Caring For The World Films
  • Home
  • Projects
    • CORNERSTONE
    • Hearts In The Himalayas
    • Road To San Marcos
    • Return To San Marcos
    • Behind The Lines In Los Encinitos
    • Building A Better Belize
    • Behind The Scenes >
      • You've Been Selected!
      • Pre-Production
      • Production
      • Post-Production
      • Premiere
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Board Of Directors
    • Project Partners
    • Crew
    • Our Storytelling Philosophy and Approach >
      • Profile Subjects
      • Production Values
      • Director's Statement
      • What To Expect When You Are Selected
    • Submit Your Organization
  • News
  • Director's Log
  • Covid 19
  • Donate

Director's Log

What's going on behind the scenes?

Letting Go Of The Reins

8/27/2015

0 Comments

 
PictureCrew on Freda Interview
I am often asked if I take along a production crew on my projects. The answer is no. I usually take medical professionals in order to provide the profile organization assets for the particular trip I join. Once on location, I hire and train locals to assist me on the shoot.

On this trip, I changed my approach a bit. I was unable to recruit medical professionals for this trip due to the timing. I always knew I wanted to take a film student with me at some point and I suppose the universe was telling me  this was the trip to explore this option. My first choice was Jan Kohler. I met Jan when he was 14 or so on the Cape CARES documentary project a number of years ago. He was a young teen who enjoyed photography. I mentored him over the years (from afar) and now he is a college student ready to begin his studies this fall in a media production program at The Hague in the Netherlands.


PictureDebi Lang and Jan Kohler review aerial footage
Jan was a natural first choice for this assignment, as he not only has a great eye; he also has a strong humanitarian background, solid work ethic and a great temperament for this type of project.  All are  important qualities to have in order to be considered.  Things get tough at times, and I need to have people  I can trust not to have a major meltdown when things head south, as they always do.

Go big or go home I always say, so I threw Jan into  the proverbial deep end of the pool as my  Director of Photography.    I am sure my colleagues are cringing right now as anyone  who has worked with me cannot imagine me giving up the reins on a project.  I knew it would be challenging not only for him, but for me.  This would be good for both of us.  (I hoped!) 


Picture

Looking back, it  was a  tall order for a young inexperienced film student, but I was completely confident in his abilities.  My plan  to train him step by step in every aspect of documentary film making worked brilliantly (IMHO).  Jan did not squander this opportunity.  Keep in mind, he, as everyone else,  was a volunteer traveling on his own dime.  He was shooting, logging, reviewing, planning and whatever else was needed when he was sick, exhausted and hungry.  There was not  a peep of whining from  him.  I was impressed  by his dedication.  I finally  had to put a note on his camera ordering him not to shoot a sunrise while he suffered from illness.

My benchmark for Jan was set very high and I expected him to stumble at times  but Jan enthusiastically grabbed the role full force and without fear (Well, maybe a little at first).


PictureJan shoots footage of Nyaka Primary students
I have to admit, there were moments I could barely contain myself as I watched him shoot in a style not much different than mine. Don’t get me wrong. Jan did not replicate “Debi style”.  But there were times his approach exactly mirrored what I was choreographing in my mind.  Then there were times he went off  to shoot alone. (I was so proud that I think I shed a tear the first time he did that).  I was impressed by his  humble nature.  A young man like him, captures a money shot. (every photographer knows that  moment)  You would expect  him to run into the office and say "Look what I shot!" followed by the play by play of how he did it.  Not Jan.  He simply would walk in, review his footage with me or Anna for workflow, then he'd wait. He knew I would respond to THAT shot.  Even then, he still remained humble with a big grin and an "Aw shucks" response.



PictureJan Kohler

Towards the end of the assignment, the  day came to let Jan direct a shoot without me as his safety net. He was going to fly solo two hours away in Kutamba where he not only had to  manage a crew, shoot an interview and b-roll, but he also had to direct the drone shots in an area that is not flight friendly,  to say the least AND get back to the office by deadline.  This  was a lot easier said than done. The crew encountered a few serious issues, but his cool head and problem solving skills helped him guide the team to get what we needed.

Jan has a great future ahead of him as a cinematographer and perhaps some day as a director. I am honored to have been able to help him in the early stages of his career and cannot wait to see what he does in the future.



Next week:  Meet Emily Jones aka “Super Circle Girl”

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Debi Lang

    Debi Lang is a humanitarian and adventure traveler who never leaves home without her camera, well worn hiking boots and groovy headbands. .

    Archives

    January 2022
    October 2021
    June 2021
    January 2021
    April 2019
    July 2018
    March 2018
    July 2017
    October 2016
    May 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2014
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    March 2012
    March 2011
    October 2009
    August 2009
    February 2009

    RSS Feed

Currently not accepting donations as we search for a non censoring payment platform
Please don't steal our stuff.   You will be sorry!    Copyright ©2023 Caring For The World Films.  All rights reserved.