One Year Ago....
BY JENIECE TORANO "GIDGET" MESA, ARIZONA- I just received an email the other day from Johnaphan Mvula, Jabbes Mvula's nephew. I can't believe he remembered that it has been a year since the crew and I were in Lusaka, Zambia. It's AMAZING that it has already been a year! It feels like such a dream now. I am so glad that we had most of it documented because 
I wouldn't have believed it myself that we actually went! Exactly one year today, which was Sunday, we were filming the N'goni Warriors. What an amazing experience that was. I remember that we had just arrived into Lusaka, Zambia on Friday. That same day we arrived at the Krazulu Kraal and met Dr. N'goma. Everything was happening so fast. We barely had enough time to get to the Lodge and unpack. Before we knew it, we were off to Mandevu. I was so excited! That place was so amazing and the people there were so beautiful and all so friendly! Everywhere you went was a "kodak moment" and so rich in color. It truly was a neat experience. One of my most favorite memories, I remember Cyndi always yelling my name and then had some of the other crew yelling for me because they were afraid that I would get lost since I'm vertically challenged. Yes...that's right. I am short. You know, I asked God if I could be taller....but He said "No."
At Mandevu, there were so many people and tons of children all curious as to why there were a large amount of "white" people coming with all of these cameras. They are so cute and photogenic. The camera really loves them and they really love the camera. It was amazing to be able to exerience that for a moment. After that we started to leave and saw a group of grownups playing a game with rocks. I'm not exactly sure how the game went. I wasn't paying attention when the gentlemen were trying to explain it the Cyndi. I got distracted buy a large bus full of mostly women and children, singing and piling out of it. It literally was shocking to see how many people came out of that thing. It was like watching the clowns at the circus coming out of their little bug and you can't help but say "how'd they do that?" It was definitely a neat little trick. Nothing you'd see back in the states that's for sure. Then the most hilarious thing happened. They were all singing and Alec started to dance the "harlem shake" with them. They just loved it. It was a great way to end our first big excursion out into the community.
The next day we went to shoot the N'goni warriors. On the way up to the village, the warriors all sang and clapped hands. As soon as we arrived to the village, everyone quickly got out of the but and started photographing and recording the warrior dancers. It all happened so quickly. I helped Carlos by being his guide (so he wouldn't trip while he walked backwards in the village) while he shot closeups of the warriors dancing. It was all too surreal.
In the end the whole trip completely changed my life. I believe it changed all of us, for the better. I am NOT the same person I was a year ago and I am glad. I have come out of my shell tremendously and learned to express my feelings more. Man, I sound like a guy. Ha-ha, I realized that I matter and that everyone else matters too. Everyone is entitled to his or her own feelings. And it only took me 25 years to figure that out. Ha-ha...Cyndi once told me that when she first met me, she thought I was frighteningly shy. All I was thinking was "Dang! I knew I was shy, but not frighteningly shy." I can only laugh at that cause it's really really ridiculously funny.
The past few weeks have been tremendously hard. As I watch all of the clips and photos of the cast, crew, and the locals, I can't help but get emotional. Yep, this is where the girl side of me comes out. I can't believe what an amazing crew we were and are. We did such an amazing thing. Cyndi asked me to put together a video of all of the cast and their experiences. I really dug through everything to find images that capture everyone. And, it only made me miss it all over again. You can watch my short video on the impact the journey had on the FilmZambia Crew.
One year ago, to the day was August 8, the day we left for Zambia. This year, that same day, I was on my way to the MCCD hearing, regarding the films, I got in a car accident. Go figure huh? "Bad timing" if you ask me. Who knew that one year to the day, we would have to fight for our rights to the film? This only goes to show that what we did was amazing and wonderful. And no matter what anybody says or does, we still went to Africa and made TWO films and changed the hearts of the people there....we hope it gave them a voice. We hope for a better future in the years to come. Zikomo Kwambiri, Makumba.