Category: Guatemala

Tamagochy

Tamagochy is a Guatemalan icon renowned for performing on the historic streets of Antigua, Guatemala. During our scouting trip in 2011, we saw him perform and were amazed by his creative talent. At first, we noticed the crowd gathered around him and wondered what was happening. As we approached to investigate, we quickly realized we were witnessing a master at work. Before we knew it, the crowd had drawn us in as more people joined behind us.

As a filmmaker, I pulled out my camera to capture his antics. Naturally, Tamagochy immediately engaged with me and invited me to join his performance. I remember thinking, “It would be fantastic if someone like him could be part of Becoming Fools.” However, at that time, we didn’t have a clear vision for the film. I didn’t want to extend an invitation in case it fell through. So, I chose to remain silent. Walking away without saying anything was difficult because I recognized Tamagochy’s potential. I regretted that decision for the rest of the scouting trip.

After getting home, I reviewed Tamagochy’s footage and once more felt a pang of regret for not reaching out to him. I couldn’t believe I had met him in person and failed to mention anything about the film. I didn’t get his contact information, nor did I ask him to sign a release form. As a result, this footage would never see the light of day. And then…

About a month after returning home, I received an email from Tamagochy …

He heard about the Becoming Fools project and wanted to help. I sat there in awe of what had just happened. I hadn’t said a word and had no idea how to contact him. But that didn’t matter; Tamagochi reached out to us!

Tamagochy is an outstanding talent. However, he did not approach his role with arrogance. Instead, he joined the team as a humble servant, volunteering his time because he recognized the challenges the youth were facing. He has proven to be an invaluable asset to both the street youth and the Becoming Fools story.

If you are ever in Antigua, Guatemala, make sure you take some time to enjoy his street performance … When he passes the hat, tip him well, knowing that you are helping an incredible artist continue to make the world a better place.

Here’s a scene from the Becoming Fools Theatrical event with Tamagochy and Toñito – both are featured in the documentary, Becoming Fools.

Prodigal Clown – Scene 2

Diving Into Documentary Production

Diving into documentary production is much like diving into the ocean: it’s breathtakingly beautiful, but it can also be overwhelming.

A year ago today, I said goodbye to my family to spend two and a half months in Guatemala working on my film, “Becoming Fools”. I was eager to get to Guatemala and start capturing the story. Prior to my trip, I had been directing the production from the U.S. for a couple of months, which proved to be quite frustrating. Every day brought new conflicts and obstacles that seemed to hinder our progress. It certainly felt that way, especially since bad news travels fast, particularly when you’re trying to achieve something positive. So, I boarded a plane to immerse myself in this film and pursue what I felt called to do.

I thought that being in Guatemala would somehow bring continuity to our production. I believed that things would become easier with my physical presence in the country. But I was mistaken. Proximity to conflict does not provide an advantage in controlling it. It wasn’t any easier; it was just a different kind of difficulty—one that was, in many ways, even more challenging. I found myself closer to the waves that constantly crashed down on everything, quickly getting swept out to sea just like everyone else.

However, I know two essential things about waves that also apply to documentary film production:

1. Don’t fight the current.

2. Never swim alone.

Charles Dickens captured this irony perfectly when he wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” This prophetic description certainly applied to the Becoming Fools production. It was grueling, stressful, and at times absolutely heart-wrenching. Yet, it was also one of the most joyful periods of my life. I joined hands with close friends and intentionally dove into the crushing breakers because we believed in something greater than ourselves. We were all swept away by the crashing waves and pushed beyond our comfort zones. But somehow, being together made it better because we weren’t swimming alone. This sense of community—mutual trust and interdependence—gave us the confidence to persevere in the face of enormous adversity. We all dove in together.

Ironically, none of us knew how to swim in the first place. None of us had the capacity to achieve our goal. We had all failed at some point. We weren’t the dream team, and at times it felt like a real nightmare. Yet, our group of seemingly incapable individuals became capable because we were called together by the One who makes all things possible. In this calling, my incapacity provided strength for someone else, and vice versa, when we committed to each other in the collaborative process.

However, working together isn’t easy. It can be chaotic and filled with dysfunction. We all make mistakes and may hurt each other in ways that seem to hinder any progress. A group of frightened people climbing on each other while gasping for air in a surging tide will almost certainly drown one another. But we have a life raft if we choose the right perspective. Over time, the ugliness can cancel itself out in a beautiful equation of grace, provided that it is built on a foundation of God’s love. That love compensates for our mistakes and transforms our self-ambition into a sacrifice for others. Thankfully, that love is a life raft big enough for all of us.

I dove into the ocean of documentary production hoping to make a difference in the lives of youth living on the streets. For the past year, I have been tossed around by a current I cannot control, and I still don’t know where it will take me. Yet, with the support of my fellow fools, I will continue to hold on to this life raft of love that transforms an ocean filled with broken people into an ark of redeeming grace, capable of bringing hope to distant shores.

2012 was a year of adventure and blessing for Athentikos

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.

Athentikos was part of a leadership team with Lemonade International and Vidas Plenas to host an annual art camp for 100 at-risk kids in the La Limonada community, Guatemala. Through individual donations and a grant from LEGO, Athentikos provided over 70% of the funding for this initiative.
Vidas Plenas received a $64,102 grant in response to the awareness raised by our documentary, “Reparando”.
We believe that stories inspire change and hope. We are thankful to share these incredible blessings from 2012, which would not have been possible without your support!
Please help Athentikos continue inspiring through the art of storytelling by making a tax-deductible gift of $50, $100, $200, or more. Your investment will yield exponential returns as it inspires through storytelling in 2013 and beyond!

Thank you for believing in our mission and generously sharing your time, talent, and resources. Together, we are all part of this inspiring story!

www.athentikos.com

To Become a Fool

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.

A Moment of Applause Fills the Soul

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.

Applause The Show

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.

The Purpose Of Our Documentary

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.

athentikos documentary Film Guatemala

Qué mundo tan pequeño!

Today was a busy day! I visited the street kids of El Tanque with At Risk No More, and then we drove two blocks down the street to spend some time with María the Doll Lady, who everyone has grown to love from the movie Reparando.

We greeted her in the street, and she immediately invited us into her house. We brought María a scarf made by someone in Tita’s workshop. After presenting the scarf and taking a photo we began to talk. María detailed several ways in which Reparando has blessed her. We were humbled by her immense gratitude. She mentioned that her life is simple. She works, but only has one obligation, and that is to follow God. Over and over she shared with us how God has provided everything she needs personally and for her business. She is very grateful for the work that she has and the blessings that Reparando has brought her. She even mentioned that she feels a little like a ‘celebrity’ because of the film. People that have seen Reparando have recognized her within the community and around the Potter’s House. Her grandchildren also find it amusing when they see their grandmother appear in a movie!

María invited us to the back room of her house where she used to work and store all of her dolls. However, the room is now less full than it has been in the past, because with so much work she had to find another location down the street to work and keep the dolls. This room had several finished dolls lying on a bed, but its walls were lined with bags of baby clothing that has since been donated to her through different organizations. Organizations have donated both money and clothing to María upon seeing the Reparando and being touch by her story, and inspired to respond.

María also shared with us that she has been so blessed that her work has now extended beyond working with the dolls. She has started working with paper recycling to keep her even busier. Her kids often urge her to stop working, or at least cut back. But she says her body is used to it and she does not want to stop. God has blessed her with health and with work that she loves, and therefore she will continue to do it.

Throughout our conversation, she told us about her family, about her work and about her neighborhood. She told us of kids who sleep in the street outside her house, who never caused trouble or violence, but could always be found sniffing solvent. She talked with Gary and Rachel of At Risk No More about their work with the kids of the streets, and mentioned El Tanque, a central location where At Risk No More and Athentikos are pursuing change for the kids in the street. She mentioned Marvin, a young man of El Tanque, whose family lives just across the street from her. We told her that we knew him and she laughed a little saying that he was like family to her, explaining that her nephew lives with Marvin’s sister.

I guess I shouldn’t be shocked that character from Reparando knows and shares family with a character of Becoming Fools. Qué mundo tan pequeño!

-Ericha Penzien

Becoming Fools production officially begins.

We spent three weeks in Guatemala during the month of November to officially begin production for Becoming Fools. During this time, we interviewed 24 people including street youth, professional clowns, government officials, church ministries, foster families, rehabilitation participants and organizations responding to the needs of homeless youth. We also captured footage at several clowning events and training sessions. It was inspiring to see the street youth working so hard to improve their skills and pursue a dream. Needless to say, we were very busy!

We learned so much about the issue. Many children begin street life because their parents send them there. Children sell candy and trinkets to contribute to the family’s income. Parents sometimes physically abuse children who don’t bring home enough money. As result, many 8 year olds decide to leave their homes and keep what little money they make. We met a seven year old girl who was all alone, selling candy outside a restaurant at 10:30 PM on a very cold night. She explained that she hadn’t eaten in 48 hours, but refused to allow us to buy her dinner because it would end up making her more hungry in the long run. Guatemala’s streets are full of children just like her.

It was very emotional to immerse ourselves in the details of this issue. Day after day we listened to heartbreaking stories from youth who have been physically and sexually abused, addicted to drugs and have spent years surviving in the streets of Guatemala. But there is another side to the story. We were blessed to be able to document the hope and restoration that is possible when people invest their lives to help these youth. Ministries like Iglesia Sinai’s “Agentes de Cambio” are going to the streets to help these youth. Organizations like MOJOCA and VIVA are rehabilitating and providing job placement to people who have no opportunities … And … professional clowns like Fergie are investing into street youth in a very unique way that provides the theme for our film.

Mefi is a primary character of our documentary who tragically lost his parents as a child and spent years living in the streets addicted to drugs. He has been enrolled in a rehab program for almost a year and completely turned his life around. Mefi is learning to clown and dreams of one day performing as a professional clown to inspire kids. He is not alone in this dream. Others like Willy, Byron, Ernesto and Raul are preparing with professional clowns for a public event that we will document later in 2012 as a part of Becoming Fools.

Film production is hard work. Production days are long and there is very little rest. Several of us ended up getting sick and needed antibiotics. However, the work is very rewarding. We captured some incredible stories and enjoyed working with our Guatemalan team members who are passionate about film, their country and their people. We were exhausted, but we journeyed together.

Since returning home, we have been busy reviewing footage and interviews from our trip to begin the editing process. We plan to return to Guatemala early in February or March 2012 to continue documenting the story.

Art Camp Highlight
In addition to production for Becoming Fools, we also had the opportunity to invest in the the community of La Limonada, which is featured in our documentary Reparando. We partnered with Lemonade International to teach a week long Art Camp to children from La Limonada. Words cannot even begin to describe the experience. Click here to watch our Art Camp highlight video. It will make you smile! Towards the end of the trip, we also attended a screening of ‘Reparando’ with the La Limonada community. It was a blessing and an honor to share THEIR story with them.

Financial Update
We were able to begin the production of the film because of the generous support of so many individuals. We have collected $50,000 of the $105,000 pledged. If you pledged to the project, please consider making your tax-deductible donation so we prepare our 2012 budget.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

Thank you for joining us on this journey,
Scott & Amelia

Art Camp 2011

Thanks to a grant from LEGO, Athentikos was able to partner with Lemonade International to take children from one of Central America’s largest slum communities to a week long Art Camp on the Guatemalan coast.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO BELOW.

The camp was appropriately named ‘Emocionarte’, a combination of the Spanish words for emotion and art. Many of the children from Limonada have experienced violence and abuse, so “Emocionarte’ was designed to teach students how to process emotions and communicate them in a healthy way using various art forms. One of our friends suggested that it was a time for the kids to express their emotions and for us to hold ours back.

Our seven hour journey from Guatemala City took us on three school buses through the mountains, desert and jungle of Guatemala to El Faro, an absolutely beautiful retreat center located on the coast of Punta de Palma, Izabal. Most of the children had never left the dangerous red zones of Guatemala City. The wide-open spaces of the camp were a whole new world to these young explorers from the small concrete alleys of La Limonada. Words cannot even begin to express our delight as we watched them run and play in the lush green grass and swim in the ocean for the first time.

Athentikos taught 90 kids and 30 adults in classes involving painting, sculpture, drama, collage and LEGOs. Every night ended with a special event including a costume party, an acoustic concert by Amy Stroup, bonfires on the beach and a movie night. As camp started, the LEGOs were still held up in customs at the Danish Embassy, and we didn’t know if they would be released in time to make it to camp. Miraculously the LEGOs showed up via boat on the second day. We were thrilled to be able to share this incredible gift from LEGO with the children from La Limonada.

The kids were very creative with their LEGO projects even though they had never played with them before. They built houses with meticulous detail, including toilets, TVs, trash cans filled with trash, stoves with propane tanks, lamps and couches. One boy shared that he built his home with red and white bricks to represent the peace and love that he always wanted to fill his house. Another designed his house with a very large kitchen because he wanted to be able to serve food to his surrounding community. These thoughts were so profound coming from children with such painful stories. We constantly had to remind ourselves that these were children from La Limonada.

On the final evening, we screened Reparando, our documentary that features the community where these children live. They were fascinated to see familiar people and places on the big screen. After the film, the Athentikos team gave each child a doll made by Maria (the Doll Lady) and explained the purpose of the story’s metaphor. It was a perfect way to close the emotional week and a very special time for the Athentikos team to share with the kids.

Upon returning to Guatemala City, we hosted an Art Show for the La Limonada community. Families were invited to see the children’s creations and hear firsthand from several of the students about their experience. The energy level was high and applause filled the room as each group shared. We were extremely proud of the kids and honored to partner with the staff of La Limonada in this life-changing camp! Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible!