A little impression on what we worked on in the first week of production for Stories of a Crisis and the people that we met.
Angelos talking with us about the the crisis, 54% cuts on bonds they got as payment from the government and how he hopes to keep his families company afloat in the coming months. (Taken with instagram)
We are wrapping up our time in Greece today. Yann already left back to Belgium and my flight will go this afternoon. With four very different stories in the bag, we’ll now get into the next phase: the editing, to make the stories swing and work. It will be an interesting process and we are looking forward to present the final films and the webdocumentary at some point in fall 2012.
Until then we’ll try to keep you posted on the process here.
Nikos in the zone (Taken with instagram)
Today we followed Nikos to a local dirt track to film him following his big passion: motocross! He runs a small family business, but with the crisis there was a big decrease in customers and now he has a hard time paying the bills or even making the smallest of plans. Instead he fears every month now to not be able anymore to pay his bills.
The motocross is his way to escape this struggles. Two or three times a week he gets out with his bike and finds inner peace in the zone, where he forgets everything around him. Just him, the bike and the track.
Today was no ordinary day. We ate dust and burned under the sun. But most of all, we had a playground for creative shooting. After meeting with Nikos yesterday, he invited us to watch him perform at what he’s best: motorbiking. And damn he’s good! On the ground and in the air, he drives his engine at full speed offering us amazing angles to shoot stills and videos!
Location scouting for tomorrows shooting of motocross with Nikos. (Taken with Instagram at Athens)
That will be fun!!! Who thought that this would be part of a story about the crisis?
stavrosmakris:
Week two of production started this morning. Our first story in Athens is about Nikos, the owner of the oldest photography lab in Vyronas. Besides photography, his other passion is motocross biking. So, tomorrow morning we’ll be filming jumps and freestyle riding outdoors!
A little impression on what we worked on in the first week of production for Stories of a Crisis and the people that we met.
A little impression on what we worked on in the first week of production for Stories of a Crisis and the people that we met.
Back in Athens, backing up data and working out the workflow for editing the stories. As we will be spread over three countries for most of the postproduction, we are facing some tricky challenges with that. (Taken with Instagram at Athens)
We finished our time in Agrinio with a nice evening visit at the lake. Next is Athens where we will work on two other stories.
As we wrap up the first stories, it more and more becomes clear that the final product of the stories might not only be a multimedia piece, but that the stories open up a lot of interesting aspects for a webdocumentary. We will see where the editing in fall will lead us too.
Yann waiting for the coffee in the sun this morning. (Taken with Instagram at Agrinio)
We had a bit of a slow day today. Started late and blended into the local lifestyle before heading to Demetrios gallery for some last missing shots of his part.
After that we headed to a local music store, where the owner and musician-turned-guitar builder Dimitris told us: “When I started building guitars, I thought with fifty I would have people working for me, but now with the crisis and a decrease of sales of 80%, I fear I will have to close my shop soon.”
Andreas, the principal of the local special needs school. He explained us why he does this job and talked with us about the lack of funding and the importance of community and voluntary work in times of crisis.
Today we spend much of the day with Stavros, a 30 year old teacher in a special needs school near Agrinio. In the morning we attended one of his classes and spend some time with his pupils. Later in the afternoon, he invited us to his apartment where he shared with us his thoughts, worries but also hopes about the political and financial situation of his country.
- ‘In the past year, there have been two major cuts in my salary. Today, I earn only half of what I used to get. Although I have a degree, I still struggle on a daily basis to actually make a living with it.’
There is a donkey in the car!
I think it’s looking for the difference in autofocus speed between the 5D and 7D. Or it’s just trying to get hold on some nice lenses for the next meet-up with his fellow photo-peps. Or there was just something to eat left in the car… Who knows…
Christos, a painter, during our interview with him today, discussing art creation, art education and selling art in times of crisis.
Our first story is exploring the field of culture and art in times of crisis. Christos is a painter, but also volunteers as a director for the cultural center in town to offer people free or cheap training in different forms of art.
“In times of crisis we have to give people the chance to find their inner soul again. Not with words, but with (art) work.”
Right-wing party member showing true style on his business card…
At least they take care that people have something to laugh about!
Meeting with Demetrios at his art gallery in Agrinio. We had a nice breakfast and good discussion about the current political situation. While visiting his atelier, he told us : “In times like these, we need to focus on what we like to do most. Though there is a crisis people should do what they’re passionate about - otherwise we get depressed.”
