Like many documentaries today, “The Eyes of Thailand” film is incorporating animations to help illustrate key events in the film for which we don’t have photos or video footage.

We’re working with Tahnee Gehm, a student at the California Institute of the Arts, studying Character Animation, to create seven (7) animations, including: illustrating how two elephant landmine survivors (Motala and Baby Mosha) arrived at the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital, why the Founder Soraida Salwala decided to open FAE in 1993, and how to build an elephant-sized prosthesis.

“Inspired by Nang Yai, or traditional Thai shadow puppets, the animations were created digitally in a space that emulates a light source that casts shadows,” explains Tahnee. “The moods of the pieces are emphasized with the color of the light. With animation, more cinematic opportunities are available for story-telling than might be available in traditional shadow puppetry. Still, the spirit of shadow puppets was kept alive by creating characters with hinged limb movements.”

Below are three still frames from the film’s animations.

Mother elephant feeding the Buddha.

Many believe the Buddha was once born as a baby elephant. The still frame above shows the Mother elephant feeding the young Buddha.

Buddha's eyes

The Buddha grows up to a majestic elephant, who refuses to eat or drink until he can feed his blind, old mother.

Elephant Triumph

Soraida Salwala stood in front of an armored truck for 25 hours before the authorities relented and released the elephants, who were scheduled to be exported to a zoo.

We look forward to hearing what you think about the animations.

Congratulations, Susan Allsbrook! Susan won the Free Trip for 2 in Thailand from Intrepid Travel.

The Trip: Northern Thailand is among the greatest adventure destinations on the planet and this journey reveals why: hiking among hill tribes, sailing its rivers, and calling into friendly and colorful villages along the way. This 15-day journey will take her from the chaotic streets of Bangkok to the serene countryside and offer a glimpse into this fascinating country. Plus, during her adventure, Susan will visit the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Hospital and meet Motala and Mosha, two of the elephants featured in “The Eyes of Thailand” documentary.

As promised, ALL DONORS WHO SELECTED THIS PERK WILL GET TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AN “EYES OF THAILAND” POSTER, T-SHIRT OR WATER BOTTLE. You will receive an email within the week to select your preference.
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“The Eyes of Thailand” has contracted Animator Tahnee Gehm to help bring certain stories within the film to life. Examples include Motala’s and Mosha’s trips to FAE’s Elephant Hospital after being injured and Soraida’s inspiration to found FAE, among others.

Tahnee is currently a student at the California Institute of the Arts, studying Character Animation. Creating a handful of internationally-screened animated short films in as many diverse styles as possible, she hopes to one day start her own animation studio. While art and animation have been life-long passions, she also enjoys playing violin and piano, along with tinkering with technology.

We’re thrilled to have Tahnee on board and look forward to unveiling a sneak peek to some animation stills soon. Stay tuned!

Thanksgiving always causes me to reflect on what I’m grateful for, and this year I’m extra grateful for all of your love and support for me, Soraida, the elephants, the staff at FAE and “The Eyes of Thailand” film.

"The Eyes of Thailand" Director/Producer Windy Borman with the cast and crew of The Chiang Mai Project (Thailand, 2007).

In 2007, I celebrated Thanksgiving in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Little did I know that within a week that adventure would lead me to my next documentary project. Armed only with a video camera and an open heart, I visited FAE’s Elephant Hospital and the rest is history.

After three trips, 100+ hours of video footage, countless interviews, and priceless donations from friends and family, we now have a feature-length documentary that will help protect Asian elephants and call for the ban and safe removal of landmines around the world.

Thank you for joining me on this journey and I hope each and everyone of you had a Thanksgiving filled with laughter and love.

Sincerely,

Windy Borman

Producer/Director, “The Eyes of Thailand”

Motala and Mosha each received newly designed elephant-sized prostheses on November 9, 2011. (Photo credit: Soraida Salwala).

LAMPANG, THAILAND–On November 9, 2011, Mosha celebrated her sixth birthday at the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Hospital, and to mark the occasion, the staff of the Prostheses Foundation presented Mosha with her seventh prosthesis.

Dr. Therdchai Jivacite of the Prostheses Foundation presents Mosha's seventh prosthesis to Soraida Salwala, FAE's founder. (Photo credit: Soraida Salwala).

Mosha enjoyed her Birthday treats of tamarind, sticky rice, and bananas before test-driving her new leg in her pen.

Mosha test-drives her new prosthesis. (Photo credit: Soraida Salwala).

“Auntie” Motala, joined the festivities, too, when Dr. Jivacite presented her with her fourth prostheses. She walked over to Mosha’s pen to wish her a Happy Birthday.

Motala, wearing her fourth prosthesis, visits Mosha, a.k.a. the "Birthday Girl". (Photo credit: Soraida Salwala).

Mosha and Motala are both elephant landmine survivors and permanent residents of FAE’s Elephant Hospital. Mosha stepped on a landmine in 2006 when she was only 7-months old. In 2008, she received the world’s first elephant prosthetic, designed by Dr. Jivacite. A decade earlier, Motala stepped on a landmine; she received her first prosthesis in 2009. All of their prostheses have been designed by Dr. Jivacite and donated to FAE by the Prostheses Foundation in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Mosha’s and Motala’s journey is featured in the upcoming documentary, “The Eyes of Thailand“, directed and produced by Windy Borman and produced by Tim VandeSteeg. For more information on the film, visit: http://eyesofthailand.com

Trilogy at The Vineyards presents
Meet the Filmmaker: An Afternoon with Windy Borman, Director of “The Eyes of Thailand”

Join us on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 2:00pm as we welcome the filmmakers of “The Eyes of Thailand“, a feature-length documentary directed and produced by Windy Borman and produced by award-winning producer Tim VandeSteeg.

“The Eyes of Thailand” tells the true and inspirational story of one woman’s quest to help two elephant landmine survivors—Motala and Baby Mosha—walk on their own four legs. Treating their wounds was only part of the journey; building elephant-sized prostheses was another. Told in the style of “The Cove” (2009), “Born into Brothels” (2004) and “Gorillas in the Mist” (1988), “The Eyes of Thailand” is a touching and uplifting story of how far one woman will go to ease the suffering of an endangered species.

Windy will share production stories from the field, updates on the elephants at the Elephant Hospital in Thailand, as well as share an exclusive never-before-seen “Sneak Peek” of a clip of “The Eyes of Thailand” before it’s released in 2012.

All attendees will receive a complimentary glass of wine.

Donations will be accepted after the presentation and all donations are tax-deductible when made via check or through the Film’s IndieGoGo online fundraising campaign. Donation Perks include: posters, T-shirts, artisan chocolates, fine art, invitations to the Film’s Sneak Peeks, a private screening with the Filmmaker for you and 25 friends–even a chance to Win a FREE 15-day Trip for 2 in Thailand. For more information, please visit: http://www.indiegogo.com/The-Eyes-of-Thailand-Film

Please RSVP by:
Calling the Concierge Desk 925.809.7180 OR
Emailing michelle.medina@trilogyresortliving.com

Founder Charles Knowles kicked off the 10^th Annual Wildlife Conservation Expo with some humor, but then got straight to the point: One out of every 1,000 species are going extinct every year.

“It’s a man-made problem,” said Knowles, “so we need a man-made solution.”

Which is exactly why hundreds, consisting of scientists, conservationists and wildlife supporters, gathered in San Francisco, CA: to find solutions to the rapid decline of wildlife around the world.

Next, Dr. Colleen Begg of the Niassa Lion Project shared a proverb from Mozambique: “You can’t dance well on one leg”. While she was speaking of the synergy and creative problem solving that happens when groups of committed people get together, I couldn’t help but see the connections to Motala and Baby Mosha, two elephant landmine survivors featured in “The Eyes of Thailand” documentary. You can’t dance well on one leg or three legs. I thought. Elephants need all four!
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Michael Wysocki and Motala, an elephant landmine survivor featured in "The Eyes of Thailand" film. (Photo by Michael Wysocki).

Hello, All,

I am happy to introduce a Guest Blogger to “The Eyes of Thailand” community. Michael Wysocki is a new Ele-friend who has the unique experience of volunteering at FAE’s Elephant Hospital in Lampang, Thailand. We welcome Michael to the elephant family and look forward to sharing his on-the-ground updates from FAE, Soraida and the other elephants featured in our film.

And with that, here’s Michael:

Sawadeekrab friends,

My name is Michael Wysocki.  I am part Polish, part Native American, and was born and raised on the tiny traditional islands of America’s Lowcountry where life flowed straight from the saltwater rivers into my veins. When I was eighteen, I ventured off to Australia and studied Environmental Science/ Zoology at James Cook University of Cairns.  Down under I worked as a zookeeper at the Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve… a time in my life when twenty-six Lions, two Cheetah, and one Tiger were my world.  Since then, I have helped train Chimpanzees in New Zealand, built a Primate rescue center in Peru for exploited wild animals, developed wildlife photographs, modeled in NYC, filmed and produced outdoor television programming, and now, at the age of twenty-seven, have made my way to FAE hospital in Lampang, Thailand. I am a simple and humble guy with a complicated heart and a whole heap of instincts, hope, love, and faith that fuel my life.

So follow me and let’s bring awareness to the world about the realities of today’s Asian Elephants and their fight for survival through “The Eyes of Thailand.” I will post photos and write of my days here at FAE hospital, deep in the Jungles of Thailand… a place where I am blessed to witness miracles everyday and happily share them with you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

While most of the United States was busy marking the 10^th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, half a world away, an endangered Asian Elephant suffered a brutal reminder of the ongoing war raging in Burma (Myanmar).

San Francisco, CA – September 13, 2011 – On Sunday, September 11, 2011, the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Hospital, the World’s First Elephant Hospital, located in Lampang, Thailand, received word that PaHaePo, a Thai male elephant, stepped on a landmine across the border in Burma.

After being stranded by high tides and stuck behind fallen trees from heavy rains, PaHaePo arrived at FAE late at night on September 12, 2011. He joins four other elephant landmine victims being treated at FAE’s Elephant Hospital. All five sustained their injuries in August or September, when heavy rainfall encourages low-lying greenery to take over mountainous trails used for logging and transport between villages–and rebel camps. Burma is the only country actively using landmines in its on-going civil war and no one knows whether government or rebel forces planted the landmines.

Soraida Salwala estimates that over 90 elephants have stepped on landmines since she opened FAE in 1993. Many died before they could receive treatment, and FAE has treated 15, rehabilitating four to date. Motala and Mosha, who stepped on landmines in 1999 and 2006, respectively, are permanent residents at FAE and walk with the assistance of the world’s first elephant-sized prostheses. These amazing feats of perseverance and ingenuity are documented in the feature-length documentary, “The Eyes of Thailand” <http://eyesofthailand.com>, Directed and Produced by Windy Borman and Produced by award-winning producer Tim VandeSteeg. “The Eyes of Thailand” is currently in the Post-production phase and scheduled to premiere in early 2012.

While filming “The Eyes of Thailand” in 2010, two new elephant landmine victims arrived at FAE. After 12 months, Boonmee’s foot is still not fully healed, but Maekapae’s has healed enough that her owner checked her out of the hospital the day after PaHaePo arrived.

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/eyesofthailand

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/eyesofthailand

Website: http://www.eyesofthailand.com

Photos: http://twitter.com/SoraidaSalwala

Contact: Windy Borman | windy@dvaproductions.com

Director & Producer, “The Eyes of Thailand”

"The Eyes of Thailand" painting by Los Angeles-based artist Annabel Ruffell. Dimensions: 30 inches x 40 inches Medium: Acrylic/Mixed Media

Sir David Attenborough asks: Are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?

We aren’t at “The Eyes of Thailand” and neither is artist Annabel Ruffell, who has created a new painting, also entitled “The Eyes of Thailand”, which you can bring home when you select the “Ele-Painting” Donation Perk via our IndieGoGo fundraising campaign.

The painting draws inspiration from the Film’s poster and features three of the stars–Soraida Salwala (the founder of FAE’s Elephant Hospital) and two elephant landmine survivors (Motala and Baby Mosha)–walking beneath an ancient Thai teak tree.

“I feel very passionate about supporting ‘The Eyes of Thailand’ [film],” says Ruffell. “Elephants are amazing, intelligent Beings that deserve to live in peace and freedom. They have as much right to this earth as we humans do.”

Annabel Ruffell was born in London, England and grew up in a small town called Ascot, not far from London. She has traveled around the world and lived in Germany, Spain, Australia and South Africa. These experiences have inspired her and are reflected in her art. In 2003, Annabel’s travels led her to Los Angeles, California and she now resides in Santa Monica. Annabel has been painting with acrylics and oils for a number of years now and continues to explore different mediums. Over the years, she has exhibited her art at venues in London and Los Angeles.

“My inspiration comes from all of life; its beauty, its ever-changing form, the light and dark, the extremes it encompasses and all the colors in between,” writes Ruffell. “I have always been fascinated with the power and beauty of color, the merging and mixing of it and the many shades and shapes it can develop into. My intention is to inspire people from all walks of life around the world, with my paintings, prints and greeting cards.”

To learn more about Annabel Ruffell and see her work, please visit: http://www.annabelruffellart.com/

To bring “The Eyes of Thailand” painting into your home, visit our IndieGoGo page and select the “Art For Elephant’s Sake” perk. There’s only one painting available, so act now!

Sincerely,

Windy Borman

Director | Producer, The Eyes of Thailand