Resources for Volunteers

Volunteer Story

Documentary Film Maker’s Nepal Story

Ever since leaving University 6 years ago,.I’d been working in England as an independent filmmaker running my own video production company. Working primarily for corporate and educational clients, I’d begun to feel that my work had become artistically and ideologically uninspiring. I decided to research some possible opportunities and came across Volunteer Aid Nepal which was offering the chance to make an ethnographic documentary in rural Nepal. I jumped at the opportunity, booked my flight and began planning the logistics to get myself and my camera equipment to one of the poorest countries in the world.
I was met by Bhuvan and his colleague who introduced me to Katmandu and Nepali culture. It was a wonderful assault on the senses with people, animals, rickshaws and cars all vying for space on the capital’s narrow, potholed streets. Life spills out from makeshift houses onto the pavements and streets with a communal quality quite unlike Western countries. After a few days of acclimatising to the Nepali way of life and feeling more comfortable in interacting with the people, Bhuvan and I made the 8 hour trip to his home village of Lahachok. Lahachok is a beautiful village, 10km from the traveller’s mecca of Pokhara, lying at the base of the Himalaya and accessible only by jeep or by foot.
As a filmmaker there were both many challenges and delights to working in such an exotic, rural and alien culture. The first was transporting the equipment – carrying 6 cases worth of professional video recording equipment, through the second rice paddies, up steep mountain tracks and across gushing ravines was an arduous task. The second difficulty was re-orientating myself to the culture which was almost entirely different to my own and took me completely out of my comfort zone. Nepal is very communal society, where everything, including space is shared, a quite different approach to the West, where belongings are very much owned and personal space is expected and respected. Before long, however I was relishing in the Nepali system and invigorated by its values. The local cuisine was also a challenge. Each morning we would wake at 5am and take tea and biscuits before setting out to film. The first meal of the day would come at around 9am and consisted of rice and vegetables. Usually we’d film until early afternoon when the weather would turn and we were forced to seek shelter. The next meal did not come until just before bedtime – at about 8pm, a hearty meal of rice and vegetables again.
After a few days living in the village I began to grasp the nuances of the culture. Perhaps the most memorable experience was when we went to film the sun rising over the Himalayas. To do this we awoke at 4am – 2 hours before the sun would rise and then began the hour-long trek up the mountain, with all of the camera equipment, to the top. We made it just in time, as the sun was breaking above the snow-topped peaks of the Annapurna mountain range. It was an awe-inspiring sight, the sky shifting through a myriad of colours as the sun rose quickly in the sky.
Our focus for the film was a lower caste family and the inequalities they endured living in the caste system of Nepal. Their quality of living was quite different to the upper caste families. The house was small, with the bedroom sharing the same place as the kitchen which bore an open fire upon which they would cook. There was no chimney and so the room hung heavy with the thick smoke from the fire. There was a wealth of interesting activities to document but the most enduring moments for me were when the camera was switched off and I could relax and interact with the family and their friends, sharing food and simple jovialities.
Nepal is an absolutely fascinating country for filmmaking with breathtaking scenery and a people who are some of the most pleasant, honest and happy people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and working with. With rich colours, textures and photogenic faces at every turn, there was always an interesting shot to compose. In addition, the history, current political climate and myriad of tribes and sub-cultures within Nepal mean that the country is alive with stories to deliver on-screen for either the budding documentary filmmaker or true industry professional. Just remember to always ensure your batteries are charged and you have enough tape, because you really won’t want to miss a shot!

Tim Webster 25th March 201

Application Process