GAIA VF « Dan Viens

Posts Tagged ‘GAIA VF’

Finally Out From Under

Saturday, April 4th, 2009

We’ve been back from Mali for just over two months. In that time I’ve been consumed by work that wasn’t the Africa stuff.

Since returning I’ve:

shot and edited my friends fashion show
edited another friends wedding that I shot last April in The Bahamas
cut On The Wing down to 23 minutes from my friend who composed the score so he could play the music live to a shortened version of the film at his doctoral recital
used a slightly different 26 minute cut of the film to send to a national distributor
logged 3 hours of footage I shot about a different mural project going on in Portland
Where I
created a DVD out of the OBAMAKO concert footage for the band that played and sent the DVD to France
created a school-friendly DVD of On The Wing

I am thrilled to say that I am finally done with everything that was standing between me and really getting to work on the Mali Mural project. I have now logged a total of 6 hours of footage out of the 51 I shot while we were there. I will now commence with regular blog updates with video from the trip.

Tags: bamako, dan viens, documentary, eduardo pineda, GAIA, GAIA VF, mali, mural, pineda, real earl, real earl productions, storytelling walls
Posted in Mali Project, News | No Comments »

Video: A Community Reflection

Friday, February 20th, 2009

We’ve been back a couple weeks and while Teresa and I have had some time to get back to our daily lives, Eduardo is just getting able to start doing. Since we returned he had been very sick.

His problem was finally diagnosed as an allergic reaction to his malaria drug, doxycycline. Here I was, worried about vivid dreams (I never had any by the way) from my malaria drug and it was poor Eduardo who ended up getting terribly ill from his medication.

There are only about 10 documented cases in history of his reaction and his case was severe. The amazing thing is that it didn’t strike until he was in the comfort of his home in Berekely. Things would have been much worse had it struck in Africa.

I have been spending time logging all the video and I expect to begin posting multiple times a week to keep the momentum going until the film is finished.

Here is a video from my first interview with Eduardo about the mural. The interview was done on Dec. 27, 2009 in Balmy Alley in San Francisco’s Mission District. Eduardo is standing in front of his mural in the alley which is called Hoy (Ve) Como Siempre. Balmy Alley is very cool. You can read more here.

I thought this video was important to post because Eduardo talks about how murals should reflect the community in which they reside and how you can ensure that by involving the community in the mural process. This is exactly what he did in Bamako.

I will post videos here and they will also be available at www.vimeo.com/realearl

Murals Reflect Community: Real Earl Productions Documentary Video from Dan Viens: Real Earl Productions on Vimeo.

Tags: africa, bamako, dan viens, documentary, eduardo pineda, film, GAIA VF, mali, mural, real earl, real earl productions, storytelling walls, video
Posted in Mali Project | No Comments »

Video: The Ceremony

Sunday, February 8th, 2009

I wrote last month about a wild day of shooting when I stumbled upon a ceremony on the hillside above the main village of Sikoro in Bamako, Mali.

After talking with Amidou Keita, a photographer from Bamako, I’ve learned the purpose of the ceremony was probably to rid the demons from one of the women there.

Here is some raw video from that day. The video quality suffers a bit to get in on You Tube. I’ll work to improve the quality as I post more.

Tags: bamako, dan viens, documentary, eduardo pineda, GAIA VF, mali, mural, real earl, real earl productions
Posted in Mali Project | 5 Comments »

Eduardo’s Photos

Sunday, February 8th, 2009

We’ve been home nearly a week. I’m not quite over the jetlag because I went right back to work. Teresa has returned from San Francisco to Portland and from what she tells me Eduardo has been pretty sick. That’s a bummer.

I’ve started looking at some of the video and I am pleased to say that what I’ve seen looks amazing. I will begin posting video regularly starting today.

First though, here is a selection of photos taken by Eduardo while we were in Mali.

: Dinner at Bamako’s trendiest restaurant, Bla Bla, with Ben and Annie.

: The Che Guevera Bashi.

: Dan filming the blank wall.

: Dan skipping over the drain on a very well kept street.

: The mural crew out for a drink.

: Newly formed bricks.

: Teresa dying fabric.

: Drying the newly dyed fabric.

: Kids after a day of watching paint dry.

: Our friend in Sikoro. He always asked, “How you feeling?”

: Our backyard banana tree.

: A child carries some beautiful flowers.

: Eduardo meets Hamidou and Moritz.

: An awning ready to kill.

: This never ceased to amaze us.

: A boy flying his kite.

: Dan shooting at the clinic.

: Mural with the background filled in.

: Watching television outside.

: Men praying at the metal shop.

: Our guardian, Sam. He makes wonderful tea.

: The singer at the OBAMAKO event.

: Teresa walking with kids.

: Eduardo’s photo of Teresa’s Thug Life Medical Unit photo.

: The outlined mural design.

: A tree casts a shadow from a street light.

Tags: africa, bamako, dan viens, eduardo pineda, GAIA VF, mali, real earl, real earl productions, storytelling walls
Posted in Mali Project | 2 Comments »

Bamako in the rearview

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

In Bambara, the local language, a bana means finished. Today we are abana. The mural, the filming and our African experience are over.

We dropped our bags off this morning at Air France and now we’re just hanging around for a few quiet hours before we head out to our last dinner and then to the airport. I’ve got about 27 hours of travel, a couple movies and at least one ambien before I hit Portland.

I’ll be parting ways with Teresa and Eduardo in Paris. They are heading to San Francisco.

I’ll reflect more on the trip once I’ve made it home and have had a couple days to decompress and think, but there are a few things I’ll be leaving here with.

The first is that Africa isn’t just the Africa we see on television which is usually about AIDS, hunger and political turmoil. That is certainly part of the story, but absolutely not the whole story. People here live very happy lives. Some do so in great poverty without any of the conveniences we are used to in the West. Still others live very similar lives to what most people in the U.S. are accustomed to. They have plenty of food, fine cars, beautiful homes and satellite television.

Language barriers can be unbelievably frustrating, but there is nothing more telling than a wide smile. That more than any words will open many doors.

I have taken the luxuries I am afforded in the United States for granted. Everything from grounded electricity and traffic laws to potable water and trash pickup have gone without my appreciation for 30 years. When I return home I am going to give a big hug and kiss to my electrical outlets, nearby stop signs, my faucet and the recycling bin. I also recognize our country has many ways it can improve and I hope to be able to help it along.

There will be more I’m sure. This has been an eye opening, spectacular and humbling month. I can’t imagine not having come and I can’t fathom not being able to leave.

I will continue to update the blog with video updates over the coming months as I edit the final film.

Thanks for reading.

Thanks to the Pinedas for having me along on the trip.

Thanks to GAIA VF for allowing me to come.

Thanks to everyone at RAIN who was so supportive and let me take off for a month to do this.

And thanks most of all to my wife Sue who gave me a confidence to pursue this project that I could not summon on my own.

Our final Bamako sunset.

Tags: bamako, dan viens, eduardo pineda, GAIA VF, mali, real earl, real earl productions, storytelling walls
Posted in Mali Project | 3 Comments »

Teresa’s Photos

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

I wasn’t the only one documenting this trip. Teresa and Eduardo took a lot of amazing photos. Some of the photos you’ve already seen on the blog are Teresa’s.

Here are a bunch more:

: Arriving at the airport.

: Airline jedi.

: Paris sunrise from the plane.

: Eduardo cooking spinach in the gourmet kitchen.

: Spaghetti feet.

: A clinic intern, Fatamata, and Eduardo’s Obama Loteria drawing.

: Driving through Sikoro.

: Dan shooting at the horse track.

: Shooting in the hardware store.

: Eduardo shopping for paint.

: The travelers, the interpreter and the energy drink.

: Teresa in Dan’s glasses.

: Teresa and Dan’s shadows.

: Fun with the projector.

: The Chief looks at the proposed mural design.

: Eduardo, Mamu and The Chief (dugutigi)

: A scanner silhouette.

: Group scanner silhouette.

: Typical taxi door.

: Dan and his BFF from the Gran Marche.

: Dan shooting the kora performance on inauguration eve.

: Racks of dresses at the Gran Marche.

: A Lakers and OBAMAKO fan.

: Aretha’s hat was even a hit in Bamako.

: Dan at the inauguration.

: A cartwheel in Sikoro.

: Drying newly dyed fabric.

: Dying fabric.

: Dan shooting on the roof.

: Eduardo and Hamidou at the dedication with a sign showing the partnership between GAIA and the clinic.

: Mamu channeling Whitney Houston.

: Our guardian, Salif.

: The horse dancer in Segou.

: The zebra dancer in Segou.

Tags: AIDS, bamako, dan viens, documentary, eduardo pineda, GAIA VF, HIV, mali, mural, teresa pineda
Posted in Mali Project | 1 Comment »

The Dedication: 1/29/09

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

One day after the mural was officially finished, the employees at the clinic, some members of the neighborhood, the painting crew and the chief of the village came together to dedicate the work.

The day started of with some confusion. We were there at 10 a.m. when we were told things would start. Eduardo invited many of the people we’ve met on this journey. They included the museum director, the art school director and Joffa, our interpreter at the OBAMAKO event. With everyone there, it felt like the last episode of Seinfeld.

Even though we were supposed to start at 10 a.m., we are used to Africa time where things tend to start late. A major difference between Mali and the U.S. is that things here are not very prompt, but they will definitely happen. In the U.S. when someone is going to be very late you consider rescheduling. Here, that’s not the case. As a sign of respect, the show will go on, even if it’s hours late.

Once we cut through the confusion and the language barrier, there was a touching cultural exchange and a fine dedication.

Everyone crowded outside the mural where the village chief, dugutigi, thanked Teresa and Eduardo for their work. He was very pleased with what they had done and sincerely appreciated all they put into the mural. He said we are part of the family now and asked that we share our story with everyone in the States.

The staff of the clinic also thanked them for the mural. They are very proud of the mural because it shows the work that is done in the clinic. It helps people not only to understand GAIA’s method of fighting the spread of HIV, but also showing how the clinic helps the village daily.

In addition to all of this, the village said they were especially touched that the work was done by a father, daughter tandem. They said it shows great honor that Teresa had decided to follow in the work of her father and that it was part of a project for Sikoro was especially meaningful.

Teresa and Eduardo told everyone how honored they were to do the work and how thankful they were for everyone’s help and support especially when it came to them speaking very little French or Bambara.

A short time later everyone gathered upstairs in the clinic. The chief then blessed the mural and everyone rejoiced.

A couple other things from today:

I was able to shoot in the maternity room. The young mothers in there were okay with it so I got some amazing video of two children less than 24 hours old. The facilities would make most people in the states cringe, but for where the clinic is, the rooms are very clean and the women have a nice bed to lay with their children after giving birth.

Also, one of the scenes in the mural has turned into a very funny joke in the clinic. It is the scene with a man and a woman and their shadows. All of the interns think the man looks like Eduardo and the woman looks like one of the interns. The intern’s name is Fatamata. The joke is that they are going to get married. Fatamata said it is going to be awkward for Eduardo’s wife. I had them recreate the scene.

It's like a mirror.

We are off to Segou tomorrow so I most likely won’t post again until Sunday.

More photos from today:

: It’s like a mirror.

: Dugutigi checks out the mural.

: Eduardo and The Chief.

: The dedication.

: Everyone upstairs for the chief’s blessing.

: Dan and Moritz Brandenburger, our German friend who helped out with the mural.

: Dan and Rama, one of GAIA’s peer educators.

: The international mural crew.

: The mural and clinic from a nearby rooftop.

: The intrepid travelers on a roof with the Sikoro hillside in the background.

: Nido catching a snooze.

: A puppy in Sikoro.

: Teresa yelled, “Puppy” and I went running for photos.

Tags: bamako, dan viens, documentary, eduardo pineda, GAIA VF, mali, mural, real earl productions, sikoro, storytelling walls
Posted in Mali Project | 4 Comments »

Madame Sangare

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

The house of Madame Sangare is well stocked with food, drink and laughter.

Madame Sangare is a friend of a friend of Eduardo’s. She lives a short walk from GAIA house and tonight she had us over for dinner.

She and her two daughters are larger than life and proud of it. The fed us an absolute feast which was far more than any of us could handle. There was a plate of veggies, followed by a meat dish, chicken, fried plantains and french fries. There was also a wonderful juice concoction made by her daughter Mariam.

They spoke English so we were able to converse very well with them. Mariam is a singer in a reggae band. The oldest daughter, Aminata, just graduated from university with a degree in anthropology.

Madame Sangare is a researcher. Their home is on the campus where her lab is. It was a wonderful house.

They had a television and when we walked in, The Simpsons were on – in French. Aminata said, “Homer Simpson is crazy!”

One of our best dinners for sure.

: Teresa and Eduardo with Madame Sangare.

: Dan with Aminata Sangare.

: Eduardo and Dan with Mariam Sangare, the reggae singer.

Tags: africa, bamako, dan viens, documentary, eduardo pineda, GAIA, GAIA VF, mali, mural, real earl productions, storytelling walls
Posted in Mali Project | 4 Comments »

The Final Piece Panorama

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

The mural is finished. Eduardo and Teresa did a couple hours of work today to put the finishing touches on it.

That included darkening the hands and changing the placement of the head on one of the women in the communal meal scene. Eduardo had to paint over the existing head and paint an entirely new one. He did this at the bequest of on of the clinic’s doctors.

He did a very nice job and the mural looks amazing.

Eduardo says a mural is never actually done. Basically you just stop working. They picked a fine time to stop. It’s freaking hot and the mural is fantastic.

Here it is.

The finished mural. January 28, 2009.

Tags: bamako, dan viens, documentary, eduardo pineda, GAIA, GAIA VF, mali, mural, real earl productions
Posted in Mali Project | 2 Comments »

Notes from Bamako

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

When I was a columnist for the UMass Daily Collegian I got to write one edition of “Notes from The Campus Center Basement. I’m going to write this post in that style.

No house in Bamako smelled better when I got home tonight. Eduardo has been cooking delicious feasts a few nights a week. I was hoping to get down to fighting weight while I was here, but not so with Eduardo’s delicious meals.

I got a slight sunburn on my neck today and I have a line from the strap of the thing around my neck that holds my passport and cash.

If you’re a thief in Bamako, I was kidding about carrying around my cash and passport.

This place is really loud. African talk radio blares in cabs. Dudes selling ice cream honk bike horns. People talk really loud. The cars are crazy loud. The kids are loud. When I lay down to bed at night my ears ring like I have just left a concert.

I’ve got a crew of two or three 7 and 8 year old girls that have crushes on me. It reminds me of being back at Perry Lane. Today they tried to give me some keys and a thing they had been chewing on. I refused both.

The mural is officially done.

The mural dedication is tomorrow.

Eduardo had to flip one woman’s head around today. One doctor at the clinic said she should be looking at the food she was eating. They said people don’t talk when they eat. I’ve witnessed several meals and people gab away. I think maybe the ideal custom is to not talk while eating.

One scene in the mural is based around a pregnant woman going to the clinic. She is being helped by a woman with carrots balanced on her head. The same doctor was worried the scene was sending the message that pregnant women only eat carrots. Eduardo fought that one and made no changes. I thought he could’ve at least added some turnips.

We get called Toubabou because we’re pale skin. When I get back to the states I am going to turn this into a product line. Toubab Chew Chewing Tobacco, Toubab Glue, Toubab Moo Milk, etc.

I shot today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The heat was pretty intense and the kids were all up on me. I am really beat. I listened to a couple hours of This American Life while I was shooting and also Bob Dylan Blood On The Tracks.

After dark, a crowd of about 20 watched telenovelas at the clinic.

I miss my wife. She’s only been a wife for 5 months, but she already belongs in the Spouse Hall of Fame. She has been unbelievably supportive of this project and On The Wing. I would not be who I am without her. I hope there are more of these adventures in my future, but I also hope she can come along next time.

The taxis here are in unbelievably bad shape. It’s hard to believe they run at all. The wouldn’t pass inspection in Florida. Actually I don’t think they have inspections there, but either way these cars are terrible. I was in the front seat of one yesterday that actually had a working seat belt so I decided to use it. When I got out of the car my shirt was completely filthy.

For those of you who have been to Bonnaroo and Phish festivals, this city is basically like a big one of those. People sell questionable food on the street. There are people walking everywhere in sandals and bare feet. Some people wear some crazy get ups and others look kind of nice. There are some funky smells wafting through the air. It’s hot.

I miss my dog.

The mural is an inspiring work. It’s vibrant and fun to look at. It is unanimously loved and the kids can’t help but put their hands all over it once the painters are gone.

That’s all I got. I’m seriously beat.

Photos from today.