We are grateful for the opportunity to share Becoming Fools with Omaha and look forward to enjoying the festival events!
We would love to pack the house. Please save the date: Becoming Fools will screen sometime during the festival between March 6-10, 2013.
Stay Tuned for more details.
Thank you to the wonderful team at Omaha Film Festival!
Why do we keep marching forward in something that seems so foolish? Seriously, sometimes I wonder if I am just stubborn or foolish myself. Either way, we seem foolish for pressing on. Today, I finally finished editing “Becoming Fools”, and we received our first response back from a film festival where we submitted the project. It read:
“I’m sorry to inform you that your project was not selected … Best of luck with your future projects.”
Not exactly the most encouraging news on this milestone of production.
Let me set the stage for this message. I’ve been working on the “Becoming Fools” documentary for two years, full-time for the last year and a half, and honestly, “full-time” is an understatement. It’s more like 16 hours a day, six days a week. I don’t share this for sympathy; I share it to emphasize just how truly foolish I feel.
From the very beginning, every step of this journey has felt foolish. It’s been a marathon of impossible hurdles designed to challenge our resolve to keep going:
– The protagonist of the story passed away while we were in pre-production.
– Amelia and I lost our day jobs within three weeks of each other, leaving us without a secure income.
– Our Kickstarter fundraiser failed to raise the necessary funds to produce the film.
– Funds were not raised to pay for the live theatrical event documented in the film.
– The lead character of the live theatrical event quit and returned to the streets.
– We had 485 hours of footage that needed to be translated before we could edit it down to feature length.
– The editing process took five months, working 16 hours a day, six days a week.
– We missed the opportunity to enter several major film festivals for the season.
– Technical difficulties complicated the finalization of the edit.
– Our first film festival notice was a rejection.
– We currently lack funds to release the film.
And yet, we continue. Why?
There are days when I wonder if I have wasted the last few years of my life investing in this seemingly foolish endeavor. Some days, it really stings and makes me feel like a total failure. But then I take a deep breath and remember why we started this project: it is a story that needs to be shared to inspire others.
What is failure? What is foolishness? Italo could be seen as both. He lived his life in accordance with the passion that God gave him, risking everything to care for kids who seemed unlikely to change. In fact, many of the children he helped still struggle with addiction and have not completely left the streets. But Italo didn’t die in those streets. Instead, his passion sparked the creation of a community of “fools” who believe they can make a difference together.
Was Italo a fool? Yes. Was he a failure? Absolutely not.
Like Italo, we continue because we are “fools” living our lives according to the passion God has given us. With that purpose in mind, there is no way we can fail. So, we keep marching forward.
We are grateful to share our journey from 2012 with you:
Athentikos took a risk by beginning production on the Becoming Fools documentary without full funding, believing that God would provide. As of December 2012, the film is 75% complete.
For over five months, homeless youth were mentored by professional artists in preparation for a live theatrical event aimed at raising awareness and inspiring community involvement in the fight against homelessness. Athentikos fully funded the clowning classes and the theatrical production.
Ericha Penzien spent seven months in Guatemala facilitating film production and managing rehearsals for the theatrical performance. We were also blessed to have our first production intern, Brandon Rojano.
Scott Moore dedicated two and a half months to Guatemala to build relationships with homeless youth, mentor Guatemalan production volunteers, and capture footage for the Becoming Fools documentary. Our work gained visibility through features in magazines, radio, and television.
In June, Athentikos partnered with Guatemalan churches, NGOs, and local and federal governments for a consultation event to address homelessness and present an official report to the Guatemalan government. During this month, homeless youth shared their stories through a theatrical performance in front of over 400 people at Guatemala’s historic Teatro Abril.
We captured more than 485 hours of footage for Becoming Fools. As part of the project Reparando, Shorty had the opportunity to share the stage with Guatemala’s Vice President and present his testimony to over 10,000 high school students.
Thank you for believing in our mission and generously sharing your time, talent, and resources. Together, we are all part of this inspiring story!
By: Tyler Bradley
It is crazy to believe that a little over a month ago I was in Guatemala with some amazing people, spreading the Gospel and capturing life in a very raw sense. I have been out of the United States several times, but this was the first trip that had a layered agenda, to document a broken world in hopes to rebuild it, to help people along the way, to show and share love, and to bring back the need for help and share that with others. I thought that was going to be the extent of what happened on this journey, but little did I know, it would change my life in a significant manner.
If someone would come up to me and say, “would you help us shoot a documentary out of the country for a couple of weeks?” Without a doubt I would say yes, however this wasn’t just some ordinary excursion of a documentary, rather this is a sequel if you will. Athentikos’s first documentary, “Reparando,” weighed heavily on my heart when I watched it. The film gave insight into various serious issues in Guatemala and the need for outside help because help within is sparse. The documentary showed me how shattered a civilization, yet at the same time how Guatemalans continue to trudge forward and overcome adversity. That said, that was even more of a push for me to go on this trip to document footage for Athentikos’s second documentary “Becoming Fools”.
I will admit I was scared to go to a country I had never been to, where there would be some culture shock and where I could personally experience some adversity. I went down there blindly, only knowing one person, Bobby Marko. I knew I was going to serve a loving and gracious God, so with that instilled in me, everything was going to be just fine.
Upon my arrival in Guatemala I had a warm welcoming from the Athentikos crew, as well as a lot of Español! I knew I had made the right decision the second I met everyone. From there on, I knew I was there to minister, serve, and do my job as a camera operator so we could influence the rest of the world and bring this story to them. The one thing I wasn’t counting on was changing my own outlook.
Without stringing this on, I was broken of my own walls and priorities, God showed me a side of life I had never seen before and He wasn’t holding anything back. Visualize this, a child who is barely a teenager, or even younger, who is just now entering the 6th grade. To us, we would see them as youthful beings, probably playing a sport after school or doing some extracurricular activity. In the United States, we see the youth as a precious generation. Yet let’s take this same age and apply it to a child in Guatemala. They are probably living on the street, don’t have a family, hardly any education, are malnourished and addicted to any drug they can get their hands on.
For me, seeing children struggling to live, to look to the future and see no hope, not to know love or God just kills me inside. To experience their lives as we did was so shocking, eye-opening, and at the same time humbling. If I could pick a day that impacted me the most, it would be when we drove around looking for children selling goods on the streets. We encountered a group of people ranging from about 10 to about 40 years old. We got out and did some interviews with them, but what became glaringly clear is how these children and adults were coping with their street life, which was by huffing solvent. It is one thing for me to see a grown man or woman doing drugs, but when you visit a 10-year-old child huffing solvent to quench their hunger, it does something to you. And even more so, while we were interviewing these children, the local police drove by and honked at us to get out of the street, and you can see that they could care less about the children who are addicted to drugs, not but 5 feet from us. In a sense, as I am writing this, I am speechless because words cannot describe how hopeless these children and adults are, how this is their release, and that to them this is the best way to live.
If there were one thing that can influence/inspire others to lend a hand and support the street kids of Guatemala, I would say that the severe dependence on drugs is the most motivating factor. Now don’t get me wrong, not all hope is lost, there are some children who, with guidance, find a way out of the addiction, but the lack of guidance and love is what is keeping the other kids on the street.
I think the documentary “Becoming Fools” will change people’s lives and break them in the same way this experience broke me. It will make you not only want to help these street kids, but it will make you re-evaluate your own life. We are so fortunate and have so many resources readily available to us that we live a sheltered life. I was living a sheltered, comfortable life myself, living day to day, finding happiness in monetary items, and not praising God the way I should. Yet to see a child smile or a glimpse of hope in their eye because you are there to help them, to show them a way out of the darkness and spread that word to others around the world… that is the meaning of life and that is where true happiness should be found, in knowing you are helping someone else in their life struggle and that because of you and the faith you have, these kids have hope and see a brighter future. I would say “I have been fooled,” that I was a prime example of someone who needed a wake-up call, and that a material world had tricked me. Yet to have become a fool and realize what life really is about is the most rewarding factor of it all.
Nothing fills the soul like applause. As the receiver and the giver.
So many emotions flood that one moment: the sense of accomplishment, the sorrow of the end, the struggle of the hard work and the desire for more. It is reflection of countless hours of rehearsal and sacrifice; and of the belief that you could be more. It’s a time to celebrate, to come together. In this moment, you realize you didn’t give up, that your voice was heard, that others accepted you.
Life without applause slowly crushes the soul. Who believes in me? Who will be my champion? Who will celebrate with me? Who will allow me to have a voice?
For one week in June, I spent my time in a dark rehearsal theater in Guatemala City, observing youth from the streets who were given the chance to take on a significant task. I couldn’t help but wonder if most of their lives felt like the dark, cold theater—without an audience, lacking light, filled with unfinished work, doubt, disbelief, frustration, and a silence that longed for applause.
Disbelief filled my thoughts, “There was no way this was coming together.” I was here as a champion for them, but I disbelieved. Could this event really come together? Could they REALLY accomplish this task? Did they have enough determination, enough skill… enough confidence?
For those who are new to our story: My husband and I are connected to Guatemala through the adoption of our two sons. We wanted to maintain a meaningful connection to the country, so we decided to use our skills in film and photography to share inspirational stories of hope. As a result, we produced a documentary film titled *Reparando*, which was completed in 2010. We are currently working on a second documentary project called *Becoming Fools*. This film focuses on young men and women who left their homes, lost their families, or were abandoned as children and grew up on the streets of Guatemala. The streets of Guatemala City are home to more than 6,000 youth. Many of these children begin their lives on the streets as young as 8 years old. They often sleep in abandoned lots, beg or steal for money, and resort to drugs to escape their hunger, the cold, the rain, or even worse circumstances.
They are not alone; individuals and organizations are making a difference in the lives of marginalized children and young people. One man even dreamed of hosting a clown workshop.
The handful of youth participating in the clown workshop had the opportunity to perform in front of 400 people at a large theater in Guatemala City. The purpose of this event was to bring to awareness the situation of youth and children living on the streets of Guatemala City. This theatrical performance was the final event in a series of weeklong activities entitled Festival: Voz De Las Calles. Through laughter and learning, professional clowns have been investing time and love into this group, teaching them the beautiful art of clowning. This performance was a dream for many members of the community. It gave the youth a chance to perform with professional clowns, taught them to dream, believe, achieve and receive applause from their community.
The story of the show reflects the real-life experiences of its characters, portrayed as clowns. Here’s a synopsis: A heartwarming journey unfolds as a clown embarks on an adventure filled with friendship. He discovers new companions in unexpected circumstances and teaches them the art of clowning. Together, they find joy in their newfound skills and decide to accompany him to “The King’s Party.” Along the way, they face various obstacles, but they remain determined to bring laughter and hope to the community around them.
As you may know, Scott spent two months in Guatemala this spring documenting the preparation for a clown event, the progress of the rehearsals, and interviewing experts about the issue of children who live and work on the streets. I was fortunate enough to join him for the last two weeks, which included the theatrical performance. It was a stressful week leading up to the show. Nothing is stable or consistent in the lives of children and youth at risk on the streets. Their thought processes, decision-making, and behavior reflect the instability they experience in their own lives. While it is heartbreaking to witness some of their immature actions, I am humbled by their courage to continue living, growing, and forming families amidst difficult circumstances. Although their clown performance was just a brief moment in their lives, the hope and prayers of the community are that they will reap the rewards of their hard work and find inspiration on various levels. I know it was inspiring for me.
And I am extremely proud to say that even in the midst of chaos and drama, the performance was beautiful. It was an honor to stand and give applause to the youth performers. Their talent and determination is amazing. And so we will be sharing their stories AND their performance in the documentary film, Becoming Fools, which we hope to complete by the end of 2012.
Here are some more of photos of the film production, which included a trip to Lake Atitlan and some underwater filming for me. This area has a special place in the story of the project; and is now one of my favorite places in Guatemala! And we got to have a little fun too. We also spent time with a sweet group of siblings who recently tragically lost their mother.
You have the opportunity to join the applause. We will share more about our documentary as it unfolds, however you can support the project now through a donation.
Here is an updated teaser for the documentary Becoming Fools. Please spread the word.
9 Fruits Nashville Fundraiser June 1
Join the Athentikos team at 9 Fruits in Cool Spring Friday June 1 at 7:30pm to hear about our new film project. Scott, Ericha & Jonathan will be skyping in from Guatemala too. Proceeds from the smoothie sales will be going to the Becoming Fools project.
Can’t make the event but still want to support Athentikos!? The Athentikos crew is getting ready to join Scott this month to finish up filming. CLICK HERE to support us through your financial donations.
Guatemala’s statistics seem hopeless, but we believe we can make a difference because we are Becoming Fools. We spent the afternoon with an incredibly sweet family who are featured in Becoming Fools. A single mother who was deaf and mute, was murdered in February, leaving her four children to live with their grandmother. That is sad enough … but the story continues. These children sell candy on the streets at night to help their grandmother make ends meet financially. In fact, the eleven year old son had to sell candy on the streets the day after his mother’s death in order to pay for her coffin. This reality is what we hope to document in our documentary, Becoming Fools.
I stepped on a plane on April 23 to travel to Guatemala to continue production … and haven’t stopped since. We continue to document the story that unfolds before us. It is sad at times, and often overwhelmingly so. But we have also witnessed incredible joy as street youth prepare for their theatrical event on June, 16. These precious kids who were once only familiar faces have become friends and we are thrilled to watch them grow. It will be difficult to capture their stage performance because I know our eyes will be full of tears!
Momentum has grown in ways that we could have never imagined. In addition to film production, we have engaged in meetings with NGO’s, GO’s, churches and media to plan the week long event named Festival: Voz De Las Calles (Voice of the Streets). Groups and organizations are collaborating like never before, and rallying together around the idea that “together is better”.
We are more than tired. Our journey has been a trail of impossibilities and we still have a ways to go. We are the under dog – under staffed, under funded, and told by many that we cannot accomplish what we set out to do. But we choose to believe that all things are possible because we are Becoming Fools.
We still need your help.
Click here to give a tax deductible donation.
Athentikos, FreedomGuatemala, PorUnaCausa and Weyaverde joined forces at Monkibú. The event was multi-purpose, directed at benefiting all organizations involved, in addition to raising awareness about recycling and the issue of children living in the street. Monkibú, a fun center for kids, hosted an event to teach kids about recycling.
Toy Story characters Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie showed up at the event to teach the children the importance of recycling. They discussed what materials could be recycled and the proper way to recycle these materials in addition how to conserve energy. Buzz, Woody and Jessie taught the kids the 3 R’s…reducir, reusar, reciclar (reduce, reuse, recycle).
As part of the event, all participating organizations invited everyone to bring their recyclable items to a recently installed recycle bin at Monkibú. Weyaverde, a recycling center installed this bin and will pick up all donated materials and transport them to a recycling center. Monkibú is now an established “punto verde” (recycling center) and will continue accepting recycling donations, however all proceeds collected from today’s event and through June 15th will be donated to MOJOCA – Movimiento de jóvenes de la calle. MOJOCA is an organization in Guatemala City working in the streets with children of the streets. Many of the children involved in Voz de las Calles and Becoming Fools are children that participate in MOJOCA’s programs. Their work features 5 stages in which children from the streets attend school, participate in vocational training, work for an income, gain independence and reinsert themselves into society. Benefits from Voz de las Calles and Becoming Fools will go to continue this vocational training at MOJOCA.
Seek the journey that seems impossible & out of reach. That is where you find true friends.
The last three weeks have been full and diverse. Actually, diverse is a nice way of saying stretched thin. We’ve had long days of meetings, researching, scouting, production, logging footage, editing … and more meetings. Toss in lack of sleep and heavy subject matter and you have the perfect scenario to brew a typhoon of emotions.
We are documenting a story that is uncontrolled – many times it seems as if it has no track at all, winding all over the place and crashing into anything in its path. Conflict makes for a great story, but the trouble is you have to capture it …. In the past three weeks, we have:
• Lost a theatrical director to a motorcycle accident
• Potentially lost a major character to the story who has been in rehab for over a year & wants to move out on his own but probably shouldn’t
• Received news that we were not selected for a grant we hoped to receive that would have greatly helped us finish this film
• Been told by several people that we cannot achieve what we have set out to do
But over the same period of time, we have:
• Secured Guatemalan television coverage and interviews for some of our events
• Witnessed NGOs, Governmental, Evangelical and Catholic organizations join together in cooperation to begin a united front in tackling the issue of street youth
• Partnered with another Guatemalan NGO that is helping to resource the live event
• Been blessed with an incredible new theatrical director for our live event
• Developed a relationship with an international TV media
• Sparked an interest from a marketing guru from Pepsi Guatemala
• Watched the youth grow together as they rehearse for the live event
Ultimately, the thing that matters the most in the list above is the last. That is what keeps us going at the end of the day. We aren’t merely telling a story about an issue, we are telling a very personal story about real people who are trying to break the bondage of their circumstances. When I see these kids faithfully show up every week for rehearsal, it breaks my heart and fills it up at the same time. I have seen them both high on solvent and straight as an arrow. I have seen them on the street, in rehab and back on the street. I have seen them cry out in prayer and laugh hysterically at funny moment. Most importantly, I have seen them … as real people … with dignity.
We have a very long way to go in production, and to be honest, I have no idea how this story will unfold. It is frightening, if not overwhelming to feel responsible for capturing all of this into a story that is as fragile and beautiful as the reality in which we currently drift. But I’m clinging to the hope that we are not merely drifting. Somehow these collisions are intentional in eternity.