The production industry has brought me to some very exciting places throughout my career thus far, but non more exciting and interesting than my work in film. I worked for some independent feature films for the first couple of projects I was part of, which led to a phone call I will never forget.
Steve Hiller, a well known camera operator in Hollywood and DP I had worked with previously, was hired as the Director of Photography on a documentary film. This film was to be shot on 3 continents, and Steve basically called me and asked if I wanted to "Go Around the World."
There was no question in my mind.
I answered him with a resounding "Yes."
This project landed me in Paraguay (2010), India (2011), and Kenya (2011). I was extremely young, naive, still learning about all things audio, and found myself in the thick of these Third
World Countries with people I hardly knew, running around with a boom microphone and a Sound Devices Recorder.
I learned a lot about myself, location audio, camera operating, film producing, documentary work and life in general while navigating my way through this project and these unfamiliar countries. There were times I felt uncomfortable, exhausted, and feared for my safety. Whether it was driving through a landslide atop the Himalayan Mountains, or walking our way through Kibera (a dangerous slum of over 500,000 people) in Kenya...
These travels remain the most exhilarating moments of my life.
About the film
(taken from the Facebook page)
The Microlending Film Project (title TBD) is an independent, global, feature-length documentary that will present a balanced and comprehensive picture of micro finance as told through the experiences of four different women, each on four different continents, each working with micro finance in her own way.
Paraguay
about the trip
Paraguay was the first time I traveled outside of the United States. We spent one month in the capital of Asuncion and it's surrounding areas. We followed two families day in and day out during that time, both on the receiving end of micro loans, as small as $25. These women started businesses, helped support their families, and remain some of the hardest working people I've ever encountered.
India
About the Trip
India was the second leg of shooting for the documentary, we arrived in Mumbai. We continued to travel all over India, taking flights to the North, South, East, and West regions, even taking a 4 hour train ride to New Delhi. We drove days into the Himalayan Mountains, and drove through a land slide that very well could have knocked us off the mountain on our way back down. This trip also lasted one month, and what felt like we saw every corner of India.
Kenya
Photo by Steve Hiller
About the TRip
We spent out time in Kenya in and around Nairobi. We followed the tech side of the financial industry there, believe it or not, everyone had cell phones no matter how poor. The trip was the final leg of our trips and it was yet another eye opening experience. We navigated our way to one of the largest slums in the world, and learned about a whole different side of the planet.
Photo by Steve Hiller
Photo by Steve Hiller
Photo by Steve Hiller
The Microlending Film PRoject
The film was about Micro Finance for Female entrepreneurs in third world countries. Here is a sample below, though not the film in its entirety.