Voice of an African Nation

GINA PUMA, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER, GILBERT, ARIZONA, USA-- I am so happy and relieved to hear that all is well and the crew has arrived in Lusaka, Africa safely. I went to the airport to see them all off and I felt like a Mama bird pushing my babies out of the nest. One little birdie almost didn't fly but he recovered (his passport, that is) and learned a very valuable lesson before taking that long journey on his own. As I said goodbye to everyone and watched them spend those last few minutes with their families, I saw their commitment and determination as they left behind the ones they cared for the most. There was some sadness, a little fear of the unknown, but mostly there was enthusiasm and a desire to allow this project to transform them. The last few weeks before the crew departed for Africa, we all spent a great deal of time working together to make these films a successful reality. First, there was finding the funding to take the crew to Africa for a month. We spent countless hours writing proposals to help others understand why this is such a great opportunity for Africa, the United States and the World. Next, we needed to buy more equipment and supplies, gather passports, acquire immunizations, purchase tickets, obtain visas - the list seemed endless and some days... insurmountable. Then there were weeks of preparing the script breakdown and the storyboards- this was no simple task. Jabbes accused me of being so detail oriented that I just about counted every hair on his head. Now the crew has journeyed to the other side of the Earth...without me. I know that I must let it be someone else's task to make sure all your hairs are in place, Jabbes. Whoever has that task, keep me informed! Our months of preparation built strong working relationships and friendships. There is still much work to be done here in the States while production begins in Zambia. I am so grateful to all those who contributed but I continue to search for more funding for the many production and post-production expenses that lie ahead. It is now Monday morning in Lusaka and all of our hard work is indicative of this moment. There is only one more word that needs to be said and I believe it is the embodiment of this project..."ACTION"!