northern ireland, not ireland

I wont try to cover the whirl wind of last days at the Big Build.

The last night / one day in Belfast. I took a train to Bangor (pronounced BangHer, Ha.) to wander along the water and get some country views. I figued a tour of Belfast could best be accomplished in a few pubs, I was right. Lindsey and I met up with 2 of her work friends and as we walked to our third pub, one commented we were entering a Catholic chunk of the city, they were Protestant. The pub was perfect with five musicians hunched in a circle in the corner enjoying thier own music as much as the rest of the bar. Two fiddles, 1 guitar, a tin whistle, and a drum. Lidnsey's friends commented 10 years ago they never would have been caught in this bar, I asked if they felt uncomfortable, they said no. But, as the night wore on and the bar thinned out we chatted with the bar tender and the few other drinkers and Lindsey's one friend changed her name on introduction to what she claimed was a less Protestant name than her own.

It was a night of music, whiskey, and a glimpse into a culture and historically segregated past.

NOW: home in vermont, slightly chilled, and with fire in the atumn woods.

sunrises across the world

a camera is the best excuse to force yourself out of bed for the most beautiful part of the day.

behind the scenes

After spending so much time in Peru, I think I have a different view on poverty, or maybe am decesorized. We went on a "poverty tour" today. That means two big tour buses full of people with cameras went to "one of the poorest" Roma communities. Awesome (sarcasim- in case blogging doesn't translate that). I was so excited to see the gypsies at home, but it just didn't feel the same. They've been discriminated for so long- from slaves, to the Holocast, to communism. Forced legalling out of their traveling culture and "given" land, which they do not own and is far enough out of town to stay hidden. Who knows what their culture really is / was, they're just crammed in with "poor" here. There are different kinds of poverty, depending on where you are, maybe they are all equally in need of attention and not meant to be compared. You can't change everything, but if you start some where at least a ripple has been made, don't think about the wouldacouldas, there's too many

When we visited the houses of the Romanian's who are getting the Habitat Houses, all I could think about was - well, they have houses / apartments. Yantalo is full of one room mud houses with dirt floors and 5 or more people in a family sleeping on the floor. But, Habitat does have a good concept, the houses are a "hand up" not a "hand out". Meaning homeowners do have to pay, but this just means they are responsible and show the promise of seceding in the world.

I think in order to make a good film you have to be slightly obsessed with your subject. When they take a drink of water you're scrambling to push record because in your head this is THE moment you need. Of course, hopefully you have a clear enough vision to stop yourself and stick to the story. But, I think you need that slight insanity. Also, I think the best way to understand your job is to do every other position first.

The only reason I'm actually being awesome at this blog stuff is I have to sit here every night while tapes capture, that's at least 2 hours of sit and stare time. And I would like to retract my "sony sucks" statement from the previous post. This camera has been relatively good to me, it deserves more than that.

day 2 construction, feels like day 10

I think I figured out, partially, what it is that fascinates me about gypsies. They seem to exist in a parallel universe, timeless. We followed a woman in neon green, orange, brown, and purple flowing long skirt with headscarf wandering into town, skirt blowing in the wind. I'm happy to say I shot it, from a distance I saw her walk across the main bridge.

Tiles went on the roofs today. Some nice visuals. Also shot the interview of one homeowners, Doru. Pretty much all homeowners were orphans or homeless. Doru now lives at the closed orphanage building. wow, what a sight. Moments like that I really thank people for sharing their stories.

There always seems to be one person who becomes the "do it all helper" for my travel filming. In Peru it's Wuilman, in Romania it's Florian. He received a Habitat home years ago and now works for Habitat, is on the selection committee, drives Lindsey and I around, translates during interviews, practically directs when necessary in Romanian, sets an amazing example around the work site and for the soon to be homeowners. I can't wait to hear his story and where he has come from, because it can't have been a good place, but to me he's at the top now. Um, and please note, shout out goes to the US - Josh - considering he never stops answering my texts, calls, IMs, emails regarding my technical panics over the camera or final cut. PS, Sony sucks.

I've been capturing some of the footage due to the "fun task" of editing together a montage piece at the end of this week. Glad things are looking better on my computer than in the bright sun and dusty viewfinder during the day!


NOTE: didn't figure out how to write captions for photos on the last post. Obviously- the site, me having issues with hard hat plus headphones, and Lindsey (friend who brought me) on top of the hill w/ camera.

winning game of charades

The universal language of the world is charades. I had the winning hand tonight as I mimed for maybe 5 minutes that I wanted to borrow a power strip for the night to the woman at the front desk. There is a major LACK of outlets in pretty much every country other than the US. I gave a full mime show... unfortunately she wasn't laughing. There was a breakthrough moment when I found a power strip behind the fridge and proceed to mime taking it to "bed" with me and "waking up" with it and "returning it". I tried some spanish every now and then just to make myself feel better...didn't work. But, I do have a power strip for the night. I'm not even sure if the woman knew I was staying in her hotel. The language here is the strangest combination. I clearly recognize words from French and Italian, actually sometimes use "Merci" for "thankyou". Unfortunately they don't seem to combine Spanish, although I keep trying. I'm really not sure what to make of it.

Shooting today was, well, overwhelming. One camera (me) is not enough for 300 people and 10 houses- all with the frames going up. Such an amazing day visually. Oh and SO dusty, I think the dustiest situation I've ever had to shoot in (Josh correct me if I'm forgetting!).

Saw gypsies...or Roma...or Ramani... again today. I'm not sure who is staring and smiling harder at whom though. They have the biggest grin and biggest eyes, and as I smile and stare wide eyed at them, they look just as intently back. Hopefully it's a mutual fascination.

Day 3...or wait 4? oh who knows: start with a sunrise then tiling the roofs etc.

gypsies!

Most amazing thing EVER, my hotel has wireless, and the strongest connection EVER! Aside from the disco that shares a wall with our (very nice) room, which blasted music with DJ and flashing lights till 3am, this place is great. I will say I didn't notice the music after my head hit the pillow last night. Tonight it's quite

Arrived to Romania with a full moon rising on the left and a golden sun setting on the right. I kept falling asleep but would force myself awake every two minutes to look at the sights, too beautiful to miss. The landscape and towns aren't necessarily anything to rave about though. Some nice brown and gold fields, hills, corn, and concrete houses with tiled roofs. Girls have big sunglasses and lots of eye liner and boys have that European sports wear on. The only thing that has made my day, my week, my month is I saw gypsies!! Or, I'm pretty sure I did. I mean, horse and wagon and big family. What is it that fascinates me about these people?! The travelers. hmm. They have quite a horrific history, especially in the communist time of Romania and the very unknown tragic tale during the Holocaust.

Anyway, first day of filming went pretty smooth. Quick what the project is: Habitat for Humanity BIG BUILD 2009. 10 houses 1 week 250 volunteers. Most of the new house owners were orphans, they will be working side by side to build the houses with volunteers mainly from Ireland.

We interviewed 3 of the soon to be homeowners and looked at their old / now homes & living conditions. Pretty impossible to imagine editing an interview when it's in a language completely unknown, although we did have a translator.

House frames go up tomorrow, good for a timelapse!

hello Ireland

I think the only time I get to sleep is on planes these days. Arrived in Belfast Ireland this AM. Green fields, sheep, small cars, brick streets, students in uniforms (think Harry Potter!), and my taxi driver calling me 'love' made me feel like all those movies on Ireland are real. Luckily the coffee is strong here and my body is confused enough already that I'm not noticing jetlag. Explored the city a bit (meaning took a bus and walked quickly to breakfast) and then had production meetings with Habitat and Lindsey. 2am tonight the Habitat group meets for a bus ride to Dublin, plane to Budapest (woah I'm going to Hungary!), then 6 hour bus to Romania, arrive 6pm the next day. Again, atleast I'll get some sleep in, no other time.

HEY! look at me, writing in a blog on my travels.