UCOL video student Amazon bound

UCOL video student Amazon bound

UCOL Videography student Jo Berry Loughrey is going to great extremes to film her third year project – all the way to the Amazon jungle in fact.

The Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging (BAVI) student will depart for South America in early June for a three week filming expedition.

Jo is accompanying Palmerston North musician and social anthropologist Rob Thorne to document his experiences as a musician, social anthropologist, and practicing healer among the indigenous shamen of Peru.

The self-funded expedition will be Jo’s first trip out of the country. “I’ve never left New Zealand before and now I’m going to the jungle,” says the 36 year old. “I’m beside myself with excitement!”

There is plenty to organise. In addition to making sure her camera gear is light enough to carry; it must be protected from the expected humid and damp tropical weather conditions. “I’ve just bought my camera a raincoat,” says Jo.

On top of her intrepid expedition, Jo must also complete UCOL assignments that are due while she is away. “I’ve got so much to do before I leave.”

UCOL’s BAVI programme appealed to Jo’s desire to express herself in a creative and visual medium. She is a keen musician but says she wanted a career path that would allow her to produce work that had meaning and purpose.

Jo and Rob will be based at a village, a day’s boat ride from Pucallpa, Peru, in the Amazon Basin. “Apparently the living conditions are pretty basic but at least I will have electricity to charge camera batteries,” she says. “I’m happy to rough it.”

Jo is under no illusions about the challenges she has ahead. She expects the trip to be physically, emotionally and technically tough. She also expects to have some of the most memorable experiences of her life.

“This trip is a dream come true and exactly the kind of thing I want to be doing – making documentaries with a cultural or political flavour.”

Jo admits to being naturally curious and believes documentary making is the perfect vehicle to educate people. With her Amazon work she hopes to help keep ancient traditions alive.

On her return, Jo expects the raw footage will take four months to edit and produce. The resulting documentary will be assessed as part of her final year of the BAVI programme.

ENDS

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