Days 11 and 12: Hopkins, Blue Hole National Park and Belize Zoo

We're at our second to last day on the first-ever Belize Film School course. Today is a fun day - a break from the work and the heat.  We're going to see the Caribbean Sea today at Dangriga/Hopkins and stop for a long break at Blue Hole and St. Herman's cave National Park. Tomorrow, a final morning at the Zoo before some head home and others to the cayes for some R&R.

Days 8-10: The Belize Zoo, Tropical Education Center and Sibun River

The group is now back at the Tropical Education Center and Belize Zoo.  They've finished filming their subjects in Bullet Tree village and are now transitioning into the wildlife and natural history portion of the course.  The group will split up today/tomorrow - one half will film the Black Howler monkeys at the Community Baboon Sanctuary and the other half will film wildlife at the Belize Zoo and the Foster's sets. The students have been working hard and continuing on their projects. It's pretty hot here so we appreciate the lovely coolness of the Sibun River in the afternoons.

Day 7: San Ignacio, Macal River and Xunantunich Maya Ruin

KRISTI:   Today the class had a day off from filming (although a couple of teams kept rolling through until noon).  Half of the class took a morning canoe tour up the Macal River with jungle guide Lenney Gentle.  Others chilled out at Parrot's Nest and joined everyone in town for lunch checking out the town. Except for Justin who is doing the all-day ATM cave tour, everyone is exploring the ancient Maya site of Xunantunich this afternoon with Lenney and Teddy (a film subject and professional guide).  Later on tonight, we'll all meet up in town at Danny Velazquez' Soul Project gallery and pub to screen the 'making of' Belize's first feature-length film from last year: Curse of the Ixtabi.

Days 4-6: Documentary Subject Filming in Bullet Tree Village

KRISTI: Hi everyone. The student teams are filming their village subjects today (and the next few days) -  getting some great content for their team documentaries.  Subjects in the village are: Teddy, the tour guide; Lucas, the medicine man; Sandro the painter/artist; the bullet tree women's crafts co-operative; Rastafari singer musician; and Humberto and Miriam with the iguana conservation project.  The students have great plans for their pieces and are diving right into their subjects and stories. Tuesday evening we watched "daily's" where the student show their footage of the day and get feedback from the instructors (Ilana, Carol Richard) and their classmates on angles, lighting, sound and the story direction.  The subjects and stories  - combined with the beautiful nature and cooling river here at Parrot Nest/Bullet Tree - is making for an unforgettable experience for everyone.

 Stacey and Scott (with Professor Ilana Lapid) filming their subject Sandro and his family

 Sandro (far left) with family 

Ilana and Richard Foster (far right) and class reviewing the team's "daily's"

Day 3: San Ignacio and Bullet Tree

KRISTI: We're at beautiful Parrot's Nest lodge in Bullet Tree Falls. The students had a tour of San Ignacio town and spent time with their subjects this afternoon. Innertubing and swimming in the Mopan River was a perfect relief for the hot afternoon today. We are having a great time and learning a lot from Ilana, the Fosters and Danny. Looking forward to seeing what the students create starting tomorrow...!

Day 2: Tropical Education Center and Wildlife Conservation Documentaries

KRISTI: Today was such a great day! It started with a nice breakfast and an early start with Panthera researchers to check Jaguar prey traps in the jungle.  After practicing documentary-making skills (angles, interviews, cut aways, etc.) we hiked out to Cocks lagoon. After lunch and discussions with the researchers, we took the afternoon off. Some of us rested and others of us went swimming at the Sibun River. A great day overall.

We're looking forward to heading to Bullet Tree Falls village near San Ignacio tomorrow to begin working with the subjects of the students' documentaries....

Welcome to Belize!

KRISTI: Hey everyone!  We're all in Belize now at the beautiful Tropical Education Center near the Belize Zoo.  Some of us already arrived in Belize yesterday (photos below). The class came to meet up with the legendary Richard and Carol Foster, supported by videographer Daniel Velazquez and guide Lenney Gentle.  We are all so excited!  Stay tuned for more updates and photos throughout the week...

ILANA: After months of preparations, hard work and anticipation, we finally begin our journey! Most important - be open to learn and experience new things, be flexible and open-minded, maintain a good attitude... and make time to reflect on your experiences. Slow down to check out the iguanas and spider monkeys. Remember, you are the first film crew from NMSU coming to Belize!
Here is a space for you to share your thoughts, reflections, images and videos.

Tonight's post-dinner class discussion and documentary planning session at the Tropical Education Center

Some photos of arrival day from the group yesterday:

Check back often for photos and updates!  Tomorrow we join jaguar scientists as they capture prey and tell us about wildlife conservation efforts in Belize...