A Record of Reality: Filming the Work of ProNica

by Alice Ford and Nathaniel Wills

In 1997 Nathaniel and I first came to Nicaragua to work as archaeological volunteers. We traveled to many other Latin American countries at the time, but it was Nicaragua and its people which captured our hearts the most. Before we left, we stood atop a hill overlooking the twin volcanoes of Ometepe and swore that one day we would return, although we had no idea when or how.

Seven years later we had saved up enough money to come back. This time we hoped to be able to use our professional film making skills to do something positive for Nicaragua. We contacted many NGOs working in Nicaragua, offering our film making services. A month before we were due to arrive in Nicaragua, Lillian Hall from ProNica responded to our message.

When we received Lillian’s letter, a tingle went down my spine. ProNica’s need for a film, and our skills and available time were perfectly matched. Furthermore, ProNica’s philosophy of ‘helping Nicaraguans to help themselves’ was one with which we felt very comfortable. Deep inside I knew for certain that this was a film which wanted to be made.

We arrived in Nicaragua in early June and hit the ground running. In our first week we filmed at the Acahualinca Women’s health clinic, the Quinchos at San Marcos and La Chureca, the Martin Luther King School and the Casa Materna at Matagalpa. The next week we spent four days at Achuapa.

We soon realized that we were going to get a lot more out of our time here than just making a film. Like many other delegations and volunteers before us, we were profoundly moved by the people we met and the conditions they lived in. We were also greatly inspired by the projects themselves, and the tenacity and resourcefulness of all the people involved.

As part of making the film, we conducted interviews with many of the beneficiaries of the projects. For me this was the most special experience of all. It is always a privilege to have someone share with you the story of their life, but the frankness and trust of the Nicaraguans who gave us their testimonies was truly humbling. It is always a privilege to have someone share with you the story of their life, but the frankness and trust of the Nicaraguans who gave us their testimonies was truly humbling. I will never forget the articulate maturity of Juan Carlos who had grown up with the Quinchos, the gentle strength of Adelina about to have her fourth child, the dignified humility of Don Carlos from Achuapa (who ‘felt like new’ after acupuncture treatment) and the forthright common sense of Santana, who had made the most of a chicken health workshop funded by ProNica.

Our hearts and minds filled with all that we had seen and experienced, we returned back to Managua to begin the process of turning the raw material into a film. We felt grateful to have such a productive outlet for all the thoughts and emotions swirling inside of us.

After a couple more weeks, the script was almost ready, but we still hadn’t secured access to computer equipment that would allow us to edit the film in Nicaragua. At times I worried how it would all work out. I knew that if we had to wait until we returned home to Australia, time, distance and a very different world would make it so much harder to capture the essence of what we had experienced here. But then I would recall the feeling of certainty that this film was meant to happen, and felt sure that an answer would present itself.

The answer came in the form of Eric Usner, a former Sarah Lawrence College delegation leader who was spending his summer vacation in Nicaragua. At the last minute he had thrown his computer into his bag, not really sure whether he would need it or not. It turned out he didn’t, but we did.

For three weeks we threw ourselves into the task of editing the film. The creative juices flowed fast and freely as we put together the stories of the different projects and the people that they served.

A lot of hours in our “edit suite” (the couch in the corner of Quaker House) and a few technical problems later, we have now finished the film. For us it has been an honor to record and communicate through film the work of ProNica, and a little of the strength and spirit of the Nicaraguan people. We hope that it proves a useful tool in furthering ProNica’s work in Nicaragua.

The film is available on DVD by sending $10.00 plus your shipping information to:
ProNica DVD
130 19th Avenue Southeast
St. Petersburg, FL 33705-2810

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