla pod or natural vanilla flavouring or essence and you will notice the difference in flavour.
For more information about vanilla, click here.
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