Throughout the past 4 years I have continued to play soccer and of course, watch my favorite teams play. I’m always looking forward to the World Cup not just because of the games themselves but also because of the great feelings that are generated by the game here in Toronto. Being a cosmopolitan city, each community displays their flags whenever their team plays and fans of each nationality spill on to the streets and close down roads when their teams win. But regardless of who wins or loses, fans of all cultures and nationalities join in the street parties in a peaceful and respectful matter. It’s quite a sight to see and one that is probably unique to Toronto. The amount of people that join in and participate is staggering.Having talked to friends who have attended the World Cup the message is always the same. The atmosphere in and outside of the stadiums and throughout the host city is unbelievable. But they are most impressed with the togetherness that is displayed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8vzVmqOVuI&hd=1
"Feel the Game”
My Name is Joseph DeBenedictis and I’m a singer/songwriter or more commonly referred to as a ‘starving artist’. I am also just completing my degree in Radio & Television Arts at Ryerson University in Toronto. This is another tough industry that has been hit by the lack of advertising revenues. Although I have put out many resumes for work when I finish school next month, I have not been able to find any consistent work, which has led to this project.
Throughout the past 4 years I have continued to play soccer and of course, watch my favorite teams play. I’m always looking forward to the World Cup not just because of the games themselves but also because of the great feelings that are generated by the game here in Toronto. Being a cosmopolitan city, each community displays their flags whenever their team plays and fans of each nationality spill on to the streets and close down roads when their teams win. But regardless of who wins or loses, fans of all cultures and nationalities join in the street parties in a peaceful and respectful matter. It’s quite a sight to see and one that is probably unique to Toronto. The amount of people that join in and participate is staggering.
Having talked to friends who have attended the World Cup the message is always the same. The atmosphere in and outside of the stadiums and throughout the host city is unbelievable. But they are most impressed with the togetherness that is displayed. People of all nationalities enjoy each other’s company and make lifelong friends. I was inspired to write a soccer song based on this great peace message that the game creates. Shortly after having written the song in 2006, I learned of a documentary film that was in the making that expressed my feelings and thoughts about the power of the game and its potential to bring people together from all around the world in a peaceful manner. The theme of that film was to use the game of soccer to resolve world conflict rather than go to war.
As impossible as that idea might be, the real message in the film was to bring awareness to people in North America of how this great game and the World Cup is a giant peace rally through the game of soccer. I sent the director my song and he was delighted to use it to close the film. The film is a half hour documentary that has been shown in short film festivals around the world and won some awards. If you get a chance to see it, it’s called “Make Goals, Not War”. It would certainly be a nice addition to any soccer banquet or event.
With another World Cup around the corner I thought that I could re-issue the song and its message and help generate some income while also helping a worthwhile cause. My plan is as follows. I would like to put together a music video for the song that would be put up on the internet through “You Tube” and hopefully be viewed by thousands of people around the world. In the video I would generate revenue by selling sponsorship space to community organizations and corporate sponsors by including their logo in the music video before/ just after, or during the song in a tasteful manner. I am also talking to different charity organizations including Right to Play, World Vision, UNICEF etc. to see if they can help promote the video while I also donate a portion of the revenues to them to help them raise funds.
Before I approach sponsors to pay for their logos on the video, I wanted to guarantee a certain amount of hits of the video by working with groups that helped me promote my song back in 2006 in one way or another. You were one such organization and I thank you for that. Here is what I’m prepared to offer you and your organization. If you put my video up on your web site’s home page during the World Cup, I will include your company’s or organization’s logo in the video at NO CHARGE (FREE). There is no need for you to worry about the video and how your organization or company is portrayed in the video because it will be based on the song, which will promote the game and all its uniting powers as mentioned above.
Hopefully, people around the world will see that your group is behind such endeavors and shed a good light on your organization or company. Also, I’m positive that your members or employees will be proud that your group will support such a cause. Enclosed in this e-mail package will be the following attachments:
1) The words to the song,
2) An article on the song that appeared in a local newspaper in 2008. (I performed the song live at a soccer event right after a screening of the film, “Make Goals, Not War”).
Of course, I would prefer if someone like Bono or a better singer would sing my song, but I’ve done my best to try to write a soccer song with a good message. So far a number of organizations and individuals have agreed to take my offer and I hope that you will agree to join in as well. So far these groups have all agreed in principle to join in. (Inside Soccer Magazine, JMT METROSPORT-The Soccer Store, Soccer Italia Magazine, Soccer 360 Magazine, Toronto Cup International Tournament, Pickering Soccer Club, BC Soccer Association, Fundamental Soccer, Free Kick magazine and more) If by chance, this endeavor turns out to be a major success or lead to a windfall in the future, I’ll give you my word to make a donation back to your organization for your help in getting me started.
I appreciate your interest. Once I have enough support to guarantee good viewership; I’ll be contacting other groups and businesses for financial support. My goal is to start soliciting groups for financial help by the third week in April, shoot the video by mid-May and have it ready for the 2010 World Cup Kick-Off. If you are in, just e-mail me back the good news and send me the logo you would like to have included in my video.
Thanks,
Joseph DeBenedictis
