Is there a particular documentary film or filmmaker that had a major influence on your career?
What I love about a great documentary is its ability to be engaging on two levels, combining deep impact with visually compelling cinematography. One film that I believe perfectly encapsulates this better than any I’ve seen is “The Territory,” directed by Alex Pritz and released in 2022. This film explores the lives of indigenous tribes living in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil as they attempt to defend their land from those who wish to destroy and then capitalize on it. The film also takes an interesting turn when the pandemic hits and the footage turns to being recorded by the indigenous tribe, providing both a closer inside look and a new visual perspective for the audience. The filmmakers masterfully intertwine the deep emotional stories of their subjects with breathtaking visuals; this film deeply inspired me as an aspiring filmmaker, and I hope someday I will be able to present stories in ways that have the same impact as films like “The Territory” had on me.
What motivated you to make your impact video?
What initially drew us to Alma de Colores was its warm and welcoming community. We could immediately see the opportunity we had to craft a film that illuminated the voices of the store’s employees. Through our pre-interviews with each of them, we learned that before starting work at Alma de Colores many had been written off by society, refused jobs, left to fend for themselves in a world that didn’t accommodate their needs, and some were even isolated by their families. We found a resounding consensus among them that Alma de Colores not only provided them with work and resources they needed, but also with a loving and supportive community who truly understood them. We made this film so that people could see the impact this organization has had on its workers and the proficiency of individuals with disabilities, and we wanted to bring a hidden story to the spotlight.
Please tell us what camera(s) you shot with primarily – and any other special equipment that you used and why you used it:
We shot primarily with a Sony a7R III, and we had minimal additional equipment on location. Any extra equipment would have made it difficult to mobilize and act on the fly, especially with only four people on our crew and limited space in most of the places we were shooting.
Please tell us about any special styles or techniques that you used during the production of your film to help tell your story.
One stylistic choice we made was in the types of shots we looked for while making the film. Because the name of the restaurant was “Alma de Colores,” which means “Soul of Colors,” before we even thought to title the film “Colorful Souls” we knew we wanted the film to be very colorful to represent the vibrance of the town, the restaurant/store, and the people. It wasn’t hard to find these shots filming in San Juan where there are multi-colored buildings on narrow streets, often decorated with colorful hats, streamers, lanterns, and umbrellas. The camera easily found the many elaborate murals painted on the streets and on sides of buildings, not to mention the red tuk tuks driving past and the intricately designed and made “traje” worn by many Guatemalan women.
How did your story evolve from day one, to the very last day in post? Is your story what you thought it would be?
We faced a lot of limitations and challenges while making this film, and there was a moment there toward the end where we weren’t quite sure if we were going to get it done. The main challenge we faced was in translation. We had amazing interpreters for our interviews, which often involved two lines of translation, from English to Spanish to Tzutujil or Tzutujil Sign Language (the Mayan dialect in San Juan) and back. This meant that our interviews ran as smoothly as they could have, but translating the transcript to create English subtitles had us occupied until the very last moment of post-production. We weren’t sure what to expect from this story, but on day one we were hopeful and excited; we had found this incredible organization with amazing people who had the best stories to tell. As time went on and as we spoke to more and more people, we started to build a good sequence for our film. We were challenged at times with how to tell each part of the story in the most sensitive and representative way possible. We began to care deeply about our subjects, and what started as a group of young filmmakers intrigued by a unique organization in a vibrant town, quickly became a deep exploration into the lives of resilient and overlooked individuals. So when I say we were working until the very last moment, I am not exaggerating.
Please describe the most rewarding experience you had while making this impact video:
Immediately after finishing the first full edit of our film, we showed it in a community screening. Before our film was screened, some of the employees at Alma de Colores went to the front of the room to publicly thank us for telling their story. They also expressed gratitude for our kindness, sensitivity, respect, and patience, and at the end of their speech, which was given in Tzutujil Sign Language and translated into Spanish and then English, as all of our communications during the making of the film had been, they presented us each with gifts hand-made by them.
The experience of making this film and receiving this message of gratitude from the workers at Alma de Colores solidified my commitment to bringing unnoticed stories to light, revealing the power of documentary filmmaking to bridge gaps and foster understanding. Making the film clarified my purpose: to amplify voices that might otherwise remain unheard, an endeavor I am very passionate about continuing. I am excited about the endless world of stories there are to tell about this complex world, and the role that nonfiction media will increasingly play in illuminating truths and setting them free from forces that would otherwise oppress people. I am always on the lookout for those kinds of stories, and I am excited about the possibilities ahead.
What advice can you give to other impact filmmakers?
The number one piece of advice I would give to other impact filmmakers is to be open to new experiences and perspectives. Recognize that the film you are creating is for illuminating your subjects’ stories, and while personal experience can help inform the way you tell that story, impact filmmaking should be a selfless act.
What’s your favorite part about the filmmaking process and why?
My favorite part of the filmmaking process is the specific part of pre-production that allows me to ask any and every question I have about a person, place, or organization without cameras or recorders. I love the relationships and sense of trust you’re able to build during that stage of the process, and you get to build every stage that follows around the data you collect in those conversations.
What’s the one item you always take with you when working out in the field and why?
I always take a small notepad and pen that I use to jot down any thoughts I have while I’m in the field. Sometimes these notes are to remind me to come back and shoot something later, sometimes they’re for questions that I think of on the fly, and sometimes they’re just ideas I have for a specific sequence or editing technique that I don’t want to forget later on.
Please provide a brief description of the work or organization featured in your video:
Alma de Colores, a unique restaurant and store that predominantly employs individuals with disabilities, providing them with a sense of dignity and community through the opportunity to work.
What have you learned about the value and impact of the project?
I expected to find in Alma de Colores an organization that provides work opportunities and necessary resources to individuals with disabilities. On the surface, that seemed to be their main purpose. What I found when I got there is that perhaps the most valuable and impactful thing about the organization was the sense of community, support, and love they have fostered there. That was what the workers valued most about Alma de Colores: the family they get to see every day when they go to work.
Please share a personal story about your experience making this impact video:
During the process of making this film, what made the greatest impact on me were the relationships I built. Just a few days after meeting the workers, most of whom were deaf, we were standing in the workshop when one woman suggested she give each of us a sign for our names. It felt like such a special moment for bridging our language gaps. We could all now call each other by our names. Each name was unique to the individual, having something to do with a particularly notable physical feature or personal characteristic. It made us feel more connected to the people we were working with, and when we tried to soak up every bit of Tzutujil Sign Language as possible while we were there to communicate with them, I know it helped bridge those language barriers and build lasting relationships.
What do you want audiences to take away from this video?
We want audiences to gain a deeper understanding of the value of inclusion and meaningful employment. In making this film we aimed to illuminate unnoticed stories and amplify voices often overlooked by society. By shedding light on the lives of individuals with disabilities working at Alma de Colores, this film seeks to bring attention to their unique experiences, challenges, and resilience. Through this approach, our main goal was to foster greater awareness, understanding, and recognition for marginalized voices, encouraging a shift in perspectives and a more inclusive narrative that embraces diversity.
Please list key points that should be covered in a post-screening discussion:
– Discuss the concept and mission of Alma de Colores as a restaurant and store that predominantly employs individuals with disabilities.
– Discuss how the organization creates a supportive and inclusive work environment for individuals with disabilities.
– Discuss specific instances from the film that highlight the sense of community fostered within Alma de Colores.
– Acknowledge the inclusion of diverse narratives by featuring both Marta and Jorge
– Examine the representation of individuals with disabilities in the film.
– Discuss the importance of promoting inclusivity in the workplace and how the film contributes to raising awareness about this issue.
– Comment on the film’s cinematography, direction, and storytelling techniques.
– Discuss how the visual and narrative elements contribute to conveying the message of the film.
– Encourage discussion on how the audience perceived and connected with the characters and the overall narrative.
– Explore if the film sparked any reflections or changed perspectives on the employment of individuals with disabilities.
What opportunities are available for those interested in getting further involved?
Alma de Colores is now an independent organization that cannot accept donations, but they do often have volunteers that come from all around the world to help out and work at the restaurant and store.
Please provide any additional resources (websites, links to additional videos, forms, articles, etc.) relevant to the context of the issue discussed in your video:
https://cafeyrestaurantealmadecolores.negocio.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral
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