Tuesday January 18th
We didn't meet for film workshop on Monday because the girls had appointments with a doctor. And on Friday we didn't have workshop because I wasn't feeling well. So our only workshop this week took place on Tuesday, and it was a fantastic day.
I had booked a screening room at the independent cinema Ocho Y Medio in Quito and programed six short films about significant moments in life. The girls arrived, packed into a small van, and each greeted me and Shannon with a kiss upon entering the building. Once in the screening room, I passed out slips of paper with a few questions: What is a moment that stands out to you (from any of the films)? What is an image that stands out to you? A sound? And then a space for questions and additional notes.
When the projection began, the girls were excited and chatty, calling out responses to the first few images on the screen. And then, all was quiet. It happened. They were totally engrossed in the film. The rest of the screening continued like that. Even baby Miguel was tranquilo.
One of the films we screened, Irma, is a documentary about an older woman who was a successful luchadora and singer-songwriter in Mexico. The girls sang along with the song in the film and were singing it even after the screening had ended.
At the end of the screening, I asked the girls to take a few moments to look at the slip of paper (with questions) and jot down their thoughts. One of the filmmakers, Gabriela Calvache, then joined us for a Q & A. I knew that the girls were interested in the films and I knew they had questions, but I thought the chances of anyone actually asking a question during the Q & A were fifty-fifty.
As it turned out, everyone was too shy to ask a question, but Gabi talked about why she had made her film, En Espera (about an indigenous girl who has to work as a domestic servant instead of being able to go to school). She also talked a bit about the process of making a film.
Well for me everything was striking. It was very lovely.
What struck me was having a grandma who was a luchadora, a girl who was sweeping and the downpour.
I liked all of it, what the people did, from a grandma who was singing to a woman who learned of the death of her mom.
It seemed like the girls enjoyed the outing. Immense thanks to Carla, Mariana, and everyone at Ocho Y Medio. Same to filmmakers Ana Cristina Barragan, Gabriela Calvache, Charles Fairbanks, and Juliana Fanjul; and the staff at the safehouse. And thanks to Chris, Shannon, and Anne for helping me get everything ready, plus Erika, Shawnecee (thanks for taking the pictures, too!), and Belen for coming.
Next up: Creating production company names and logos for their upcoming films (which will be screened at Ocho Y Medio on February 21st) and finishing gathering sounds for their map soundscapes.
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