Coming up for air after a year and a half in production for the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project documentary Cornerstone is nothing short of amazing. To think that it was only two years ago, that I met a very humble, but unassuming man by the name of Jackson who came to the US from Uganda to live the American dream, only to be pulled back to his village in order to save it. You all know by now, I am not easy to impress. As a journalist, I am jaded and suspicious by nature. I read Jackson's book "A School For My Village" and learned all about his non-profit organization Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project. I was intrigued, but my experience made him pay for those who embellished their stories before him. I decided to go take a look for myself with a young team of budding filmmakers. With Jackson's blessing, off we went in the summer of 2015 to check out the inner workings of Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project and to meet the people they serve.
Oysters & Pearls Technology Camp at Nyaka Feb. 2016 You can read all about that experience in past postings. I returned to Uganda in January of 2016 on another assignment in the northern part of the country. You don't go to Uganda and not visit Nyaka. I spent two weeks there while the students were on holiday. I was able to see how hard life really is for them when they are not in school. The children not only work in the fields with their grandmothers/guardians, they are also studying (YES! studying!) in the Nyaka Blue Lupin library preparing for the next semester of school. A technology camp was hosted by Nyaka Partner, Oysters & Pearls. The students were anxious to get to those classes all week. The children who were unable to get in, still showed up and sat outside of the classrooms, peering into the windows so they could watch and learn. The Pioneer students are working several jobs to make extra pocket money and gain experience while they are waiting for university to resume. Why bring this up? Nyaka has instilled a strong work ethic into these children. The children work hard to learn so they can learn to work in order to have a better life. This is what sets them apart from others. I know because it is what I have heard from employers who work with interns and pioneers. I have also experienced it myself when I have hired them to work with my team.
Anyway, back to MY light at the end of the tunnel. Over 70 interviews and 100 hours of footage was captured. Whittling that down to what I had hoped would be a 30 minute piece has been impossible. It looks like the film will be closer to 45 minutes and I won't apologize. Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project is such a compelling story, that it is worthy of 45 minutes and longer. There are so many equally important components to this complex and rich story. Everything Nyaka does has purpose and reason. Jackson had no idea what he was getting into 15 years ago. He simply thought he was going to open a school and be done with it.
Cornerstone takes the viewer on a journey of the evolution of Nyaka, how and why it started and where it is today. The story is presented completely from the perspective of the stakeholders and the people who are served by Nyaka. It was incredibly difficult to select the key storytellers because everyone had a compelling backstory. When you view it, remember for every person you see, there are 69 others we interviewed that had similar stories. Then remember for the 70 we did interview, there are thousands of others from the two districts we simply could not interview who carried the same burdens. It is quite overwhelming to think what Jackson and his team faced when Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project began all those years ago.
My light at the end of the tunnel is that I believe that I have finally assembled their story the way they would want it to be presented to the world. We are honored and humbled that the people of Nyaka have entrusted us to share their story and my hope is the viewer will be moved and motivated to generously and continuously support the work that Jackson and his supporters perform in the region because it is making relevant, tangible and replicable change that will not only improve the lives of the people they directly serve but also the people of Uganda.
In the coming weeks, we will announce the world premiere date and location as well as the US Premiere and screening locations and dates to follow. If you are interested in hosting a screening in the US or abroad, please contact Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project at 517-575-6623 .
Cornerstone takes the viewer on a journey of the evolution of Nyaka, how and why it started and where it is today. The story is presented completely from the perspective of the stakeholders and the people who are served by Nyaka. It was incredibly difficult to select the key storytellers because everyone had a compelling backstory. When you view it, remember for every person you see, there are 69 others we interviewed that had similar stories. Then remember for the 70 we did interview, there are thousands of others from the two districts we simply could not interview who carried the same burdens. It is quite overwhelming to think what Jackson and his team faced when Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project began all those years ago.
My light at the end of the tunnel is that I believe that I have finally assembled their story the way they would want it to be presented to the world. We are honored and humbled that the people of Nyaka have entrusted us to share their story and my hope is the viewer will be moved and motivated to generously and continuously support the work that Jackson and his supporters perform in the region because it is making relevant, tangible and replicable change that will not only improve the lives of the people they directly serve but also the people of Uganda.
In the coming weeks, we will announce the world premiere date and location as well as the US Premiere and screening locations and dates to follow. If you are interested in hosting a screening in the US or abroad, please contact Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project at 517-575-6623 .
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