I left on this beautiful amazing trip! Here are the pictures! You know what they are worth.
: )
I first had to pack the camera so I could carry it on. Only a fool checks a 60,000 dollar camera!
This is me feeling happy that my camera is not out there with the luggage!
The first place I got to was barrow! Where I saw the raddest community art piece ever!
Here is our Producer Rainey and her Hunting partner B3!
These two are Aussies! "Mate" seriously they never said that once.
From Left to right!
Will was our Location Sound! David was Producer/Trainer/Cook and Rachel is our DIRECTOR!
As we were flying to Point Hope I snapped this picture of Will! I really dig it, I think it looks like an album cover! We're flying over ice! It's beyond words! I hope you get to see it!
Once we got to Point Hope we met up with our crew and were shooting up a storm in no time! We "Adults" were trainers, and the younguns were trainees! They all rocked and when it was time to leave I knew I was going to miss them all! It was something else! Rachel and Rainey really pulled off an amazing feat! They were able to raise funds to get us all out there, and as a part of this film, we were also working with young future filmmakers from the communities that this film is being made for! I honestly can't think of anything more fulfilling on both a personal and professional level! Aside from me and the 2 awesome Aussies, everyone was from the Arctic Slope!
I got to eat Balooga Soup! It was delicious!
I know when we think of the arctic, most of us think of ice, and yes there is ice up there! However there is also incredibly beautiful community and culture!
One day we went to the beach, or actually it was like midnight, but the sun was up 24 hours, and around midnight to about 2 in the morning was the most beautiful light! I'll let the pics show you!
Honestly, words and even these pictures don't begin to describe what this trip was like. This was late at night, and we were exhausted from the shoot, but we took this time to just hang out and see. Thanks to our wonderful producer Rainey, we were able to see some of the most stunning places there! She's a local!
I think the biggest event of the trip was that we were heading out into the Mountains/tundra to camp out for 2 nights and film in some really remote places that few people ever get to see! We packed up all our gear on 4wheelers and rolled out with two hunters to watch our asses and keep us safe from bears!
We finally got out our camp site at midnight again, and the sun was at it's lowest. Almost teasing me with the prospect of night! This was the darkest it ever got, and it only lasted about 2 and a half hours. I took out the camera and filmed some footage for the documentary! I am really proud of that footy and can't wait to see it in the finished film!
It was Solstice this night and will made this rad spiral! We all just chilled at the beach and enjoyed the moment.
One of the hunters brought some Balooga from home and shared it with us! I'm getting hungry writing about it!
The next 2 days were incredible! We traveled over some rugged country! It was 2 people per 4wheeler, bouncing around for 7 hours one way! We did stop here and there to shoot, and our guide/hunter did some shooting of his own! As a result I got to have fresh Reindeer Soup prepared by Rainey that night! I'm really missing it all about now!
I got to drive the 4wheeler home! Rachel let me drive and it was the first time I ever drove one of those things! I don't have pics to prove it, so you'll just have to take my word on it, and Rachel can vouch for me.
We didn't quite make it to our intended destination, so we were able to get a plane to fly just our core crew to the site of PROJECT CHARIOT. It is a very surreal place with a fractured history clouded in abusive government secrecy.
After a little over a week in Point Hope we left to Faribanks! A crew of 10 shooting, working, and just about everything else together for 17 straight days! And we got along great! I know, it's unbelievable but true! One really cool thing about Alaska is when your flying on those little planes, the pilots just land the plane whenever they need to Pee! Here's Proof!
I would have never believed it myself!
Anyway, it was the best shoot I've ever been on! I think I have just finally recovered from it all, and it's been nearly 2 weeks now.
If you kept up with the last blog, you learned that I flew home first class all the way! I was on a Roll! Here's the pic of my first class coffee and sammich!
I don't know, this was something I'll never forget. I am just so thankful for the chance to do stuff like this. There are days when I am at work, and work is in places like this, and I can't believe it's my actual Job! Not a hobby, not something I do in my free time, it's my actual job! I have to pinch myself!
I'm blessed to be working on films that matter, that give back to community, that tell the stories of our people! This is Documentary Filmmaking! Where nothing is under control, nothing is scripted, no actors, props or sets. For a filmmaker to craft a story out of real life, is something to be admired! I admire this crew, everyone from the youngest to the most experienced, really contributed to this process! I learned so much from everyone, and I can only hope I was able to teach them in return!
I can't wait to see this film when it's finished! Sometime next year! I think Documentary films are the hardest to make. They take so much time and effort! My prayers are with the Director, Editor and Producer now! They will be shaping this film in the edit room for the next few months! It's only the beginning for them! Send them prayers for success!
Thank You Rachel!
Thank You Rainey!
Thank You Crew!
DC
PS.
at our campsite, I saw a WHITE RAINBOW! Here it is! My lens was not wide enough to capture it!
