GREAT LAKES FILM PRODUCTION

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STORIES

Ellen Goerlich

The research and shooting for our documentary about traditional healer was altogether the most interesting filming I ever had in Uganda. I learned so much about the cultural background of healing and confidence of the people in the power of nature. I'm sure that traditional healers will not disappear in the near future because they play an important role: they try to help everybody without any judgment. If somebody has a physical disease or psychological problems, the traditional healer treats them with an understanding that both can disturb your wellbeing. That is the big difference to western medicine which only understands the body in isolation to the soul.

The most impressive part of the filming was a night shoot in Mukono. We had to travel on very poor roads for more than 3 hours in the night. It was a wonderful full moon night, we reached late at the shrine and didn't know what to expect. We found people who had a thanksgiving ceremony for their traditional healer, who had helped them in the past. Philip, Paul and I entered the shrine at about 3 o'clock in the morning. We found hundreds people enjoying music and dance. Later, as an expression of thanks people brought local brew, goats and sheep for the healer. When they even brought a cow into the already over crowed shrine I got a bit scared. The cow was kicking and I feared not only for me but for the camera. But it all went well. When we reached Kampala in the early morning hours, I really felt grateful to have been allowed to experience this together with all the people in the village and of course with Philip and Paul, our cameraman and sound engineer.

Ali Kizito

Southern Sudan was my most memorable experience. We were making a documentary about Sudanese refugees from Uganda, who were returning home after many years. I was the soundman. It was a great project because repatriation of refugees is definitely a big event and I am privileged to have been part of the team that was capturing it. Of course, it was also an emotional moment given the amount of human suffering that had led the refugees to leave their homes in the first place.

Reality hit me when we reached Southern Sudan. In my opinion, the refugees were returning to the bush. The conditions were much worse than at the refugee settlements in Uganda. There was no infrastructure. Roads were very poor, no public transport, no shops and schools. There were only a few boreholes. The scary bit is there are still lots of landmines active in these areas. In fact, some of the refugees testified to having lost a relative or friend who stepped on a mine while clearing land to build or cultivate crops for their families.

Despite all the difficulties refugees have to face upon coming back, the ones I met wanted to return home. Nobody expected it to be easy; they just wanted their homes back. I saw what it means when they say 'East or West; home is best'. This kind of drive and determination was really something I could pick for myself. I would definitely want to do a follow up film in future, just to see if the former refugees really found what they were looking for in Sudan... a real home.

James Mbiri

My biggest challenge so far was climbing the 5200 meter Rwenzori Mountains in April 2009 as one of the handful of Ugandans ever to ascend the peaks covered by snow and ice. I did not only manage to climb but went there as a camera man to capture the fascinating world of afromountainous landscape and vegetation. It took almost 3 months of preparation punctuated with excitement and horror. The excitement was for the feeling of conquest that I was to derive from ascending the mighty Mountains of the Moon and the horror was from the negative stories told by those who had been defeated by the awe striking, snow capped mountains.

The long awaited climb started with an 8 hour journey from Kampala to Kasese, which is at the foot of the Rwenzoris. We then were briefed by the staff of Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA) and Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS). We had to be prepared physically, materially and also mentally. Climbing, low temperature gear is a must-have, not forgetting medication just in case. The First is day one of the toughest since one has to acclimatize to the heavy nine hour trek, gaining approximately 800 meters of height per day.

Remember, we had to do this with a load of film equipment, at times staying behind the rest of the expedition and then running ahead of them to catch the best moments. It was five days of climbing through thick vegetation, mashes, bogs, bamboo until we reached our second last camp which at an altitude of about 4000 metres and a temperature of 5 degrees Celsius. By this point nine members of the team had dropped out because of altitude sickness. This place would be considered ‘camp of initiation into adulthood’ if it were in the African traditional societies. It determines if you make it or not.

On the sixth day we moved onto the last camp on bare rock, ice and snow at -10 degrees Celsius. Here it took water an hour to boil on a gas cooker; the same amount of water would boil in 3 minutes down at sea level. We went to sleep and woke up at 3 am to start the final ascension to the top. You have to start off at 4 am so that you are at the snow line by dawn. It is just not funny climbing bare rocks at over 4000 metres in a pitch black time of the night with your path lit by a little lamp on your head...

This is when you come into a situation where your life hangs on a rope which you engage to help you to the top of a cliff; any wrong move would take you from adventure to horror. At 6 am we started the snow walk, we had to be taught how to walk. With huge spikes on 2 kilogram shoes we had to do nine hours with hardly any reasonable rest and hazard of falling into crevaces, some over 1000 metres deep.

Finally we made our last stride at the peak. Joy, happiness, relief cannot express the feeling that came with this conquest.

I feel limited in penning down this story that can only be understood hands on. It was one adventure worth taking in a life time. You descend this giant with the courage to tackle the many little mountains in life, that many a time appear to stand tall in our way.

With this I rest my case. Aluta continua.

Victoria Nakalembe

Working on the set of our drama ‘Speak Out' was really one of the best filming experiences I have had.

 ‘Speak Out’ is one unique film that I believe meets characteristics of a very good production. Usually I’m not on a set because I’m an editor. It was a break through seeing me on set experiencing new ideas put to reality before they are brought to the editing table. Much as it was so hectic to double as a slater and a script continuity girl.

It was also rewarding working with different characters. Our team had about 20 people and was most of the time surrounded by curious villagers. I cannot forget the excitement, hard work, full time commitment exercised by fellow colleagues and those wonderful moments that kept me going during the shooting in a remote village. It was always fun to witness the tough LC chairman - Mr. Mugodi - making fun that saw the entire cast in laughter without allowing him to laugh. This left often the entire crew laughing silly. Shooting came sometimes to a standstill until the director made a refresh call.

I really wish GREAT LAKES FILM would make more feature films because it was a lot of fun and the team spirit is amazing.

Kerstin Wiedemann

The uniqueness of every production is what fascinates me most about my job. For each film you dive deep into a different reality. One week you learn about oil seeds and two weeks later you suddenly understand more about the high rate of drop outs in schools. It once happened that I was looking at big behinds for weeks – our film was about the admiration the Ugandan men hold for big female bums...

For our documentary “Fighting the Enemy” we went to an IDP Camp in Kitgum District. For me it was the first time to visit Northern Uganda and an IDP Camp. The purpose of the film was to create awareness about the ongoing Hepatitis E epidemic. Frankly, I was a bit nervous about going to an area where there was an epidemic and was not sure about how people would react. But my worries were unnecessary. The people in the IPD Camp welcomed us very friendly and where very keen to be part in our film. In fact, our amateur actors were really pereserving and after some explanation they understood why they have to do their act again and again. The villagers were really helpful in organizing props and locations. Almost the whole camp was involved and it was a much welcomed alteration in the daily camp life. In one scene I even had the privilege to “direct” some cockroaches!

Gosia Lukomska

Born in Poland and schooled in the US, Gosia holds a Masters Degree in Integrated Media Arts and has gained hands-on experience in film making through working with various production companies in New York City. She strives to create films which tell inspiring stories and capture people by the heart; touch, move, make believe and bring the change, which Uganda is hungry for and truly deserves...

Nathan Kintu Mwanje

Nathan is the newest member on the team but he’s already made himself indispensible. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Fine Arts and - as for a designer becomes - he has a great sense of style, which coupled with his energy and dedication is just the right mix. His effervescent sense of humour does not stand in the way of him taking his work very seriously and delivering always at the highest level....