I survived!

Yesterday I thought I would die. I was so tired after the shoot. It went well, better than day before's. I guess it's not my fault that I wasn't the best assistant director on saturday. The film at hand is a strange combination of documentary and narrative. There is no script, yet there is no spontaneity like in a documentary. The content we want from the subject/protagonist is based on off-camera interviews that we did earlier - and so while shooting, we sit there trying to trigger the same thoughts in their heads. Adding to the confusion is the language - everything is in Italian! Bah! Whatever.

My own film shoot went well on Friday. I went alone. No crew. No tripod. Just me and my camera. Exploring the intricacies of women and religion. Loving every moment of it.

I saw my footage last evening and it's not bad. It's not the greatest. But I'm happy with it.

I made a couple of new friends over the weekend. This really sweet Greek guy who happens to be my neighbor, and also Evil E's student. He's from a small village in Greece, and talks in a very interesting and peculiar way. He told me a story about his childhood.

When he was five years old, he burnt down his grandmother's house! He immediately ran to his mother next door and left his old grandmother, who couldn't even walk properly, alone in her bed.

When I asked him about the consequences of his act, I expected a harsh scolding, or spanking, or a lot of personal guilt. To my surprise, he said to me with great pride, "the whole village came out to support". They had all connected their rubber water hoses and controlled the fire.

Later, when my friend's father came back to the village, he saw his son and smiled. My friend said he was told recently that when his father had returned to the village, he was told by someone that his son, my friend, was still inside the burning house. The father had gone in to look for him.

What a beautiful story.

My friend also thought that the grandmother's house was anyways too old. And oh, the grandmother was safe. My friend still doesn't know how!

:)

Okay, I have to run now. Literally. I'm finally going to go for a run with a health-freak friend this morning. Hope I survive this one!