Press Release:
Bangladesh TV – news report of Bangladeshi TV was shoot by mystification
author Filip Remunda for Czechia against Poverty campaign
(Prague, 29 January 2015) A TV report of Bangladesh TV linking OP Prostejov fall and collapse of
the textile factory Rana Plaza in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which was published less than a month ago by
Deník Referendum and within short time gathered 110,000 visits on YouTube channel, was created
by Czech documentary director Filip Remunda for international campaigns action/ 2015 and
Czechia against Poverty as part of activities of the European Year for Development 2015 (EYD2015).
Within the context of actions for eradication of extreme poverty is one of the goals to highlight the
global context of the unsatisfactory state of human rights in textile production in the countries of the
global South, where daily wage of 1 EUR is not rare. Also it points out how it is connected with
decline of traditional textile production in Europe. During EYD2015 campaign will further highlight
the need to establish standards to ensure decent living and working conditions in all corners of the
planet.
Tomáš Tožička from Czechia against Poverty campaign says to this: "Why we have chosen way of
mystifying campaign? We want to show that we can be connected across continents by events that
seem to be far away. And this is exactly role of medias and news to deliver to us such information.
However, since the news are becoming more and more banal and stereotyped, exaggeration and
humor is an appropriate form how to hold up a mirror to them as well as to bring relevant
information into the public space. Our clips TV Botswana and now Bangladesh TV show that we are
successful in our effort."
Petr Mares from NGO NaZemi adds: "One of the consequences of so-called "optimizing
production costs" is a massive displacement of clothing production to developing countries.
The vast majority of clothing companies that have moved their production does not meet
safety or working conditions level. They care mainly about speed of delivery and profit. No
wonder then that the factory collapse, though for different reasons. In Bangladesh it is due to
totally unsatisfactory technical condition of factories and irresponsibility of their owners, in
Prostejov probably thanks to often mentioned competitiveness. It is simply the result of
irresponsible behavior of corporations and because their resignation to sustainable
production. Employees of apparel factories all over the world are basically in the same boat,
under the pressure of the invisible hand of the market to which can not face alone."
The spot was shot by director Filip Remunda in collaboration with prominent Czech filmmakers and
artists. Co-writer is Matouš Outrata (eg. the editor of films Muži v říji, Long Live the Family! or cycle
Czech Century). Production work took Martin Kořínek, who worked on the movies Dark Blue World
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or Lovers and murderers, music is composed by Tomáš Kelar from group MidiLidi and TV Bangladesh
corporate graphic design and logo was created by Lukáš Francl.
"Just before blasting OP Prostejov buildings I was considering that the picture of the demolition of our
largest textile factory could inspire documentary movie about tunneling practices of Czech thieves
who are twenty-five years disguise themselves as managers. Finally, I have decided to invest such
mighty picture in Bangladesh TV spot. From my point of view, it is a friendly mystification. All of my
creative efforts were directed to the resulting shape what most resembled the television broadcast
from Bangladesh. All other information in the spot are true. The role of special reporter is even
played by Nadirah Mujumdar, the first Bangladeshi TV reporter - a woman. All interviewed former
employees OP Prostejov, including Prostejov councilor and former MP Pavel Smetana, are real
characters who in the spot speak for themselves," adds Remunda.
The spot is available here: youtu.be/fA7mj7c5rYQ
For more information about campaign and spot please visit: www.bangladeshTV.cz or
www.ceskoprotichudobe.cz.
Educon [www.educon.cz], Czechia against Poverty campaign [www.ceskoprotichudobe.cz],
NaZemi [www.nazemi.cz] a Ekumenicka akademie [www.ekumakad.cz]
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