Faces: The Struggles of Guatemala
Documentary
Linking arms with a non-profit organization called Hands For Peacemaking, I created a short film exposing the challenges that the people of Guatemala face daily. When I was in Guatemala, the most moving part was the stories each person’s face told. It was as if i could see generations of stories in each persons face. So I decided to show the world their faces, because that’s where the true story lies.
Production
Filming this video was an incredible experience for me. I tagged along with a humanitarian crew that went to a small Guatemalan village named “Nuevo Progreso.” The goal was to build two schools and provide the town with clean water, stoves, and eyeglasses. Filming took place over a course of 10 days.
On day one of this excursion, I got incredibly sick, likely due to the unclean water or unsanitary food. On top of that, it was an winding, bumpy, and grueling 18 hour drive from the airport to this village. I knew that these people were counting on me to tell their stories, so I pushed on despite my ill feeling.
The goal of this video was to get more volunteers and donors. While I went to film the group and their activities, I couldn’t help but focus my shots on the beautiful faces of the people of this small village. Within their faces, I saw struggle, innocence, gratitude, and above all, love. I was welcomed into their village with nothing but acceptance and a spirit of giving. I felt that nothing would inspire the views more than the stories of those who they will help. Those 10 days in Guatemala were some of the most impactful days of my life.
Wyatt whittier 