New film “Ana’s Playground” On location in Cedar-Riverside

by Sid Pranke
published November 17, 08

“People need to know that 2,000 hildren are killed or injured in war everyday. And that one in ten combatants is a child.”—Twin Cities filmmaker Eric Howell

Raven Bellefleur

Over the past five years, writer/director Eric Howell has been on a mission to raise awareness of how millions of children are ravaged by war. With over 300,000 children under the age of 18 fighting in armed conflicts worldwide, Howell and others were determined to make a film about it.

The result of that effort is “Ana’s Playground,” a short film with an award-winning script to be shot on location outside a high-rise in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood—home to many Somali refugees, among thousands who have settled in the Twin Cities since Somalia’s civil war erupted in 1991.

Howell, 37, moved back to the Twin Cities from Los Angeles because he believed it was important to make the film in our community—one that grasps the importance of developing and supporting projects to protect children. Howell’s film career has taken him to war zones and refugee camps from Jordan to Africa. He also has worked on numerous feature films, including “North Country,” “Fargo” and “The Mighty Ducks.” His script for “Ana’s Playground” won the screenplay award at the Los Angeles Film Festival—winners here often go on to receive Oscar nominations. Joel and Ethan Coen, who have been shooting their latest project, “A Serious Man,” here in the Twin Cities, have donated the use of sets to Howell’s film. With his producing partners, Marsha Trainer and Jillian Nodland, Howell will begin shooting the film on Nov. 17.

Set in a non-specific, war-torn country, “Ana’s Playground” examines children living and dying in a world of armed conflict. The story is told through the eyes of a young girl who is unexpectedly forced into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with a sniper. The lead actress playing 13-year-old Ana is Ravan Bellefleur, who has been acting since age 5. Bellefleur has appeared in productions at the Guthrie and Children’s Theatre Company.

After completion, the short film will be screened at film festivals around the country. “The better the film is, the bigger the audience it reaches and the more good we do,” Howell said. “We are not going to change the world. But at least [we] get people [to] think about kids and war. And if you can get somebody to think and have a conversation, maybe we have something.”

The completed project and any proceeds will be donated to child soldier relief charities, making donations to the project tax-deductible. “Public awareness is essential for organizations … to continue the important work of stabilizing the lives of children who will one day become the adult population,” Howell said. For more information, see anasplayground.com.