Allen Mondell (Sierra Leone 1963-65) Peace Corps Film

Allen Mondell (Sierra Leone 1963-65) has just produced a 71-minute documentary entitled: Waging Peace: The Peace Corps Experience that weaves personal letters, journals, emails and blogs written by Peace Corps Volunteers with the profiles of four RPCVs whose work today shows the enduring impact of these experiences on their own lives and the lives of others. As Allen writes, “I hope this film demonstrates not only the value of volunteering–in a distant land or your own hometown–but also the importance of getting to know another culture firsthand and respecting the differences.”

It is a terrific Peace Corps film. It is a terrific film.

Allen also filmed a 82-minute RPCV writers’ panel discussion organized earlier this year by Richard Wiley (Korea 1967-69) at the Black Mountain Institute in Las Vegas that included Paul Theroux (Malawi 1963-65), Mary-Ann Tirone Smith (Cameroon 1965-67), Peter Hessler (China 1996-98) and Marnie Muller (Ecuador 1963-65).

Allen tells me that he is also preparing a short version of Waging Peace that will be available for middle and high school classrooms.

Founded by filmmakers Allen Mondell and Cynthia Salzman Mondell in 1978,  their non-profit company, Media Projects, produces and distributes films that explore social issues, personalize history and celebrate diversity. Allen and Cynthia have been producing and distributing documentary films for 33 years. Their films have aired nationwide on PBS and on both commercial and cable television and are distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe to schools, libraries, museums, churches, social service organizations, youth groups and government agencies. The films have won numerous national awards and have been selected for prestigious screenings in the United States and abroad.  This package of ‘Peace Corps films’ is available from Media Projects. Allen is working out a special ‘RPCV’ price for a home DVD for $25 plus shipping and handling. In the meantime, contact him at mail@mediaprojects.org. He will respond late next week as he is out of town on vacation now.