Although this video is considered "vintage" now, I'm including it because it showcases one of the harshest environments I've ever experienced. In 2010, just a month after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, I was hired to film a video about the nonprofit SOIL and its efforts to address the sanitation crisis. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be involved in making a film essentially about poop! Given my passion for humanitarian work, I took on this challenging project. At the time, I worked as a professional videographer. While the job seemed straightforward, it required careful consideration of technical and security aspects due to the poor state of the infrastructure and social instability, especially in Port-au-Prince, where the film was shot.
Incidentally, I also collaborated with a first-time director and a newbie sound recordist who received extensive training before the trip. Due to other work commitments, I opted not to edit the film, which I later regretted. Nonetheless, it was chosen as a semi-finalist in the award-winning GE Focus Forward film series.
Although I could write volumes about my experiences in Haiti during those three and half weeks, upon my return to the United States, I realized how much more grateful I am for the amenities that not all the world's citizens have. This experience also reinforced my belief that global prosperity should be shared. And in different ways, shapes, or forms, I commit myself to that effort.
HOLY CRAP! chronicles the transformative impact of ecological sanitation in Haiti, showcasing how affordable, low-infrastructure composting toilets eliminate infectious diseases, create jobs, and uplift communities in Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien.