It all started last September at the U.S. Embassy Pool. My colleagues and I were having our first IT Committee meeting in style. Some of us hung out on the side, some floated, while the President presided from the pool steps. The floor was open for suggestions... How about a telenovela, a very popular soap opera format, that combines the Peace Corps directed national sexual health initiative (i.e., Escojo Mi Vida) and IT?
Brilliant! People applauded the idea, approached us asking how they could help, volunteered their knowledge. We had started something, but where to begin?
We began with ideas based on Escojo themes (e.g., self-esteem, HIV/AIDS prevention, family planning, teen pregnancy, etc.) and then we put them into scripts. Then we enlisted the talents of a fellow Volunteer to produce a very catchy theme song. After that, we approached Peace Corps staff to inquire about funding. We spent many months setting meetings to develop and promote this project.
This whole thing has been a long, arduous process consisting of organizing, negotiating, creating, compromising, deciding, budgeting, leading. Sometimes we had the momentum, sometimes we didn’t.
Then we received a small grant, and we decided to film an episode and create a trailer in order to stir up some excitement over the project.
Last week, we did our experiment, and we finished it with great enthusiasm and motivation to continue. The Dominican kid actors were excited and dedicated; the crew consisting of Volunteers was unified, eager to learn, and proactive.
Our talented cinematographer and editor quickly put together a teaser. Here it is.
Me Toca A Mi - Telenovela Teaser from Elisa Paltenghe on Vimeo.
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