It's a Wrap!

I am growing tired of our pre-dawn wake up calls, but we must finish filming the final scenes for the documentary today. Today's filming takes place in a different location, the "mud village" where the villagers and families will load the camel caravan and bid adeiu to their husbands and fathers. This site is up a narrow dirt road and the road is soggy from last nights rains and the lead bus gets stuck in the mud and sand and it takes 45 minutes to dig the bus out. The other two buses follow and we too get stuck in the muck. Eventually we arrive at the mud village and prepare for the days filming. We have all retained yesterdays costumes and are already dressed and ready for assignments. Gary gathers us together and explains that a smaller camel caravan will be filmed today with just 4 camel riders needed to lead the caravan out of the village. I have no visions of being a film star, simply the desire to be with a camel and miraculously, I make the cut and am one of the 4 remaining camel riders. I sit happily atop my camel, oblivious to the excitment unfolding as the village scene is filmed. Eventually, it is time for the camel caravan to ride through the village and the scene is successfully filmed on the first take.

Before and after, I wander the site, taking photos behind the scene. Gary has "employeed" may of the local children and dozens of children dance and play, on and off camera. An elaborate noon meal is prepared for us and the medieval feast is set on outdoor tables, both chairs and tables draped with golden cloths. Todays lunch is not a buffet, but is served to us and for most, the portions are too large and wasteful. Those of us who can't consume the massive amounts of food, band togther and take plates of food out to the children.

Gary had planned to film a campfire scene at the caravan encampment last night, but the storm blew in and we had to evacuate. The night time scene still needs to be filmed and we are bused over to the tent encampment. Many of the tents were destroyed in last nights storm, but the caravan encampment set has been repaired as best as possible and we prepare for the final shoot; a campfire scene at sunset. It is only the men who are in the final evening caravan camp scene, (and remember, I have switched genders.) Although we are all exhausted, we light the camp fires, wander on and off camera to tend our horses and camels and mingle and talk about our day over the ritual cup of tea..... as the camera rolls.