Freedom in Malawi, With Questions for the Future
Posted on: May 31, 2010 | Filed under: I Live Here | 0 Comments
The president of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika, has issued an unconditional pardon for for Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 33,
Both men had been sentenced to fourteen years in prison, the maximum penalty for their “marriage” ceremony.
The pardon is a step in the right direction toward equal rights for all men and women in Malawi, as dictated by their Constitution.
The President issued the following statement:
“These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws; however, as the head of state I hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release with no conditions… I have done this on humanitarian grounds but this does not mean that I support this.”
While the act of a pardon is invigorating, the president’s statement confuses and leaves many unanswered questions.
Mia Kirshner Answers the Call for Social Responsibility in Malawi: Exclusive
Posted on: May 18, 2010 | Filed under: I Live Here, Interviews | 0 Comments
Steven Monjenza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga united their love and lives last December in a traditional Malawian engagement ceremony. Now, less than six months later, the two men are facing a possible 14-year sentence in prison doing hard labor. Gay marriage is illegal in Malawi and the two men have been charged under Malawi colonial-era sodomy laws. Their fate will be decided on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.
The L Word star Mia Kirshner was in Malawi when it all went down and took note firsthand at how inhumanely the situation played out in the media across the globe. Of that fateful day and the events following, she says. “I was in Malawi when they were married. Pretty wild, huh? So I was witness. We were getting tested for Malaria or something crazy like that and I could see the front pages of the nation’s and other newspapers – sort of reporting what had happened. It was almost like reading a comic book account of these two men being arrested because they were having a commitment ceremony according to Malawian custom. Two days later, they were arrested. ”
Malawi Gay Couple To Be Imprisoned: I Will No Longer Keep Quiet
Posted on: May 15, 2010 | Filed under: I Live Here, Miscellaneous, News & Gossip | 3 Comments
My name is Mia Kirshner and I am the director of I Live Here Projects. The aim of our organization is to provide urgent care to communities that have slipped through the cracks. Our first project is in Kachere Juvenile Prison in Malawi, where we are forming a full-time school, permaculture garden project and legal rights. These children had slipped through the cracks when we first arrived in Kachere.
That is not what this piece is about.
I am writing about an issue that I can no longer keep quiet about.
While I was in Malawi in December, Malawi’s first gay couple got married in a public commitment ceremony. Their names are Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza. I read the headlines detailing their wedding and sardonic commentary of the journalists writing the pieces. Two days after they married, they were met with both public cheers and humiliation. They now face over a decade of hard labor in a Malawian prison for their actions.
The Vampire Diaries 1.21 screencaps
Posted on: May 13, 2010 | Filed under: Gallery Updates, The Vampire Diaries | 3 Comments
I just updated the gallery with screencaps of Mia’s performance in episode 1.21 Isobel. What did you guys think of Mia in the episode? I thought she was great and it was nice to see that Isobel had a couple of different sides to her. I would love to see her back on the show again and am hoping they’ll write her back in at some point.
The TV Chick Exclusive Interview with Mia Kirshner
Posted on: May 13, 2010 | Filed under: Interviews, The Vampire Diaries | 0 Comments
Last week’s episode of “The Vampire Diaries” was one of my favorites of the entire season. We have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Elena’s biological mom and we finally got to meet her. We even find out that Jon Gilbert is actually Elena’s biological father. Isobel is a complex vampire who struggles with her humanity (or lack thereof) and her feelings towards her ex-husband Alaric and her “maker” Damon. I recently had the chance to chat with Mia Kishner, who plays Isobel, and she had some interesting insights into her character. We even talked a little bit about her time on “The L Word.”
How did you get the part of Isobel?
It was all just pretty random. It was right before Christmas, and I was in the countryside of Malawi staying on a dairy farm, (laughs) and I got this call from my agent and they told me about the show, The Vampire Diaries and it sounded pretty cool. And then they said that I could speak to Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec [Executive Producers] who I spoke to and it was through Skype and it was a really crackly connection, but there were words: mysterious and unpredictable and stuff like that I believe we used in the conversation that made me excited about the character. And I knew that they were talented, so I said yes–not knowing a lot about it. It was kind of a leap of faith.
30 Days of Night: Dark Days Wraps Production – Director Ben Ketai Speaks!
Posted on: May 09, 2010 | Filed under: 30 Days of Night: Dark Days, Film News | 1 Comment
This scribe recently caught up with Sony’s 30 Days of Night: Dark Days co-scripter (with Steve Niles) and director Ben Ketai, who filled us in on the status of his sequel to director David Slade’s 2007 vampire chiller 30 Days of Night.
Dread was on-set during the principal photography of Dark Days last November in Vancouver. See that item here.
“We’re in the last couple of weeks of post-production,” Ketai, who previously helmed the 30 Days web series, said of Dark Days in early April. “It’s the home stretch here. We are in that last stage where every little bit you put into it makes it that much better: the sound, the color, and every new effects shot that goes in – it’s really exciting.”
‘The Vampire Diaries’: That’s one scary mother
Posted on: May 07, 2010 | Filed under: Television News, The Vampire Diaries | 0 Comments
Have you made your Mother’s Day plans yet, “Vampire Diaries” fans? After Thursday night’s episode, “Isobel,” you’re going to want to make sure you show your mom how grateful you are that she’s not a soulless creepster dead-behind-the-eyes vampire. Flowers and breakfast in bed might not cut it.
Mia Kirshner has appeared as Isobel in several of Alaric’s flashbacks this season, but as Damon has proven time and again, once a person has been turned, they’re never quite the same. Tonight, we’ll finally see what immortality and a handful of superpowers have done for Isobel. More importantly, Elena will finally see it.
Tonight’s episode came with a special treat for fans on Twitter. Star Nina Dobrev as well as creators Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec live-tweeted during the episode. If you missed it, don’t worry! I have all the highlights from their Twitter session below.
‘Vampire Diaries’ Star Nina Dobrev On ‘Ruthless’ Mom, Isobel: ‘She Doesn’t Care About Human Life’
Posted on: May 06, 2010 | Filed under: Media Alerts, The Vampire Diaries | 0 Comments
Vampire Diaries 1.21 promo
Posted on: May 03, 2010 | Filed under: Media Alerts, The Vampire Diaries | 1 Comment
The Vampire Diaries 1.20 screencaps
Posted on: May 01, 2010 | Filed under: Gallery Updates, The Vampire Diaries | 0 Comments
I just updated the gallery with screencaps of Mia’s cameo in episode 1.20 Blood Brothers. I can’t help but feel bad for Alaric and can’t wait to see what the next episode holds.
