Push Forward is a short documentary film about reconnection and empowerment. The film depicts the experiences I encountered during my first two times going back to my birth home. It had been 17 years. I chose to document my trip back to my native barrio of Aguas Claras, a small neighborhood on the outskirts of Bogota, Colombia. The goal of the trip was to reunite with my birth mother and to see the house where I was born. The impetus for creating the film came from interactions with my birth mom, a concern for the Aguas Claras children, a desire to merge my American and Colombian cultural identities, and to gain an understanding of where I came from. Although this town has a special place in my heart, there are many issues the residents are currently facing, including violence, drugs, unclean water, and lack of resources. While I was there to find my birth mother, I also saw the community working together to improve their overall way of life. This unified effort inspired me to create the Push Forward Project that facilitates the donation of skateboards to the poverty-stricken children of the barrio. 

 

Through the use of both a hand-held camera and drone, I provide unique points-of-view from locals and the president of the neighborhood, as well as from my own perspective. I used a compact documentary set-up that included the Sony a7iii, gimbal, and DJI Drone. This helped me create the Cinema verite style of the film. The Maysles brothers in their 1976 film, Grey Gardens, used an observational style of documentary filmmaking that feels “real” rather than scripted; this was a primary influence in the production of Push Forward. This style of filmmaking enabled me to work in tight spaces, mobilize easily, spend time with the community, build trust, and film people as their daily lives unfolded. The documentary format allowed me to record my personal experiences and my personal interactions with others to inform my audience. 

 

My goal is to create an awareness of the impoverished community of Aguas Claras, dispel barrio stereotypes, and to encourage a sense of empathy for the people of Aguas Claras who are hard workers, compassionate, proud of their community and grateful for what they have. 

 

My hope is that people will be inspired to help support in any way they can through the Push Forward Project so the children of Aguas Claras might engage in positive activities, be inspired to dream, and change their lives for the better.  My dream is to see the Push Forward model spread from this one little barrio to other poverty-stricken neighborhoods throughout the world.