Bravery, passion, life, and hope
Edward Vela
God’s tenant, a sad story about a family in a favela in Brazil
Documentaries are a powerful medium for telling real-life stories that can move and inspire audiences. At our February Special Camp, we were fortunate to have Eddie Vela, an accomplished documentary filmmaker, as our special guest. Eddie spoke about his passion for making documentaries and the story behind his acclaimed film, "God's Tenant."
The idea for "God's Tenant" came about when Eddie and his old roommate, Alfredo Avila, were exploring the city of Rio and its neighboring towns. They met a mother, Neilza, who was missing her 9-year-old daughter, Sabrina, and decided to make a film about her story. Through the process of making the documentary, they learned about the challenges and struggles faced by people living in the favelas, the impoverished neighborhoods of Brazil.
For Eddie, the purpose of making a documentary is to give a voice to those who might not otherwise be heard. It's about shining a light on important social issues and raising awareness about them. "God's Tenant" is a testament to this mission, telling the poignant story of Neilza and her family, and highlighting the difficulties faced by those living in the favelas.
During the Q&A session, one of our campers asked Eddie about the purpose of making a documentary. His answer was clear: social documentaries are a powerful tool for bringing attention to important issues and amplifying the voices of those who might not otherwise be heard. By telling the story of Sabrina and her family, "God's Tenant" shines a light on the struggles faced by those living in poverty and provides a platform for their voices to be heard.
Bringing awareness to people through a documentary
Eddie used colors to help the children understand the essential elements of a good documentary. He believes a documentary should reflect bravery (yellow), passion (red), life (green), and hope (blue). By using these colors, Eddie hopes to make it easy for kids to identify and appreciate the key components of a documentary.
Making a documentary is a challenging endeavor that requires a sticky team and a lot of hard work. But for Eddie, the ability to tell stories about people who are dealing with tough issues is a luxury that he cherishes. By sharing their stories, he hopes to offer hope to those who are struggling and inspire others to take action and make a difference.
God’s tenant won an award in the best documentary category in LABRFF (2018)
Kids today have access to video-making tools, allowing them to explore their creativity and share their stories. They can use this to raise awareness about important issues in their communities and inspire change. Creating videos is also a fun way for kids to learn new skills and express themselves. By harnessing the power of video, young people can become advocates for positive change.
If you would like to watch the entire session, please visit: https://youtu.be/G-9TXgdo6ic
“TaleTree's mission is to empower kids to develop social skills and emotional intelligence through the exchange of creativity and kindness.”
