Africa Highlights
As production continues on A NOTE OF HOPE, the second work-in-progress trailer is now online (see the trailers page). It doesn’t show the whole storyline, but it does introduce highlights from September’s Africa shoot.
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Fond Memories
Principal photography for A NOTE OF HOPE continued in mid-November with cast interviews in Philadelphia. We were graciously accommodated by both the historic Clef Club for Jazz and the University of the Arts to film these segments.
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Facebook Photo Album
A Note of Hope now has a fan page on Facebook, featuring a growing collection of photos from our filming in Africa. You’re invited to check it out, view the photos, and become a fan.
Photo by Carissa Gallo
Song for the Children
Americans are more used to thinking of music as a consumable item and musicians purely as entertainers. But what has struck me here in Africa is how many of the exceedingly talented local musicians we’ve met are also connected to the cause of children orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS.
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Emebet’s House
We filmed a scene at Emebet’s house in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I knew that we would be received warmly because I met Emebet’s family last year on another film shoot.
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The Welcoming Committee
Every time our bus pulled up near the children’s homes in Nagongera, Uganda, we were greeted like dignitaries on parade. No matter what we were doing, we were sure to have an entourage.
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This Is Africa
TIA. This is Africa. It’s a code phrase used by many foreigners to explain the problems one encounters when traveling across the continent. But TIA is much more than the little inconveniences for westerners. TIA also reflects a generous and welcoming culture.
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Thumb Piano
The time has finally come for the Note of Hope musicians and film crew to depart for Africa. We can’t wait to play with the local artists and hear how the songs take on a different sound with native instruments, like the thumb piano shown here.
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Motivation
In the film industry, it’s common to discuss the motivation for a character’s action or a camera’s move. But pictured here is our motivation for producing A NOTE OF HOPE: the children who are left parentless due to HIV/AIDS.
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Ear Candy
The songs are as much a “character” in A NOTE OF HOPE as the musicians the film follows. John Blake, Jr.’s jazz arrangements of these traditional spirituals are so much fun that we never tire of listening to them–which is a huge plus when you are working on a long-form documentary! This picture was taken at the May, 2009 benefit concert from which the film takes its name.
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