Second Issue (P. 3)

We welcome our new contributors and we thank everyone involved in the production and distribution of this new issue! Contributing Editor Sabrina Johnson, devoted to covering social issues for several newspapers brings her composite European-American culture to the pages of Daria! Ms. Johnson takes a close look at the life and legacy of Prima Ballerina Aluca Maria Moldoveanu (p. 79). She follows-up with an update of Producer/Director David Winters’ film, "The King Maker" (p. 87) and she delivers a sophisticated and comprehensive critique of "Punctured Hope" (p. 46) the, now completed, Bruno Pischiutta feature film, previously introduced in Daria!’s Premiere Issue. Additionally, designated by Vogue as the best living tailor in the world, Ms. Johnson explores Giovanni Camera’s (p. 22) life and the intricate secrets of his ascent to distinction during an interview at his atelier in Rome, located half way between Via Veneto (of “La Dolce Vita” fame) and 16th century park Villa Borghese.

I had the pleasure of meeting Daniele Albinger a couple of months ago, while in Monte Carlo. An artist herself (professional photographer), she writes a graceful and evidently knowledgeable rendition on the life and artistic influence of her long time friend and renowned Photographer Giorgio Majno (p. 37), after interviewing him at his home in Via Morosini, located about a kilometer from Milan's Gothic Duomo Cathedral. Ms. Albinger also dedicates spending an afternoon with "Rising Star" Singer/Actress Kinga Peterfy (p. 26) over lunch in Monaco, for a candid interview for Daria!

While in Africa last year, I met a young vivacious, inquisitive and talented journalist, Emily Bowers, who was stationed in Ghana for a few months and who was working as a freelance writer for several press agencies, amongst which Reuters. She contributes two reports to this issue. First, she interviews Toronto Pictures’ five newly contracted Ghanaian “Rising Stars” Actors: Belinda Siamey, Ruffy Quansah, Frost Asiedu, Tonye Akagbo and Seayram Esamboye (p. 72), as they begin their journey towards a new lifelong adventure of self-fulfillment, self-discovery and hard work with the goal of achieving their dream. She then engages in initiating a discussion aimed at eradicating TROKOSI (the practice advocating that young virgin girls be taken from their homes, usually with their families’ approval, in order to be enslaved in a fetish shrine - subject of the film "Punctured Hope") by addressing community leaders from the Human Rights and Administrative Justice Commission, the Ghanaian Parliament and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (p. 28) in Ghana. She asks them what strategies they believe should be considered, in order to eradicate this practice and if they think the release of the film will prove to be beneficial in achieving this objective.

Contributing Editor Jane Delson, follows up on the progress of the Toronto Pictures Film Academy in Ghana (p. 92) by interviewing C.E.O. and Writer Kingsley Obed. She also has the opportunity to talk to Engineer and Project Manager Horea G. Trifu, who describes the details of a project designed to implement the progressive development of infrastructure of the Village of Kpobikofe (p. 63). It is estimated that 10% of the proceeds of "Punctured Hope", which have been designated to be donated to the village, will fully finance this project. D

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