Purple Field Productions is a charity set up to make films and videos for educational and humanitarian purposes. For each project, Purple Field Productions works in partnership with a collaborator - usually a small charity or NGO that works in the field and sees the need for a film, but cannot afford to make one themselves. The collaborator contributes knowledge of the subject and of the community; Purple Field Productions provides the filmmaking skills and equipment.

In 2007, PFP's founder, Elspeth Waldie, was looking into potential collaborators based in Malawi and found our website on the internet. PFP contacted Temwa to ask us if we were interested in making an HIV/AIDS film with them. Needless to say, we agreed and it was the start of an exceptionally happy partnership.

After much groundwork, the PFP crew spent roughly two months in Malawi filming and editing, with post production and final editing carried out back in the UK.  The film is called ‘Banthu Ngati Ise' (‘People Like Us' in Chitumbuka, the local language spoken in Northern Malawi) and it documents the experience of living with HIV though interviews with three HIV positive people living in Usisya.

The film is aimed at reducing the stigma against those that are HIV positive as well as spreading information about the disease itself, including ways of transmission and methods of treatment. Temwa will be using the DVD as an HIV/AIDS awareness tool and is already getting a very positive response. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first film of its kind to be made in Chitumbuka and is a far more effective way to engage local people and get these life-saving messages across.

Temwa are honoured to have worked with PFP and we hope to work with them again in the future. 

www.purplefieldproductions.org