Wilson Dana

Lunik IX
Imagine being forcibly relocated to a deprived and cramped estate where you share your room with 15 others. Your local school is caged, jail-like behind steel bars. Donated sheet metal forms its walls; windowless passageways connect its classrooms. Lunik IX on the outskirts of Kosice, eastern Slovakia. The largest Roma ghetto in central Europe, Lunik IX was thrown together in 1981 as a solution to the municipality's problem with the homeless, tenants unable to pay rent and persons deemed “unable to adapt socially.” But behind the steel bars of its kindergarten, something stirs that carves through the air of the ghetto's notoriety. This school is an oasis for a chosen few within the virtually post-apocalyptic wasteland. Some of the city's most artistically gifted children come from this kindergarten and the fruits of their crafts line the walls of the interior. Through the children’s eyes, 'Lunik IX' is a journey into their vivid, shimmering refuge.

Dana Wilson is a Canadian photojournalist who has produced documentaries in Kenya, Uganda, the UK and the Czech Republic. Her most recent, ‘Trial of a Child Denied’ was broadcast on CNN and has screened at festivals in London, New York and Glasgow (2009). Her short film, ‘The Pig Farm’ was screened at Raindance 2008. She is the managing director of Mortal Coil Media. Dana Wilson has assisted in the production of several films shown on the international festival circuit, most recently ‘Sick’ a 35mm short drama about depression and 'WMD' a feature political thriller. In 2005, she produced a documentary for Transport for London aimed at breaking down barriers between bus drivers and city residents and the following year an educational documentary in Kenya and Uganda examined the spread of AIDS along the northern transport corridor. Her documentary on the coerced sterilization of Roma women in the Czech Republic was broadcast on CNN in July 2008. She was the photo editor of The Prague Post for more than two years and freelances as a photojournalist for publications that include The Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post, Alberta Views Magazine and Marketplace. Filmography: Producer and Stills Photographer - Lunik IX: Ghetto flowers of the Frontier’, Trial of a Child Denied’, CNN, New York Gypsy Festival, Document 6), The Pig Farm, CZE (Raindance Film Festival), Transport for London DVD, Polar Media, UK (Aug 2005 - Feb 2006), ‘Nova’, Agent Empire Productions, CAN (2004), Assistant Producer and Stills Photographer - ‘WMD’, Patchwork Productions, UK (December 2007 – present), ‘The Highway of Hope’, ITF/Parachute Pictures, KEN & UGA (2006), ‘SICK’, EgoProject and & Patchwork Productions, London, UK (2005-07), (Winner 10th annual Wandsworth Film Award for Script, official selection International Short Film Festival in Lille), Photo Editor and Photojournalist - The Prague Post (Jan 2003–March 2005), The Calgary Sun (March 21, 2001 - November 2002).

Highly motivated and adaptable professional, with work experience in over 12 countries in documentary filmmaking, corporate video production and photojournalism. WORK HISTORY PRODUCER Transport for London DVD, Polar Media, UK (Aug 2005 - Feb 2006) Worked exclusively with the director in production scheduling, organising and supervising the 14-day shoot, as well as interviewing and liaising with contributors for the 5-section XD corporate training DVD. ‘Nova,’ Agent Empire Productions, Calgary, CAN (2004) Official Selection Yorktown Film & Video Festival Worked solely with the director on the production schedule, logistics and locations, casting, set design and make-up for the mini-DV 12-minute short film. ASSISTANT PRODUCER AND STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER ‘The Highway of Hope’, International Transport Federation/Parachute Pictures, KEN & UGA (2006) Worked exclusively with the director in organising the 6-week documentary production in east Africa. Was the principal researcher and stills photographer. Also in charge of the production schedule, logistics, locations, interview subjects and shot-listing of the mini-DV footage. ‘SICK’, EgoProject and & Patchwork Productions, London, UK (2005) Winner 10th annual Wandsworth Film Award for script and SlaM NHS trust grant Worked with the director and producer on logistics, locations, cast and crew organisation for the 35-mm short film to be released in 2007. PHOTO EDITOR AND PHOTOJOURNALIST The Prague Post, Prague, CZE (Jan 2003–March 2005) Joined as an intern in January 2003. Secured a full-time staff photographer position, and promoted to photo editor within 7 months. Worked closely with editors, writers and the design department to ensure engaging images for the award-winning weekly broadsheet, tabloid, and glossy special supplements. Coordinated daily assignments and ensured all deadlines were met. Responsible for shooting news, feature and business, scanning or downloading images and preparing them for press. Maintained up-to-date weekly web images. The Calgary Sun, Calgary, CAN (March 21, 2001 - November 2002) Became the first paid intern at the 75,000-circulation daily and regular freelancer. Shot news, sports and features for the city’s only tabloid. Edited, scanned and submitted images with full captions to meet daily deadlines. STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER, CORPORATE AND FILM Nokia commercial, Polar Media, London, UK (2006) ‘Life XP’, Director Justin Trefgarne, London, UK (2006) ‘Wooden Soul’, Ponder Productions, London, UK (2005) ‘Sophia’, Symerra Productions, Calgary, CAN (2003) ‘Nova’, Agent Empire Productions, Calgary, CAN (2003) EVENT PRODUCER The Tvrz Experience, Prague, CZE (Sept 2004) Located a 15th century castle in the Czech countryside, supervised clean-up, catering, logistics and media coverage of the 2-day festival featuring DJs and bands from Scotland, the U.S. and Czech Republic. FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHIC EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Christian Science Monitor (USA), Business Week (USA), Marketplace (USA), Still Pictures (UK), Barcroft Media (UK), Time (USA), Marie Claire (USA), The Washington Post (USA), Calgary Herald (CAN), Vancouver Sun (CAN), Edmonton Sun (CAN), Spectrum Pictures (CZE), Club Magazine Prague (CZE), Image Kustannus Oy (FIN), Baltimore Sun (USA), Gelderlande (HOL), Koti ja Keittio Magazine (FIN), Transition (SWE), San Diego City Beat (USA), Reform Judaism (USA), Daily Mirror (UK), Sports Illustrated (CAN), United Way (CAN), Daily Star (UK), Red Deer Advocate (CAN), FFWD Magazine (CAN), Kemira (FIN), Alberta Views Magazine (CAN) HIGHLIGHTS BEST OF EUROPEAN DESIGN: Two awards of excellence for eight section fronts in years 2003 and 2004 EVENT-COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS: Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union, Nairobi, 2006; Sanofi Aventis Conference, Tenerife, 2006; IPRA Summit, London, 2006; Bush/Putin Summit, Bratislava, 2005, War in Iraq, Baghdad 2004; San Fermin festival, Pamplona 2003; Roma settlement, Svinia, 2003; visit of Pope John Paul II, Bratislava 2003; retirement of Czech president Vaclav Havel and inauguration of Vaclav Klaus, Prague 2003; G8 summit, Calgary 2002; World Petroleum Congress, Calgary 2001 SKILLS 35mm film and digital format photography Macintosh OS X (10.3.9), Photoshop CS, Dreamweaver, Quark Xpress 4.0, InDesign 2.0, MS Word, MS Excel and Final Cut Pro 2.0 Intermediate Iyengar yoga and beginner Vipassana meditation EQUIPMENT Own Nikon D2X and an iBook in addition to a variety of lenses including a 20-55Dmm F2.8, a 70-200mm F2.8, SB 28, SB 80 and SB 800 flashes, and a Voightlander Bessa R2 with 35mm and 70mm lenses EDUCATION Journalism Arts Diploma 1999–2001, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Bachelor of Kinesiology 1991–1996, University of Calgary