Allan Stratton's Blog, page 7

THE MISSIONARIES AND THE HYENAS (TRUE TALE FROM THE BUSH)

OKAY! One of the devoted followers of this blog -- Char -- has been dying to hear about the connection between missionaries and hyenas. I promised this story ages ago, so before leaving Africa, here it is. (Those who are at all squeamish should ignore this story and just stick with the pictures.)

Okay. So. Hyenas eat what's left of an animal after the meat's been consumed by lions and leopards and etcetera. In short, they eat the bones. As a result, their stools are hard and white from all th...

FINAL CHANDA'S SECRETS FILM POST -- THEN ON TO ARGENTINA!

A few last memories before heading home, then off again to blog about Argentina and Cuba!

The shot above is of some of the extras getting ready for the last scene outside Chanda's front door. Extras are always a problem for continuity and editing. Generally speaking they're amateurs and have little sense that a short scene can take a day toi film. Or that it MATTERS that they be in exactly the same position for each take. See the woman in the blue hat? At various times, she decided it was too ...

FINAL CHANDA'S SECRETS FILM POST

A few last memories. The shot above is of some of the extras getting ready for the last scene outside Chanda's front door. Extras are always a problem for continuity and editing. Generally speaking they're amateurs and have little sense that a short scene can take a day toi film. Or that it MATTERS that they be in exactly the same position for each take. See the woman in the blue hat? At various times, she decided it was too hot to keep her hat on! Fortunately, the ace continuity editor had a...

CHANDA'S SECRETS FILM: BEFORE LEAVING...

Soly with his real mom.


Iris with her real Mom.

I'm now back in Canada. The film is on hiatus until February when everyone returns to shoot the opening scenes. Mama has been instructed to pack on the pounds. When the film runs in sequence, we'll see her heavier and healthy at the beginning, and losing weight as she becomes sicker.

It's been such a great time and I have hundreds of photos more than what I've shown. Over this post and next I'll show you a few of my favourite shots that you haven'...

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S FROM MY NEW LITTLE GUYS, P2 AND PENSTER!

I hope your year will be as full of new and exciting things to do and discover as it will be for P2 and Penster!

Here's to chasing tails, paper balls, and anything else that moves. And may your litter box stay fresh as a daisy! :)

Yrs.,
Allan

HOW CHANDA'S SECRETS GOT TURNED INTO A MOVIE

This is Oliver Stoltz, producer of the film version of Chanda's Secrets. Unfortunately, he had a serious stomach ailment during the first phase of the shoot when I was in South Africa, so this photo is taken from his website. (Oliver, you're way more attractive in person! Get a new photo!:))

I first met Oliver in 2005, when he was in Toronto promoting his Emmy-nominated documentary Lost Children, about child soldiers, at the documentary film festival Hot Docs. (It also won the German Oscar for...

SAFER SEX IN SOUTH AFRICA: LIKE THE SIGN SAYS...

In an earlier post, I mentioned that a staggering 40% of the population in the area where Chanda's Secrets is being filmed tests positive for HIV/AIDS. Indeed, you hardly see anyone over fifty. As a result, the local HIV/AIDS committee has posted the following safer sex billboards along the highway. They're the only billboards you see, and star a male condom called "Dickie" and a female condom called "Fanny". Not exactly Disney, but they get the point across.



Pope Benedict, as you know, for...

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

Santa rules at the Shoprite in Elandsdoorn, South Africa. Outside? Not so much. Today it's over 30 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit). Out back, a few 'kids' decide to open their Christmas presents early.



As you can see, today I'm taking a break from the longer "Chanda film" and safari posts. After Boxing Day, I'll be posting on the safer sex campaign being done on billboards around the town. Then back to the film for stuff about the producer, Oliver Stolz and some final candid shots on set.

Happ...

SAFARI (2): HIPPOMANIA

Normally you don't even see this much of a hippo. You just see the tips of the ears and snout. Also, normally, you'll see hippos in family pods of five or more. Clearly, this loner is socially dyslexic. Within minutes, he went from watching us to warning us. Check out the jaw and spray.



Hippos can crush a crocodile in their jaws. Curiously, this explains their co-existence. The hippos don't mind the crocs, and the crocs... well they're fairly lazy and disgusting. If they haven't nabbed somethi...

SAFARI (1): YOU CHECKIN' MY BUTT?

There's a national park twenty minutes from my country cottage here in Elandsdoorn, South Africa, where I've been on location for the film shoot of my novel Chanda's Secrets. The owner and his son-in-law were kind enough to take me. They reminded of the bush guides who taught me about tracking when I was in SubSahara researching Chanda's Wars: Instead of looking at the bush, they see through it.

I'd seen all the Big Five except rhino when I was in Bostwana, Malawi and Zambia researching both ...