Staying Grounded
BY M.K. RACINE LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA AFRICA - It’s easy to be consumed with the day to day operations of filmmaking; add the elements of cultural diversity, “language barriers,” and a vast disparity in the concept of time, one cannot help but allow a little stress to affect ones physical and mental stamina. Further, such factors enable one to lose sight of established objectives, loosening ones grasp on what needs to be done in order to adapt to the environment; adapt to a degree that offers some semblance of accomplishment. It can be challenging to stay focused and grounded in ones work with so much “static” and unforeseen obstacles, diminishing energy and little to no sleep. To me, being grounded means developing a foundation from which to exist; where going back to the basics takes you along the right path, no matter where it meanders, or why. To be placed in a quasi-polar work environment and culture has challenged my abilities to stay true to myself. To act as I have always chosen to act, to speak and think in a manner that I thought was second nature. It’s easy to be grounded when your foundation has settled on familiar territory. To uproot it and replant it, on foreign soil, does not ensure the same solid ground from which to exist. This experience and opportunity have, overall, been satisfying, but by no means has this been easy.
This weekend, however, marked a pivotal moment in this trip and the project, at least for me. The crew journeyed up to Victoria Falls late Sunday afternoon, arriving at 1:00 am on Monday morning. Though the terrain was rough and our destination uncertain, the trip, the time, and the “anxiety” were all worth it. We stayed at the Taipa Falcon Lodge, overlooking rapids 16 and 17 on the Zambezi River. The view, the air, and the aura provided me with calming, majestic and overwhelming beauty. For the first time in this trip I felt I was being swallowed by the vastness of Zambia, and inspired by its natural and antiquated beauty.
To this point, Lusaka offered me adequate insight into city life here in Zambia, but Livingstone, Victoria Falls, showed me Africa.
Sharing this enlightening experience with other crewmembers really brought me back to who I am, why I came, and how I choose to leave this country. Perhaps it was also the separation from our hectic work schedules, but Victoria Falls allowed me to revisit the aspects of what make me feel grounded and realize that those elements are within myself and cannot necessarily be pulled from the physical environment in which I find myself at any given time. Sitting over a massive gorge illustrates the fact that, at times, there is no place, no land on which to build your foundation, so it just needs to be carried and accessed from within. How I lost sight of that, I don’t know….
This experience never ceases to amaze me, however, and continuously I’m presented with an opportunity for growth. A major goal for the feature and documentary was to obtain aerial footage of Victoria Falls. In a day, we made the decision and finalized the plans to charter a helicopter to take the crew over the falls and surrounding area. Initially, the cinematographers and still cameramen were to be the only crewmembers to take flight. However, we were able arrange three flights within our allotted time, enough for each member of the crew to get an aerial peak of Victoria Falls.
Personally, I am a little scared of heights and would have been fine with staying grounded. Yet, at the last minute, while Mike and Carlos were being given instructions for an “open door” flight, Cyndi hollered, “Go!” and gently lead me towards the helipad. I really did not have a chance to process her choice and its impact on me, but jumped into the back next to Shawn. Carlos and Mike were seated next to the open door, being given the opportunity to get the best shot. As soon as I jumped in I was secured in my seat and given my headset. Shawn was next and before I could get my camera out of my bag, we were in flight waving goodbye to the documentary crew below.
Though the footage was amazing and will take the feature to a new level what affected me most was watching Carlos, Mike, and Shawn behind their respective cameras. They’ve all worked so hard thus far, and though the purpose of the flight was to enhance our work, I could see the excitement they each had in this opportunity to improve the film and enhance their filmmaking experience. I think we all have those once in a lifetime opportunities to take advantage of something spectacular in our lives. Some jump at the chance, others let them pass, while another group is somehow dragged in with uncertainty, yet leaves unable to imagine how life could have unfolded any differently.
“Staying grounded” wasn’t an option for me yesterday, and with this flight behind me, the likelihood that I will be dragged in with uncertainty the next time is minimal, by all means I will choose to take flight.