Well things got really busy once we hit Week 3 and began official filming. There just aren’t enough hours in the day for planning, filming, getting from one part of Ecuador to another, reviewing footage, taking pictures, sitting down to eat once or twice a day, and, well, you get the idea.
The TECHO crew hit the streets and kept the camera rolling.And it was back out to the villages where TECHO builds houses a few times to interview beneficiaries, follow their characters, and catch a gathering of volunteers and locals.There was to be a shoot at the local university but, well, sometimes these things don’t work out.The FCT crew headed up to the mountains to film with the locals near the cloud forest.Many hours were spent traversing muddy, boot-sucking paths through the forest.Did I mention it was an overnight trip in the mountains? With fancy homemade dinner and all?And we met the bear camera.
When shooting week wrapped the editors were already hard at work. The rest of the crew shifted gears to translations, finding media, and interview selects.
Many hours were spent in front of the editing computers.Seriously, many hours.Stories were reworkedand reworked again.Somewhere the US national team tied Portugal in the World Cup.
Many awesome cuisines were had in the last week as well.
First off was the Guac Off. Five pairs of people, five teams, five creatively different types of guacamole.With all entries fairly judged against each otherOne team, one guac had to win.
And then a fine lunch…
Tiesto’s fine dining!
And a fine dinner at La Cucharra Magica…
with song…with celebration…with magic…and laughter.
Everything came together for one final evening gathering at a fine cafe on the river Tomebamba known as Republica Sur.
The films were greatand the crowd was good.Crews had a final farewell with their changemakers.New friends will not be soon forgotten.And there was much celebration.
You can ask the crew members about that wild swing day that didn’t quite fit into this post.
On every Actuality Media program we take a morning or afternoon aside from the main project to put the crew together, filming on a set for the first time. It’s a great time to field questions that would otherwise interrupt the main project, and always a fun time.
The TECHO crew got their practice day early to film the Colecta event. There was not early event that need be filmed for the FCT crew, so we paid a visit to the very friendly, oft-shopped at jewelry store down the street.
With no prep work, and just a little time to get ready, it’s up to the Cinematographer to start getting coverage right away while the Director works up a story.The compact size of the jewelry store, as well as the many, many decorations hanging from different points of the ceiling made quite the challenge for the crew – both to all fit in one space, as well as to get the sound coverage desired.For the sit down interview everyone gathered behind Professor DeMil who helped translate (and later volunteered to be the on camera customer)With main filming done, crew members also had the opportunity to try their hand at different roles. The Director with lighting…and the Editor behind the camera.Then a wrap with an exterior shot.
Unfortunately after shooting was done, our subject let it be known he didn’t really want to be on the internet. The shoot was really an exercise, and the important part was getting through it together. However, the Editor was able to put together a very fine cut and after a private screening with our subject he gave the okay to put the video online. So without further adieu…
En route to ziplining!Gearing up.Gearing up.Ready to go!First line – didn’t quite make it to the end.Success!Going on down the lines.Going on down the lines.Going on down the lines.Going on down the lines.Going on down the lines in a different fashion.Incoming!Going on down the lines.Going on down the lines.Off we go!Ready for takeoff.Coming in for a landing.All in one piece and ready to head to the hot springs!
When a once a year event happens before you should start filming, you don’t ignore it – you make it a learning exercise and get a little footage.
Locals go by Ecuadorian time, so arriving on time meant we beat everyone else. The crew sat out the rain on the cathedral steps.
Dawn came quickly and the camera started rolling as the TECHO volunteers began to gather in Parque Calderon. The groups quickly split off into country-themed crews and began heading out to different parts of the city.The crew situated themselves at the center of activities, poised to shoot (and reshoot, for practice) as the Colecta progressed.And then, they took to the streets.After a break to review the mornings footage, the crew returned to Parque Calderon to take things from another angle.The crew learned from their practice, learned from what they could capture with the camera, and had extra guidance from Señor Boulton.Things were exciting.Wait, what country are we in again? (Each Colecta crew had a different country theme. The film crew paid Mexico a visit in Parque San Blas)In the late afternoon the crews (film and TECHO) converged on Parque de la Madre.Though there was rain, the building of a sample TECHO house proceeded, and so did filming.When the house was completed there was much rejoicing.Filming continued as the night descended and lights came on.The concert celebration progressed, and only when the crew decided they had all that they needed did we call it a wrap for the day.
Most mornings begin with a briefingThen crews head out to lunch.Then head off to meet with their changemakers.Sometimes they meet up at the Fundación Cordillera Tropical office.Sometimes the crews head in a different direction through Cuenca.Plan as much as they might, sometimes locals are on Cuenca time (i.e. late) – it’s very similar to Guatemala time, lake time, Pura Vida time, etc.Still, the crews press on and research continued.The TECHO crew even joined in on preparing art for the big TECHO event of the year.Of course it was fun starting to get to know everybody, whether it was changemakers…or meeting locals.
Goodbyes are sometimes hard, and yet, necessary. Tampa is home to many people and places that are important to me but I could not be more excited to embark on this adventure. Working with TECHO in Cuenca will serve as a great opportunity to not only shed light on an organization that helps shelter the people of its country, but also promotes youth volunteerism, an underutilized service in Latin American countries. It is this volunteerism that serves as the foundation for which TECHO provides a roof for its country.
DOCUMENTARY ABROAD: ECUADOR 