Lusaka 2005

Thursday, June 16th, 2005

We are leaving for Meheba in a few minutes.

I spent the last 2 days clearing my gear through customs in a collage of activity resembling a Kafka novel. UNHCR had made preparations for me, but unfortunately, not the ones the people at the airport desired. So, after trips to multiple government offices all over Lusaka, forms, stamps, signatures, inspections, meetings and so on, at last my gear is out of the airport. At one point, there was some concern that I would have to leave a deposit equal to the actual value of the items, which would have been impossible, but in the end it was ok. I even have an official Zambian press pass this time around, so it all will be for the best, though I will need to drop everything off at the airport the day before my departure to reverse the process of temporary importation.

The new Forgies are great so far, and I’m excited to work with them this summer. Apparently this year UNHCR is beginning to analyze the Rwandan situation, so I hope to participate in the process.

David Mallin

On the Plane

Monday, June 14th, 2005

We’re going to Zambia

I’m currently en route to Lusaka. Paris was lovely, and I feel well rested and prepared for the month ahead. Everything worked out getting my equipment onto the airplane at Heathrow, with no additional fees! I met up with the FORGE 2005 crew at the airport, and was able to successfully distribute my gear amongst them as both checked and carry-on bags. No cameras had to be checked, and.. I got my film around x-ray again. The security was diligent though. They swabbed the cans and opened every single tin in my black bag. Took about 25 minutes, with a crew of 3 security agents and myself assembly-lining all the tins through. They even all got resealed with their original Kodak tape. It’s a big sigh of relief for me!

On the way back, I will have donated all of my clothes to the refugees, left behind my expendables, and printed through all of the photo ink and paper for the photo printer, so I’ll be running a bit lighter than I am at the moment, though I expect to still need some help with the return transport.

That seems like a long time away though. I’ve got a lot to do before then!

Sarah, one of the FORGE 2005 crew, was just watching some bits of the doc with me. It was interesting for me to realize that she had never seen images of where we are headed to in such detail before, even though she is actually headed there herself at the moment. Sometimes you get so wrapped up in a project you kind of forget how new it is for other people, because you’ve seen every single image on the screen 100 times. It’s nice to regain the fresh perspective of a new viewer.

Next stop: Lusaka.
David

The Chunnel

Saturday, June 4th, 2005

A quick note on the Chunnel train from London to Paris..
It's a great train service. I really thought it to be a wonderful way to travel.
I wasn't expecting full airport style security though, including x-ray. My short ends all got blasted. When I gave them to the security agent and tried to explain, he just read me the line - no damage will be done. I tried to show him the TSA letter and mention the changing bag. When he heard that, he literally just chucked the film into x-ray and said: "Too late now. Next." Absolutely the rudest experience I've had in any country dealing with film and x-ray. I am SO SO glad that all my fresh stock for Zambia is in storage in London.

If you are taking this train and are carrying gear, definitely have a porter escort you through. Its speeds up the process immensely, even though they have no control over security.

Other notes:
I prepared an equipment list for temporary importation to Zambia. I've sent it to Cher (the FORGE Director), who in turn is going to pass it along to UNHCR. They have already agreed to support the process if it hits any issues. Once again, UNHCR offers support, and it is appreciated.

Tom apparently already completed the translations for the footage I sent ahead with him. I'll work those into the rough cut in Meheba and see what happens.

I love Paris, and I'm over jetlag. Looks like I'm actually going to get a week of rest before the shoot! :)

David Mallin

London

It's my last evening in London, so it's time for another update.

I got here without too much trouble. Got the remainder of my stuff and my car into storage, finished packing, and got to the airport with time to spare, extra actually, as my flight was delayed in departure. Having this letter helped me at the security checkpoint:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1035.xml
I definitely recommend anybody traveling with motion picture film bring it along.
Also helpful was the fact that another Bay Area filmmaker had apparently taken a large motion picture film package through security at SFO a few weeks ago, and some of the same people had worked that shift as were working mine. It was a Star something or other film, the last in a series; maybe you've heard of it.. :p

London has been gray most of my time here, so I didn't get to roll off any short ends - I guess I'll use em in Paris. I was kind of busy anyway. I had to buy a new suitcase to replace the one the was destroyed on the flight over (zipper ripped off the side). I took my new 9.5mm lens to ICE Film - the Aaton agent for the UK - to check to make sure it was in good working order. It wasn't. Focus was slipping, and it needs overhauled before Zambia. ICE has the lens now, and I'm going to pick it up the morning of the 13th, along with my film, which one of my sister's friends here is storing while I go to Paris. The 13th is going to be a very interesting day.

So is tomorrow, as I take the chunnel to Paris for the first time.

David