"After Maria's" Backlash And The 7 Tips To A Well-Rounded Doc
I just watched the documentary “After Maria” and I feel a combination of rage, sadness, and well… get ready for a rant… but know that is not entirely impulsive, or so I hope.
Let’s start by mentioning that the piece should have been called “FEMA sends Already-Accustomed-to-Federal-Aid Puertorricans To The United States After Maria”… My point is that the film is focused on a very specific part of what happened to some families after Hurricane Maria. The interviewees sure had their struggles by loosing their home and having to live six months in a Bronx hotel, but the lack of context of the documentary is what has people raging in social media. There is no real sense of what happened inside the island, the struggles, the joys…; of what happened to other families that did flourish outside Puerto Rico; there is no exploration of why the portrayed families felt entitled to the federal help which has to do so much with the colonial relationship between the two countries… There needs to be proper representation, explanation, coverage…
“The documentary is nothing more than the creative treatment of reality. In this way, the assembly of sequences must include not only the description and the rhythm, but the commentary and dialogue.” - John Grierson
The film aired on Netflix las week. This large platform counts with about 130 million subscribers and is seen in over 180 countries - of course locals are outraged - the documentary does not do justice to what was lived. By giving an incomplete message, the resulting piece is erroneous and misinformative. It feeds on the stereotype of the dependent puertorrican that lives from the government. To put it in perspective, think it this way: someone omits a truth to you and they say it’s not a lie, yet you are mad, offended… That’s pretty much wats going on here.
“A country without documentary filmmaking is like a family without a photo album.” - Patricio Guzman.
I don’t pretend to tell you to not watch it, like many are asking, all I ask is to have this very clear: the portrait of the families in the film are valid, but so is the story of the many others; the hard workers, the innovators, the vandals… The struggle for survival, lack of commodities…. Man, so much happened…. (read my experience to learn more), and I know its not easy to find the thread that helps reveal the story little by little, but that is part of it; documentaries are an exploration.
“You know, the process of making a documentary is one of discovery, and like writing a story, you follow a lead and that leads you to something else and then by the time you finish, the story is nothing like you expected.” - William Shatner.
Documentary filmmaking is a working process. We are all learning new things as we go and I am sure that no matter the many years in “the business” we’ll still be learning to make documentaries. So, with all that’s going on - what makes a well-rounded documentary? The answer to such inquiry like in most creative fields is the story. It’s the single component that the film lies upon. Once a story is identified the filmmaker must compose it accurately. And because accurate is a tricky subject, it should be treated with upmost sensibility. Stories have a special way of putting us inside other people - in their shoes…
Shoes memorialize victims of Hurricane Maria.
(Canon 5D mark 2; 24-105 mm F4)
Here are 7 Quick Tips to creating a well-rounded documentary:
Remain impartial and be open minded.
Your theories and ideas will change. Learn to adjust.
Characters require a voice.
Make sure you are getting multiple perspectives, specially if you don’t agree. Remember that, depending on your style, characters can be inanimate objects too.
Raise more questions than answers!
Again, documentaries are a process of discovery.
Films tell the truth even if the subjects don’t.
Taking an anthropological approach will help put this into practice.
High quality gear is not always a must have (or can have), but is a good plus.
Priority goes to sound over visuals, if you have to choose. People are more likely to view a low quality video than listen to something that hurts their ears.
Archival footage is your friend.
Sometimes this is one of the most powerful tools to help guide the story.
Sound sets a tone, use it wisely, don’t over work it.
Music, sound effects, sound design - it all should help you convey an emotion not force people to feel a certain way.
“ I am not Michael Moore. I think Michael Moore wants you to think how to think. He wants you to give you answers. I make movies to raise my own personal questions and not to give answers.” - Michael Moore.
Hurricane Maria’s effect on Puerto Rico brought many filmmakers and journalists - some opportunists others came with genuine intent to tell their interpretation. And the matter is that the public has no control over it - the stories they produced some that a few managed to see, still bring outrage. Heck, the media did a lot of sensationalism, but we were too preoccupied with living day to day - surviving. The difference now is that we can do what we couldn’t before - we have internet, we have a voice. So, now that we are slowly, but surely getting back on our feet, it so happens that “After Maria” gets backlashed.
I think in part this is because, we are still dealing with events after Maria. Hurricane Maria brought to surface and worsened the foundation in which Puerto Rico operates. There are still power outages, inconsistencies with water supply, economic inequality, unemployment… Sure a lot has bettered, specially for tourism and we are glad for it, but the arduous work towards a stable country remains questionable.
No one is happy; the radio, the tv, podcasts all have something to say about the documentary. Of course people feel it very deeply, the traumas endured - families burying families in their own backyards… over 2,500 deaths… there is so much that still resonates. Even when I see footage from the hurricane or it’s aftermath I get shaken; my eyes tear-up, my throat tightens, and my chest gets heavy. The reality is that the damages after the storm will take years to recuperate from.
Nadia Hallgren, the director of the film, chose to focus on one situation, a small part in the large sum of events, and it must be recognized as such. I appreciate her eagerness to create something, empowered by her puertorrican descendance, but I just hope that that motivator becomes the start of a bigger journey to uncover all aspects of the story. That spark within her soul is meant to thrive in a campfire and not die on a match.
It’s clear that there is no way of creating a documentary with every possible angle and I know that every work is done with the vision and decision of the filmmaker…. but truth (all of it!) and creativity are key to telling a proper message effectively.
I hope that Hallgren and Netflix take this opportunity to open doors to other filmmakers from the island, to open the conversation, so the story can be complete and fair. Many of the filmmakers from the exterior had, not only the resources to create content, but they also had the commodities to produce and lobby opportunities for distribution, while the filmmakers in the island where both documenting and seeking shelter. So, no wonder why their perspective has a stronger roar and is in the spotlight.
“Every time you are getting ready to make a shot in a documentary film, you are asking yourself questions about your cinematographic approach. You are approaching the truth, but the image is never the truth itself”. - Rithy Panh
I am glad of the growing recognition Candle Light, by Verónica Ortiz-Calderón, is having.
It is obvious the island seeks for well-rounded and uplifting stories. I would like to encourage more filmmakers to share their angles, their visions, their films. Who knows, we could call it #ouraftermaria. And I am well aware of the lack of resources there are. Heck, I am still working on sharing what I filmed - just last weeks was I able to get a proper editing system (blog post about building the computer coming soon), yet I know we can and will make it happen. Puerto Rico deserves a proper [documentary] album, one that is not imposed or dictated by inaccuracy, one that serves as a window to our past and also an open door to our possibilities, hopes, dreams, and continuous thrive.
“I think what I love about documentary pieces is that you bring yourself to the documentary. And hopefully that makes you ask good questions, and hopefully that makes you reveal a little about yourself as well” - Soledad O Brien.
Find this helpful? Help support creative and educational content.
A New Year's Hope for Sustainability
I hope that this new year sets the stage with ideas and efforts that re-build a stronger and “smarter” community. Puerto Rico's power grid should be updated, in a more resilient, and not dependent on expensive, polluting imports. With solutions like electricity by gravity, roof tops able to harvest rain (like in Bermuda) ,and educational efforts on the subject, we can amend our effects on the environment and thus our livelihood.
It's a New Year and I have never felt so hopeful. If there is one thing I would like to work for in conjunction with others, for the 2018’s resolution is sustainability for Puerto Rico – the same island that though it has many fascinating facts, at the moment, besides the international hit “Despacito”- is mostly renown for being devastated by Hurricane Maria.
One of Puerto Rico's typical country sights two weeks before Maria.
Puerto Rico's country sight a week after Maria.
On September 20, 2017, after sweeping across the Virgin Islands as a Category 5 storm, Maria plowed into my homeland through the southeast shore with winds of 155 miles per hour, as a barely diminished Category 4. It was over us for more than 12 hours. I recall the whistling sounds of the wind like a devilish allure (it was so powerful it created pressure in my body, similar to when one scuba dives). The phenomenon shredded buildings, wrecked the electrical power grid and possibly led to more than 1,000 deaths.
This entirely undesirable storm helped me understand many things about my country, some that I had no idea, others that I suspected and a few that I didn’t understand in scale. Days after the catastrophe, my cousin and I went to the streets to help the community and though we were filled with hope, our resources didn’t suffice. With personal funds, supplies from neighbors and acquaintances, we made goodie bags to give out to whoever needed them. The goodie bags had toiletries, canned food, water, baby supplies and candles, among other things. As the word spread, we learned of others that had similar goals and it wasn’t long when we joined forces. We went across the island, from San Juan to Mayagüez, Luquillo to Peñuelas, and in between; from valley to coast, mountains to hills - we went through tough scenarios where even the government and federal aid had not yet arrived.
None of us had power or water; our properties were damaged too. But solidarity empowered us to help out. Bureaucracy was delaying the help to compatriots in need and we had enough. We worked endlessly with dedication – “con el corazón inchao”. We gave it all to heal our homeland but it wasn’t enough, because what we gave was temporary. People would soon run out of these supplies. As a Chinese proverb says, “If you give a man a fish he is hungry again in an hour. If you teach him to catch a fish you do him a good turn.” This is were we failed as a community.
I know our visit was not in vain - I just wish we provided them with more than perishables. I will never forget the joy in people’s faces. Many cried with joy, others had a huge smile. In multiple occasions we were invited in their homes, people were generally eager to tell us their side of the story and show us what had happened to their properties and their living conditions. Through it all people just needed to bond.
About 17 days after the storm, homeowner lives within debris. (Names have been omitted to prevent infamy)
I remember an old lady in her 70s, the first one we delivered goods in Utuado, in tears saying that instead of Puerto Rico (Rich Port) it should be called “Puerto Pobre” (Poor Port). She hadn’t been helped by anyone, and her veteran son , and only family, had severe PTSD and wasn't really functional.
Resident wears boots to walk floors covered in stagnant waters, dead rats, roaches, and animal feces.
His living room.
Maria and Irma brought to the surface (and worsened) Puerto Rico's sanitation, political favoritism, corruption, economy, and education problems - making the chances to recover from an already existing debt of over 70 billion dollars much more challenging. Evidently, the fact that Puerto Rico is an archipelago make the logistics to provide help a challenge and creates delay for all aspects and auxiliaries like power, water, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), phone and internet connection, etc. However, regardless of our geographical standing, many argue that our commonwealth status is what made Trump's visit appear a joke, for our sociopolitical state was rotten way before the current circumstances. Despite the controversy of whether we should become a state or not, the reality is that even in the areas Puerto Rico has control over, as a territory with little power, it cannot rebuild itself on its own. Puerto Rico cannot rely on bankruptcy protections to claw out of the debt owed to hedge funds and vulture funds. All in all, any governmental change must be approved by the United States.
Puerto Rico's stripped topography revealed what has been laying beneath our government system. But just like, within a couple of weeks, the vegetation regrew with stronger and tougher DNA, our community efforts flourished. From the independent brigades of nurses, doctors, chefs, and people with machetes - the comradery was present through out. Every skill set was put to use for the bettering of our island.
People found ways to create their own oasis, generators from car batteries, kitchen systems from scratch to feed towns. However, with amazing cunning, they also found ways to steal from each other in innumerable quantities and forms. It brought everyones’ true colors to light. But with such ingenuity, we failed to create a sustainable tomorrow, and that tomorrow happens to be now...
According to the Webster Dictionary, "sustainability is, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged." Sustainability can be overlooked at times for it can have the misconception of being complicated and perhaps that's what has made it feel so unattainable within our history.
I am currently working abroad and it’s been over two months since I left. Time that I can’t stop thinking about my “india bonita.” I sometimes tear up or reminiscence when I’m able to do simple functional things; drinking water, a warm meal, a nice shower, sleeping without mosquitoes or sweaty sheets, clean clothes… the list goes on.
My family, friends, compatriots – my beloved homeland suffers. I sometimes even feel guilty of having the opportunity to travel, when others have had or opted to stay. But the reality is that my responsibilities call; my family needs me financially and healthily stable; my bills pile up and the nature of my job has always made me a nomad.
I remember my time at the airport. It was packed full a month after Maria. Men, women, elderly – people from all walks of life and different social classes awaited. Some uncertain, others determined – but all with tired eyes. With different reasons for departure, they all waited and hoped for a life change. Some leave because of lost jobs or for limitations by it, for commodity, for wanting to provide a stable education for their children, for needing medical treatment, for wanting to leave from an earlier time but now having the courage to since they have lost so much already.
People await flight to New York at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport.
I overheard a conversation while I waited. Both individuals did not look over 35 and spoke of being on standby, meaning that they had bought a ticket in case space was open on the flight. The woman had just woken up from an uncomfortable nap and asked the man what to do if they couldn’t get on a flight. He mentioned that he planned to call the airline if that happened. He pulls out his phone and shows her the phone number. During their exchange, I see in their faces their discomfort for they might have to come back the next day to wait in line again, and follow the same process over and over until they can board a plane. Much like Puerto Rico is at the dependency of the U.S. in order to rebuild itself - those waiting at the airport, whether they like it or not are subjected to the decision of a larger authority.
A man in his mid 50's recognized the woman, who was just getting ready to get a second nap. After talking about a fellow person they had in common, the conversation turns into why he was leaving. “I’m tired,” the older man repeats several times. “Since the storm ended, the only thing I’ve done is cut tree after tree. The pay is not bad, but no - enough is enough,” he concluded. She nodded but her thoughts were definitely elsewhere, perhaps in taking her long awaited nap, for she too was tired - and with them was the entire country.
For outside the airport walls, in the grin of the merciless Caribbean sun, any task is a hassle. Things like getting water, food, or gas could take up most or all of your day. I remember the long lines that could take up to at least 13 hours just to fill up a tank. Everyone, sweaty and uncertain from top to bottom, out in the streets working for subsistence. We looked just like the many disoriented bees that were flying in circles everywhere - searching for food, shelter and sanity. The flora had been destroyed and like them our consumerism customs irrevocably changed. Now we had to fend for ourselves, but the problem was that as a majority we didn’t promote or develop renewable ways.
Today, about 90 days after the hurricane, the story hasn’t changed much. Power to the entire island has not been restored. According to the PREPA (in Spanish, Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica, or AEE), power restoration to Puerto Rico could take a year. The large problem here is that practically the entire country is dependent on it for subsistence. Hospitals, businesses, schools, and even the Authority of Aqueduct and Sewer, need power to work properly. None of them can rely solely on power plants. Puerto Rico's water system was also in trouble long before the storm. According to a report by the Natural Resource Defense Council, Puerto Rico had the worst rate of drinking water violations in any US state or territory. So even when water is restored for the entire island, there is still going be to a huge risk of contamination.
The glitches in the power shutting down after starting back up is due in part to the way it was developed in the beginning. Since the 1940s, much of the commerce spread in the southern part of the island due to the growth of the sugar cane industry, which is why the power plants were built in that area. However, because the largest aquifers are found in the northern side of the island, many pharmaceuticals, dairy farms and businesses built north instead. The south zone, which is the one that produces major electricity, powers most of the island, specially the high demanding north creating insufficiencies and constant break downs.
The lack of electrical power and potable water keeps the country immobile and promotes the exile to other countries. Over 60 thousand people have left – amount that keeps increasing. Though in part the departure is good in regards of overpopulation, the downside is that the working class are the ones leaving. The island now has higher proportions of old and poor communities. Additionally, this emigration wave has created a challenge for housing availability in states like Florida. And aside from statistics these numbers are individual people. To put this in perspective the following people are all in their late teens to mid 20s; one of my cousins is applying for engineering jobs in the states, my best friend will be working as a waitress while promoting her skin care business in a western state, her sister plans to study culinary arts abroad, my step-sister has already looked into housing for her partner and child - the list goes on. With most of the working class out, prosperity for Puerto Rico truly looks dim.
Puerto Rico's energy needs to be renewable and poor water infrastructure must be rebuilt to a standard that is capable of withstanding storms. Roads and bridges should be constructed to prevail against rising waters and fierce winds. Flood maps must be updated, and construction discouraged in vulnerable areas. Also, the large amount of abandoned houses can serve to relocate those living in unsafe areas.
It is the outdated mentality of greed and ignorance that make negative ripples in our subsistence affecting our potential for sustainability. Days after the storm, I recall listening to the radio as outraged reporters mentioned how diesel was distributed to luxury restaurants over hospitals where people were on the verge of life and death. The sketchy contract of about 300 million dollars between PREPA and the infamous Whitefish is also another reflection of many years of untenable decisions:
Puerto Rico, approximately 100 X 35 miles, similar to Connecticut in size, has 78 municipalities when 8 would be more than enough. This means that there are 78 mayors with assistants, security personnel and amenities, increasing unnecessary taxes to the citizens.
Puerto Rico has no proven reserves or production of conventional fossil fuels. And though we have some renewable solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass resources, we rely primarily on imported fossil fuels to meet energy needs.
Over 80% of the food consumed in Puerto Rico is imported, though most land is fertile.
A 97 year old law called, The Jones Act, has also affected our prosperity. It requires that goods shipped from one American port to another be transported on a ship that is American-built, American-owned, and crewed by US citizens or permanent residents. Basic shipments of goods from the island to the US mainland, and vice versa, must be conducted via expensive protected ships rather than exposing them to global competition. That makes everything Puerto Ricans buy unnecessarily expensive relative to goods purchased on either the US mainland or other Caribbean islands, and drives up the cost of living on the island overall. In a crisis, this is another stab in the liver to say the least and though it has been temporarily lifted, it will soon hinder our growth if not banned or adjusted.
I can continue mentioning other scenarios but you get the point. It is vital to plant and promote sustainable ideas so that they come naturally to the table, creating positive ripples. It is all attainable from a business standpoint too.
Tesla's renewable energy project for Hospital del Niño (Children’s Hospital) in San Juan has gotten quite the attention. Empowered by Light, Sunrun, and Givepower are working on renewable energy projects as well, chiefly solar power, and donors are pitching in for small scale solar arrays.
There have been local organizations setting an example even before Maria. I have personally volunteered for most and can vouch for their dedication and tenacity. So please, if you intend to help Puerto Rico, do it through or with them:
Ciudadanos del Karso = nonprofit that promotes the conservation of Puerto Ricos' natural ecosystem, principally the karst and all that lives within it. One of their current projects is The Karst Institute
Casa Pueblo = small but mighty local community that works to protect and conserve human and naatural resources. They create programs and workshops about self-sufficient efforts for schools and more.
CESAM = educational chapter from the University of Puerto Rico focused on ocean conservation.
CORALations = nonprofit organization protects and restores coral reefs.
Rescate Playas Borinquen = nonprofit that organizes beach cleanups, tree planting (erosion prevention), and works to make beaches more accessible, safe, and enjoyable for public use.
Desde Mi Huerto = donates organic seeds to farmers in order to help uplift their farms after Hurricane Maria.
Estuario a la Bahía de San Juan = lift and restore the San Juan Estuary's ecosystem and the well-being of the communities and economies that depend on it.
If interested in helping in another form, I recommend doing it through an eco-friendly manner by providing: water filters, solar power flashlights, winding radios, books on renewable DIY projects, etc.
I hope that this new year sets the stage with ideas and efforts that re-build a stronger and “smarter” community. Puerto Rico's power grid should be updated, in a more resilient, and not dependent on expensive, polluting imports. With solutions like electricity by gravity, roof tops able to harvest rain (like in Bermuda) ,and educational efforts on the subject, we can amend our effects on the environment and thus our livelihood.
Any construction and economic effort must take into consideration climate change. Spectacle and politicians are ephemeral. Nor Trump, nor Carmen Yulin Cruz, will be forever in office. Puerto Rico, in the geographical context, will remain in the passage of hurricanes. Maria’s hit has been hard and though undesirable, in its silver lining it has helped wake up the entire country from its wrong practices, and with it, other countries. A sustainable future is attainable, if we all work towards it, of course. Just like the beautiful sunrise I saw in the morning after Maria and the double rainbow later in the day, I know we can get through this. Solidarity, among many other things, has kept us afloat and the beginnings of sustainability are thriving.
