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The Shimelba Refugee Camp 13 years later...

On a recent trip to NYC, I happened to find myself in a conversation with a gentleman from Eritrea. I mentioned that although I hadn’t been to the Eritrea, I was very close in Ethiopia - about 30 miles from the border in the Shimelba Refugee Camp. As soon as I mentioned Shimelba, he immediately shut me down declaring “It’s fake.” I thought he misunderstood what I said so I politely replied, “What do you mean, fake? The Shimelba Refugee Camp?” He said, “Yes, yes. It’s fake.” I replied, “No, I was actually in the camp for several days on a project.” He again lectured me that it’s was a hoax - “…Shimelba is a lie perpetrated by Ethiopia to embarrass Eritrea.” Again, I tried to explain, “No, I actually followed a group of Kunama refugees from Shimelba to Rhode Island...” Again he dismissed, “Kunama are just traitors and work with Ethiopia, Shimelba is a lie...” 

I politely left the conversation and moved on, trying to wrap my head around what just happened. Unfortunately, I can understand where the gentleman’s misinformation tirade comes from. According to Human Rights Watch, the Eritrean government's human rights record is among the worst in the world.  Eritrea has had no national elections, no legislature, independent press, or independent civil society organizations since 2001. Religious freedom is severely curtailed. A United Nations Commission of Inquiry in 2016 found the government manifested “wholesale disregard for the liberty” of its citizens. In 2018, a United Nations Special Rapporteur reported that human rights violations “continue unabated. 

In 2006, I directed and produced the documentary “Home Across Lands,” which follows a family of Kunama refugees who had fled Eritrea and sought refuge in The Shimelba Refugee Camp in Northern Ethiopia and their subsequent resettlement to the US.  As a documentary filmmaker, we have the great privilege and honor to enter peoples lives and gather their stories.  To be able to tell their story is both humbling and horrifying at the same time.  There’s a huge amount of responsibility to be authentic, to be real, and to be objective.  Objectivity is the key - it’s that guiding principle that every decision I make has to abide by. 

This recent conversation (or angry lecture) brought my mind back to that story and I started searching for more information. I found that the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea signed an agreement on July 9th, 2018, to restore diplomatic relations, as well as reopen embassies in Addis Ababa and Asmara, and resume flights between the two countries. But, what about the camp - is it still there?

My answers are unfortunately what I thought they would be. The camp is still there: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/62695 The conditions and problems persist: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/news-stories/story/healing-hidden-wounds-eritrean-refugees-ethiopia and the refugee story is still the same. It’s not fake, its real. Real people’s lives. It’s real people and it’s real families. 

Watch Film Here

Please take a moment to read and learn about these issues and support the organizations working to make a difference: 

UNHCR https://www.unhcr.org

USCRI https://refugees.org

IRC https://www.rescue.org

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Our Drone Journey

There was a time when you needed one of these to get the killer aerial photo or video. Rent one for $1,200 per hr with a gimbal mounted to the bottom of helicopter or $600 per hr for a shaky ride with three of the four doors off while you hang out the side praying the very flimsy seat belt holds! This was the fall of 2013. 

The following spring we planned another aerial shoot and it was time to rent another one - this time with a gimbal  - Then the client said a drone company had sent them a bid and there was no need for a helicopter - What? A drone? A drone company?? So then our aerial journey began… first flight August 2014. 

I found this article and it sold me. I said to Kate  - we “need” this (every guy looking to justify a new toy always starts with the “need” part… well I was right we needed it and we haven’t stoped buying them. We have had 10 drones to date. (One Phantom 1 , One Phantom 2, Two Inspire 1, Two Inspire 1 Pro, One Mavic Pro, Two Mavic Air, One Mavic 2 Pro - so far…)

These drones have given us lots of stories of great video and images, as well as some stories behind the stories - some are tragic, some are funny, some are silly… So, maybe a few vague titles will give you a hint. “Sinking at Sunset” “Lost and Found in LA” “That Shot Was Great - Let’s Try It One More Time…” “The Audrey Emerson Resume” “The Woods Hole Lighthouse Incident - When Prop Locks Don’t Lock”…

Our newest drone is the Mavic 2 Pro featuring  a Hasselblad Camera with a 1" CMOS Sensor, Adjustable Aperture, 10-bit HDR Video image quality… the list goes on and on. I look back at out first one with a GoPro (and the process of having to physically turn the GoPro on before flight) the fact that you had to buy special antennas and wireless transmitters and receivers to rig up makeshift monitors, or just fly blindly… it was a challenge for sure plus you had to look at all that footage of the GoPro wide angle footage of your face as you turned on and off the camera! 

Over the last four years and 10 drones we have flown nationally over several states and Internationally in Ireland, England, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Malta, Spain, France, Denmark… and so on.

We have certainly come a long way in a short amount of time and look forward to what comes next - maybe it’s personal drones which can combine the advancement of today’s photographic and cinematic abilities with the thrills of a helicopter flight of the past! Uber’s ‘flying taxis’ will be built by these five aerospace companies.

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Scandinavian Photo Favorites

This summer we traveled to Norway, Iceland, and Sweden which caps off our travels to the Scandinavian Countries: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. Below are some of our favorite shots from these countries. 

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VideoStoreStreet... #streetphotography #pvd (at Providence, Rhode Island)

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The lads at the Cliffs of Moher - it was our first stop on our trip to visit @musicformedia. We had a great two weeks traveling all over Southern Ireland. A beautiful country with wonderful people. We need to go back soon. @g_lavall and @sean__greene @_tems need to get ready because we have to go back soon - we had a blast! #tbt #ireland #canonphotography #devlomedia (at Cliffs Of Moher - Galway, Irlanda)

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Work... #devlomedia #bts #productionlife #firstbonfireoftheseason (at Cambridge, Massachusetts)

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Happy Halloween 🎃 #devlomedia #drone #fall #halloween #rhodeisland (at Roger Williams Park)

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Thanks @alexcorreia for letting us take our cameras to your show. We had a great time with @mel_or_lanie @jschatzstudio @thereforeiamband thanks @gaia_21editing for putting it together! #devlomedia #canonc300mk2 (at The Sinclair)

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@kelleykiki being interviewed at Adobe Max 2017... #adobemax2017 #devlomedia #adobe #airstream #bts #film (at Adobe MAX)

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@kelleykiki has new hours this fall... #devlomedia #editing #adobemax2017 #photoshop #adobebridge #producingontheflooroftheairport #notimeforbullshit

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Big bunnies... #devlomedia #adobemax2017 #dmlocal (at Adobe MAX)

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Encouraging words to live by... #devlomedia #adobemax (at Adobe MAX)

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Looking forward to tomorrow’s speakers... (at The Venetian Las Vegas)

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Looking for to Adobe MAX with @spine72 @kelleykiki @jacournoy #devlomedia #adobemax2017 (at The Venetian Las Vegas)

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The weather held up for us today... #devlomedia #drone #djimavicpro #longday (at Saint John's High School)

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Working with our friends today @stonehillcollege and chatting with @slapshot245 while @kelleykiki does all the work! #devlomedia #canonc300mk2 #canon #cinematography #DIS17 #casestudy #hastag (at Stonehill College)

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New School + Old School @kelleykiki @_tems @hasselblad_official @sean__greene @g_lavall @lilrattyolive #devlomedia #filmphotography #hasselblad (at Pawtucket, Rhode Island)