Cities Explored: Oaxaca, Mexico City, Puebla, Cholula, Cozumel, San Miguel De Allende, Tilcajete
Gear:
Sony A7r2 (70-200mm)
GH5 (70-200) (18-35mm)
Drone shots: Mavic Pro 2, Mavic Air 2
For work or licensing enquiries please email jashsak@me.com
BREAKDOWN:
[0:00 - 0:08] In the first few seconds we are given an introduction of Mexico that is all too familiar. People are taught a narrative about the dangers of the country. However, after this introduction we are quickly shown a face of a man who was born there.
I edited this section in a way that the man has his head down as the voices of news anchors and stereotypes burden him. Even we as the audience might be saying these things to him. Which is why he looks up and stares back at us. Everything onwards in the video is what we are able to see with his eyes. In his perspective.
[0:08 - 1:13] Music La Bamba by Lila Downs
As the music grows louder we are shown a couple drone shots of different places in Mexico around San Andrés region. Lila Downs sings about different parts of Mexican culture she finds beautiful such as the dancing (0:19), painting (0:29), taleveras located in Puebla (0:35), and the display of flowers in San Andrés (0:45). We are then shown tidbits of daily life in the outskirt cities.
[1:15] Church bells slowly break up the music just as they would break up our daily activities for the remembrance of god. It is a primarily a christian faith country.
[1:15 - 2:00] Music **La Cumbia Del Mole by Lila Downs**
Lila Downs says in the beginning of the song that “It is said that in Oaxaca they take their coffee with mezcal.” I personally liked this statement, and believe she’s encapsulated the essence of that region with her song. The first few clips show a man producing Mezcal straight from his home factory. If you haven’t tried fresh Mezcal before you’re missing out!
We move onto the next sections of people prepping and selling vegetables to food on a platter. Followed by shots of children playing in the town square. For me the most beautiful part of Oaxaca was how family oriented the region was.
[2:20] This place is called Xochimilco near Mexico City. It is a place where people rent boats all day and eat with their friends and families as they row down a network of rivers. Some even jump into the water if it gets too hot!
[2:30] This is an Aztec ritual for the sun
[2:42] Regional sewing and fabrics. Some regions use bright colors for their floral designs. This woman was sewing a design of an agave plant (to represent Oaxaca)
[2:48] Traditional wood painter from Tilcajete
[2:53] Traditional farmers market in the streets of Oaxaca
[3:03] A lovely lady who made us food in her home :)
[3:18] Efrain Fuentes is one of the best woodworkers in Oaxaca. I visited him one day to see his process and meet his family. He is a fifth generation woodworker and is continuing his family’s legacy. Then I hitchhiked back into the main city on a random person’s motorcycle.
[3:30] From the wooden ship to underwater we see some of the biodiversity in the beaches of Cozumel. And my personal favorite part editing this video was showing how rapidly a sunny day can turn into a thunderous night
[3:56] Futbol is a daily activity for everyone in all times of the day
[4:15] A traditional carpet maker
[4:25] 2 hours out of Oaxaca are vast open fields and flocks of animals
[4:49] We end it back to the man from the beginning, to signify that maybe what we’ve heard about Mexico might actually be very different from what he’s seen in his own country. And based on his experience he smiles with pride and love, closing the video to the audience.
--- By Sultan Khan
