Back in time: my visit of Elmina castle

Picture of Elmina castle from where more then 14 million people were deported as slaves or were killed, by the Portuguese, then the Dutch.

Every three months, about 1000 cslaves were kept in totally unthinkable conditions in small, dark rooms before they were shipped to Europe and America. Visiting this place made my heart break at every step. I could almost hear the screams all of these people who are only recently mentionned in some history books.

Room for female slaves, they were about 400 at a time in this space. No light, no windows...no air

Governors balcony from where he would select the female claves to keep him company at night.

The children born out of these relationships would be kept as salves by the masters in Elmina.

Francis back to work

An animation tests for an animated film. Francis was more then an actor!!!

It's coming!

Mark your calendar! Today, we have completed the compositing (the last step of a film's image), of our first film!

Kwabena, the youngest of our participants has made a film using claymation. We shot each shot in different layer that we have reassembled in after effects. The result is really cute and I think that he was quite happy and proud of himself. Tomorrow, we attack the sound of his film. The other teams are also working hard, everyone wants to do something nice.

Its very interesting to watch Cilia teach, unfortunately, we only have time for the condensed version of her knowledge.

I wont say it to loud, not to jinx me, but I might be on a lead for a film topic here....

To be continued.

Back in time, about the weekend in Elmina

While Francis was a tourist in Koumassi and visited the University there, Marie-An, George and I were in Elmina that weekend. I was pretty busy since our return on Sunday night and did not have time to update our readers about our escapade.




Most likely, by now, everybody who reads our blog knows that Marie-An was sick during those two day, however despite her illness, she got to see a little bit the coast. George who was with us has helped greatly to take care of Marie An when she was sick.

I went to visit Elmina Castle at the end of the day

Films

Today, we have really started the films!

It's getting exciting, we unfortunately had to reject a few ideas, that were either still incomplete or unfeasible given the time we have.

I try not to stress for them, but some of them dont seem to realise that 5 days to make a film means that you dont have a second to lose!

On the other hand, there are projects that are really promising. Today ,Edward improvised a film with Yuri, the son of one of the participants. Here it is:

The Kwame Nkrumah university:section FINE ART

After our fun weekend as tourists, we are back to work with the participants the ANIMAFRIK.

The monday workshop has pushed everyone to a first set up of their films. Most participants have finished their ideas and have finalized their storybords. Now, the new challenge is to produce the characters and backgrounds. I am stessing that everyone looks around to get inspired by the rich Ghanayan and African culture and aesthetics that serround us.



Some pictures from Koumassi University, The Kwame Nkrumah university of science and technology: SECTION FINE ARTS

I'm a real trooper (I think...)!

Cape Coast. Gorgeous beaches. Awesome resort. And yet, I unfortunately didn't have the opportunity to enjoy it fully. After a long day of illness when even a bite of food couldn't get through, I was tired and exhausted physically and mentally. Of course, I knew where I was and I felt I had to try my best to muster up all the courage and energy I had to enjoy everything to the best of my ability. And so that's what I believe I did on the second day.

It is hard to think I succeeded in going up high in the trees of the rainforest and made my way through the many dangling/suspended bridges that connected one tree to the next. The view was beautiful. Of course, climbing up the mountain was slightly tiring for me but I never stopped going up.

I'm slowly returning to a normal state. Everyone is incredibly caring of me; I have to thank them. I wish things would've been better, but I have to get past it!

I had to take a day off from the workshop today to rest. So while I write, I'm listening to music, sorting out my photos, testing out programs and hoping I'll get better soon.

If only I could go back and just rest on these deck chairs and sleep as the waves brush the shore...