By now, maybe you all have heard the buzz about a film I directed called PATHBREAKERS. It was recently accepted to this years' The African Film Festival in the Best Documentary Short category. Everyone is asking how did this film come about? A while back during the filming of CORNERSTONE, I was approached by Sandra Washburn. Sandra, at the time, had recently started Oysters & Pearls (O&P), a mission based in Northern Uganda to provide tools and computer training to the blind and visually impaired. In 2015, she attended the launch fundraiser for CORNERSTONE and saw our film Hearts in the Himalayas. Sandra asked if her mission organization could be considered for a documentary project.
Terence and Deb Although impressed with the NGO's mission effort, CFTWF requires a non-profit to go through an exhaustive selection process, which takes months of thorough vetting. At the time, O&P was a young self-funded fast growing project. I knew her mission, although admirable had very little chance of getting through our vetting process for that reason alone. Our ten years of field work has shown us that most non-profits and humanitarian missions die on the vine at 5 years or less and evolve so much that a film would be dead in the water upon release. The organization would not resemble what we documented in our production process. Sandra’s organization was still evolving at lightning speed.
Ibolit "Em" Emmanuel shooting the market The determined and ever-persistent Sandra refused to give up. Since CFTWF could not produce it, Sandra offered a grant for me to come to Northern Uganda to check out her work and film it. After much back and forth, I agreed to do the film with the condition of complete autonomy and CORNERSTONE had to be in the final stages of post production. I have to give her credit, as this definitely was not easy for her. The only way I can capture authentic stories is to be in the trenches without interference to document operations as they happen organically. Absolutely no staging is allowed. It’s high quality guerilla, run and gun production, which is a lot easier said than done. I also wanted to experiment with creating a web series and another visit would provide an opportunity to visit Nyaka for CORNERSTONE. (The proverbial carrot). I knew this documentary was going to be a tough one to produce. How do I create a relevant and meaningful film that won’t go stale right after release? Challenge accepted. What a challenge it was.
Once the details were worked out, my Boston based colleague Terence and I headed to Uganda on New Years Day 2016. Of course, we conducted necessary research, as we do with all of our films. Terence is a lawyer, a critical thinker, and brilliant writer. He has a photographic memory that can absorb volumes of information. The guy is MENSA smart. As a long time humanitarian, he has a sensitive nature, wonderful interpersonal and communication skills, easily fitting in wherever he lands. He and I have worked together for a number years and I respect him. I was grateful to have Terence along for the 6-week assignment.
Over the next several weeks, Terence, I and our Ugandan crew (Em and Ronald) worked long days and nights to document the work of Oysters & Pearls. Both of us were truly amazed at what Sandra, her Ugandan team and a cadre of volunteers have accomplished in such a short time. In a nutshell, O&P does far more than provide educational tools and training to the blind and disabled. They also train teachers, offer technical training (STEM) to the sighted, advocate on behalf of girls and women in education and sports as well as promoting wildlife conservation. All of this occurs within a boarding school structure where high school students and teachers from all over Uganda attend an O&P Tech Camp for several weeks in January.
In the US, the disabled are treated with care and dignity. In Uganda, it is quite a different story. The organization is working to change the perception that the disabled are a burden to society. O&P has made it possible for visually impaired students, as well as the sighted to learn basic computer skills, coding, robotics, engineering, gaming, VR technology and sound design-and that’s just the start! At the end of the camp, the students present their team projects to the community and their parents. All are amazed at what their children have accomplished in such a short time. This does not surprise Sandra as she knows the talent and drive has always been there.
Once the details were worked out, my Boston based colleague Terence and I headed to Uganda on New Years Day 2016. Of course, we conducted necessary research, as we do with all of our films. Terence is a lawyer, a critical thinker, and brilliant writer. He has a photographic memory that can absorb volumes of information. The guy is MENSA smart. As a long time humanitarian, he has a sensitive nature, wonderful interpersonal and communication skills, easily fitting in wherever he lands. He and I have worked together for a number years and I respect him. I was grateful to have Terence along for the 6-week assignment.
Over the next several weeks, Terence, I and our Ugandan crew (Em and Ronald) worked long days and nights to document the work of Oysters & Pearls. Both of us were truly amazed at what Sandra, her Ugandan team and a cadre of volunteers have accomplished in such a short time. In a nutshell, O&P does far more than provide educational tools and training to the blind and disabled. They also train teachers, offer technical training (STEM) to the sighted, advocate on behalf of girls and women in education and sports as well as promoting wildlife conservation. All of this occurs within a boarding school structure where high school students and teachers from all over Uganda attend an O&P Tech Camp for several weeks in January.
In the US, the disabled are treated with care and dignity. In Uganda, it is quite a different story. The organization is working to change the perception that the disabled are a burden to society. O&P has made it possible for visually impaired students, as well as the sighted to learn basic computer skills, coding, robotics, engineering, gaming, VR technology and sound design-and that’s just the start! At the end of the camp, the students present their team projects to the community and their parents. All are amazed at what their children have accomplished in such a short time. This does not surprise Sandra as she knows the talent and drive has always been there.
She is quick to point out, anyone, regardless of their situation, status or gender who has the right mindset and appropriate tools can create their own opportunities. Sandra won’t do the work for them, but she will lead them to the door where various paths await them. Those willing to open it can choose their own course to explore the possibilities. She says her program levels the playing field for all but success is not guaranteed. These kids get that only they are responsible for their success and loss, which motivates them to keep moving forward even if it means failure. These kids are the pathbreakers of their generation, which means a better future for them as well as Uganda.
The world premiere of PATHBREAKERS is scheduled for the end of June and will be screened at The African Film Festival in Dallas, Texas.
The world premiere of PATHBREAKERS is scheduled for the end of June and will be screened at The African Film Festival in Dallas, Texas.
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