Shoot. Capture. Subject. Take. Trigger.
These words are starting to feel uncomfortable.
We used to love using them. They made us feel special. These words and others are the coded language we could speak, signaling to others ‘in the business’ that we belonged.
Yet, these words are inherently violent…
In San Juan la Laguna, Guatemala, June ushered in high hopes. Summer tourists flooded the small mountain town, igniting a bustling business scene. The annual town festival and a historic presidential election in June kept excitement levels soaring. Day and night, thunderous fireworks punctuated the countdown to these dual celebrations.
The rainy season was late in arriving, making for hot days, dusty, dry streets and dwindling public water reserves, underscoring the town’s delicate balance with nature.
Amidst this whirlwind, Actuality Abroad’s twenty crew members arrived, bringing cameras and curiosity, ready to document the vibrant tapestry of life, culture and change in San Juan la Laguna.
In January 2023 our crew of citizen storytellers traveled to Siem Reap, Cambodia for a four week documentary workshop. On location we collaborated with two social impact organziations, HAVEN and Anjali House to create short documentary films.