OneMinutesJr video workshop in Papua New Guinea - Day 2

After a very successful round of brainstorming and story development yesterday, we can start the filming already today on the second day of the OneMinutesJr workshop in Port Moresby. One of the most touching stories is that of Geno.

The 17-year-old girl dropped out of school earlier this year, because her teacher almost sexually abused her. He had locked the door already and tried to rape the girl, but she threw a chair at him in self-defense and managed to escape. But the escape from this scene also meant that she could not return to school. She has not told anybody about this until today, because she fears a retaliation from the teacher if she tells her parents or even the police about the incident.

We can also shoot another story in the school building nearby the YWCA office in Port MOresby where we are holding the workshop this week. Eshcol (15) is a bullying victim at school and he wants to make a film about what happened to him last year. He was bullied for quite some time before the bullying got violent. One day he was beaten up by the bullies at school and decided for himself that it was enough. Eshcol went home, told his parents and they went back to school with him to talk to his teacher. The bullies were suspended from school fro a week and have left Eshcol alone ever since.

In the afternoon, we also film Wesley's film about the tools parents beat their children with. In the background you will be able to hear the PNG anthem, sung by the participants of the workshop. The sound and the images will stand in contrast, but this will make the film even better and more interesting.

Before it gets dark, we all take a mini-bus out to where John (15) usually lives. John was in conflict with the law a couple of years ago and was sentenced to eight months in jail. He is not behind bars anymore now and he also does not want to go back to prison. He wants to go back to school now and plays rugby with his friends. Education and sports serve as his substitutes for drugs and armed robbery. The friendship on and off the rugby field had helped him a great deal and so John will make this the center-piece of this film.

The filming schedule for tomorrow is another tight one and will see us going to a school, a prison and a local village. There are just so many more great ideas waiting to be transformed into OneMinutesJr videos...

Port Moresby, PNG - November 17, 2009 - Chris Schuepp