Twenty-five years ago no one could have fathomed the impact that HIV and AIDS would have on the global population. Today, we stand equally baffled as to how, when and if we can put a stop to the brushfire reaction of this disease. While we may not have the answers today, we are finally beginning to ask the right questions.

In '3 Needles,' Thom Fitzgerald takes a dramatic look at how miseducation continues to fuel the spread of HIV and AIDS worldwide. "In North America and Europe we have such a cognitive awareness of how not to spread AIDS," says Fitzgerald. "But in much of the rest of the world, people are innocently infected through ignorance and cultural practice."

Black Voices recently had a chance to dig deeper with Fitzgerald on the new film, '3 Needles,' and his hopes for reaching out to the revolutionary that lives inside all of us.

BV: We all know that HIV and AIDS still affects millions of people each year. Not only does it affect the people who are infected, but there is a social and economic impact that is present. Many film directors have taken a stab at conveying this message. Tell us about your unique approach in visiting three countries to document the lives of individuals who are living in these circumstances.

TF: My goal was to shed my own narrow, wrong ideas about the pandemic. Experts working with AIDS in America will agree that most people haven't moved past our outdated ideas associating AIDS with gay men. Even if we've moved on intellectually we haven't emotionally. So I was looking for the true face of AIDS. Of course, there is no one face. But if you did want to reduce all the people with aids to one face, it would be female, and young, and poor.

BV: Are people being properly educated as to the myths and facts of HIV/AIDS? In making this movie did you find that there are still numerous misconceptions about the virus?

TF: I don't think people have been educated in appropriate ways at all. Strategies that worked for us have failed the people of Southern Africa. I think we went to Africa and told everyone that a condom would protect them. Everyone I met knew that a condom would protect them. But they didn't actually have any condoms. We neglected that part. Also, sexual violence plays an enormous role in the spread of AIDS. Women and children are widely subject to rape in many countries, so abstinence and faithfulness are not options. The status of women and children must be included in a much more holistic approach to fighting aids if we have any hope of succeeding. In rural South Africa among 25-29 year olds, there are 3 women with HIV for every man with HIV.

BV: What impact do you hope to have on the HIV/AIDS community by sharing your vision through ‘3 Needles?’

TF: I hope that by showing a number of perspectives on one virus, it will get us all thinking about changing our approach to prevention to include the voices and ideas of the most affected people. I also hope to help, a little bit, people to take their old ideas and baggage about AIDS and let go. Before making the film I never would have thought about ancient tribal religious practices spreading aids... unsafe circumcision. I was unaware of the incredibly high rate of child rape. Our collective North American experience of AIDS is valid and important but we also need to now recognize that gay sex transmissions represent a tiny fraction of the epidemic.

BV: Do you have an opinion on the recent Democratic takeover in the House and how this will affect progress for the HIV/AIDS activist community? How will this takeover impact policies such as the Ryan White CARE Act?

TF: I love [the] Democratic party but neither major U.S. party has a great track record on AIDS. Copyright laws are horrendous. The government should do so much more. I can remember activists screaming that once we got Ronald Reagan out of office, we would be able to stop AIDS. It's political rhetoric. The public can no longer hope the government or drug companies or religious leaders to take care of this problem on our behalf. It clearly isn't their priority.

BV: Does cinema have a powerful influence on the public? Do movies like 3 Needles inspire people to become active in joining the movement to educate others and support issues surrounding the treatment and cure of the HIV/AIDS virus?

TF: A movie is just a movie. I'm happy some AIDS charities will be able to raise funds with the film because I know how tough it has become for them to raise funds. I think if the film is seen by a few million people, maybe ten people might be so moved that they will be motivated to act. And maybe one of those people will have a revolutionary idea.