Recording Recap: Maria Oropeza Documentary (Part 1)

Design sem nome (7)
23 Dec

The intensive two-day shoot took place at the Leadership Institute studios in Arlington, Virginia. This location held a special significance for us, as it is the same prestigious institute where María Oropeza herself previously studied and honed her leadership skills, and it is also the venue where we host our annual D.C. retreat.

Day 1: November 3rd — The Power of Testimony

The first day was entirely dedicated to capturing the powerful personal stories and expert insights central to María’s case. We focused on in-depth interviews with key individuals closely connected to her and our work:

  • María’s Sister: We started with a deeply moving interview with María’s sister, who shared personal reflections on María’s strength and the impact of her unjust detention on their family.
  • Ana Rizo (LOLA Canada Founder): Next, we sat down with one of María’s best friends, Ana Rizo, the founder of LOLA Canada, who provided insight into María’s character and commitment to liberty.
  • Samila: We interviewed Samila, who detailed the critical work behind the scenes, specifically discussing the organization and planning of our legal action presented to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
  • Izabela Patriota: Finally, Izabela Patriota spoke about the essential advocacy efforts LOLA is currently undertaking to mobilize support and secure María’s freedom.

Day 2: November 4th — Capturing the Visuals

The second day concentrated on gathering crucial b-roll footage and supporting images to visually enrich the documentary narratives.

We filmed engaging content with all four individuals interviewed on Day 1, ensuring we captured the visual details that convey the importance of their words. We were also privileged to have two of our dedicated volunteers join us for these shoots:

  • Letícia Barros: President of LOLA Brazil
  • Marian Sara: LOLA leader in Lima, Peru

This two-day session marked a huge step forward in bringing María’s story to the global stage.

Acknowledgment to Our Volunteers

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the dedicated volunteers who generously supported the filming of our documentary.

Our gratitude goes to Letícia Barros (President of LOLA Brazil) and Marian Sara (LOLA Leader in Lima, Peru).

Thank you for your time and for making yourselves available to ensure we captured all the necessary supporting visuals for this important project.

We are immensely grateful to everyone who shared their time and testimonies to advance this crucial project. In particular, we want to thank the team at Just Add Firewater: Patrick, Andrea, Gabi, and Lavinia. Thank you for your incredible dedication and for believing in this vision alongside us.

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