July 1st - July 13th

Once again the Apo Calypso team is back with our most recent updates. After working on the 1st and 2nd on gathering amazing animal footage and on obtaining permission to film the Moran's graduation ceremony at the Makurian boma , we were optimistic on our way there on the 3rd. However, we were disappointed to learn that this permission was not to be granted upon our arrival, understandably due to the importance of the ceremony remaining as true to its traditions as possible. Nonetheless, Apo Calypso has been informed of a number of the same ceromonies taking place in the month of August, as well as a circumcision ceremony next week in the same Makurian community boma, to which we have been invited.

Following our visit, we returned back to Nanyuki on the 4th and said our final goodbyes to Heather Ramsey, who was to head back to Nairobi for her flight the next morning. Although she was dissapointed to leave, she clearly enjoyed the two-weeks stay which she was fortunate enough to spend with such a special community. She will be helping us build the architecture and groundworkings of Apo Calypso, the non-for-profit productions organisation, upon our return to Toronto.

Back in Nanyuki, the collection of 3000+ photos taken thus far were being copied and duplicated for Cameron, who was leaving on the morning of the 7th, to take back to Toronto. Although he will no longer be with the rest of the team in Kenya, he will be busy applying for grants, compiling contact lists, a photo album, mastering sound recording, and writing his first-hand account of his voyage and submersion into the Maasai culture, and his reemersion back into the 'west' thereafter. Also: the Apo Calypso story.
So the team travelled to Nairobi to say their Kwaheri's and were soon after to be found in the streets of Nairobi and the slums of Kibera, gathering incredible city footage to emphasize the contrast between the Maasai' and the rest of Kenya's way and state of living.


We had a very successful meeting with the Nairobi production company Vivid Features, (where most of Kenya's media equipment is sought out for) where we were granted access to Final Cut editing software, as well as a professional DAT recorder. The latter will be added to the collection of new and improved sound equipment we have gathered, courtesy of BWare studios, who have offered their help with equipment as well as plain experience.

Now we are heading back out to Il Ngwesi, in hopes of fullfilling a specific shot and sound list for the upcoming 5 days, where a meeting with the community leaders, regarding permission for the film's title, will also be orchestrated. We have 23 hours of film to be shot by July 18th, whereupon we will continue to search for simba and also a more indepth shooting of the provider, Mount Kenya.

P.S. The goat, Buanafiki, is happy and hungry.