Film Info12 minutes
Fernanda Prudencio, University of the West of England Available for Free and Ticketed Screenings Synopsis: In the heart of South America lies a land of contrasts and ancient traditions - Bolivia. High up in its mountains, lives a tiny lizard. A whole culture is about to be revealed through this incredible reptile. The Healing Lizard highlights the fragile relationship that exists between nature, tradition and culture, showing the various elements of its complex interaction, which needs to find a balance in order to achieve sustainability. Having the lizard as a common thread, the story is told through three different characters; a biologist, a subsistence farmer and a traditional healer. Each reveals a different perspective of one reality. Science, nature, tradition, belief, faith and culture, are some of the themes that this film explores. Equilibrium and harmony is what a traditional cultures are trying to find, but what happens when harmony and balance breaks down? The Healing Lizard is an engaging and visually stunning film that embarks on a complex journey, told through the story of a tiny creature. |
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Filmmaker Q&A
● What inspired this story?
At the very start of my research, finding that there were lizards living high up in the Andes at an altitude of 5000m immediately sparked my interest and a desire to make a film about them. I always associated lizards with tropical environments and warm weather but never imagined lizards living amidst snow, at very low temperatures, and such high altitudes. I definitely wanted to tell that story. A small beautiful creature that was under threat due to social, cultural and environmental factors; that was the perfect way of showing my country Bolivia, its beauty and its complex cultural reality. During the creative process many things changed from the original idea to the final result, however the lizard was always the main inspiration. Knowing that people were using the lizard for healing purposes was definitely something that inspired me the most and pushed me to keep reading and researching the story. I am from Bolivia and so understand my culture from a very different perspective than people understand it in the western world. I felt that this story needed to be told from a local perspective with the eyes of a local director.
● Describe some of the challenges faced while making this film.
Story telling was the biggest one. -A documentary is always going to change and not going to follow the script that you planned, and my script was changing constantly from beginning to end.
You start with one script and it changes completely during the process. When you come to the edit suit you find yourself with hours of footage and the possibility of easily making at least three different films! Finding the right and the best way of telling the story, conveying the reality of the situation, without pointing fingers or laying blame, was definitely the biggest challenge
-Having control of everything on location was impossible. Luckily I had a good crew that helped and support me during the shooting, however there were some things that happened that were out of my personal control, like mistakes while recording sound. I couldn’t control audio all the time and that was a big frustration especially when you realise it in the edit room and there is little you can do about it then.
It was a big challenge trying to have everything under control, working as I was expecting it to work. Inevitably there were going to be mistakes.
-I am someone who needs a team and people to work with. That is part of my creative process. Exchange ideas and creating collaboratively; I can’t work just on my own because it easily blocks my own process of creativity. However, although it was tough, I’ve learned a lot from making this film and despite the challenges, it allowed me to identify the things I need to improve for future films.
● What impact do you hope this film will have?
Unfortunately when people around the world hear something about Bolivia, it is almost always related to bad news or politics. The image that Bolivia has abroad is often a misleading one.
That said, Bolivia is not a country that is constantly in the public eye, and many people don’t even know of its existence.
So I believe and hope that this film can help people to understand something of the country and see it from a very different perspective. It doesn’t matter if the film generates conflict and debate, that’s probably a good thing that will show the film is engaging an audience and provoking a response.
The film shows a specific reality and the audience is going to be able to understand that reality differently and feel it in a very personal way. And have their own conclusions. That is what I would like to expect; debate, questions and understanding a reality rather than than judging it.
As a filmmaker, you need a longer version and more time in order to understand a whole culture and answer the many questions that an audience might have. However this film gives you a taste of that reality.
I hope the film promotes discussion on issues like sustainable development. This is the key for everything and there are some practices around the world that might sound crazy and ignorant for, but are part of a culture that is important to understand.
I always say it is not about not touching nature, it is about understanding it and respecting it. That is how the majority of indigenous cultures think about it. The problem is always the abuse of nature and excessive consumption of it for profit.
Everything in excess is dangerous.
The problem starts when there is no strong reason to kill, consume and drive everything to extinction.
● Were there any surprising or meaningful experiences you want to share?
Surprises can always come while you are on location, while you are on a recce or a shoot. That is why documentary work is so inspiring and fascinating.
For me one of the most surprising things was when I found the main character Francisco. He was not meant to be part of the story at all. I found him on my recce while he was hitchhiking on the road. He never told me his story in front of the camera as wonderfully as he did in the car that first time. However it was the best discovery and provided great input for the film. A truly amazing human.
Another surprising moment was when I started to understand the different behavior that the animal was having due to weather change conditions.
Understanding the animal, how it behaves, where to find it, etc, took me a long time. Even tough my biologist helped me with the most important information, he was not able to come with me all the time. I spent a long time on my own, trying to find the animal, and to understand it in order to get nice shots.
Two biologists told me that March and April was not breeding season, however because of global warming breeding season came later. Something I was not expecting would happen, and that was fascinating, but it took me a while to understand these changes due to my lack of biological knowledge. Biologists themselves were struggling to understand what was going on.
During my time on location I saw many female lizards with heir babies but didn’t realise it was breeding season until I returned to Bristol to the edit and realised that I had actually filmed one lizard giving birth! It was amazing, and a great surprise but sad at the same time because I couldn’t follow her or film more about this. Although the film was not animal behaviour-focused, it would have been incredible to follow that process.
● What next?
I have many new projects in mind, however there are two which I’ve been working on for the last year. They need a lot of time on production, research, and gathering financial support. The main idea I am developing at the moment is an artistic wildlife series about animal’s eyes, there is still a lot of hard work to be done but I am very excited about it.
The second one is a conservation project in the Amazon.
Once you start you want to keep making films and you never want to stop. I am currently working researcher in a production company where I spend most of my time, however my personal projects are moving forward, little by little.
What did you learn during the making of this film?
Delivering a film directed, produced, shot and edited by myself was definitely a big challenge and a good way of learning how every step in pre, production and postproduction works. This is not usually how things work in the real industry, however it was an incredible opportunity that gave me confidence as a director, prepared me to enter the industry and equipped me with more tools for my future productions. I had to face my own fears as a creative person, however realising that you can produce something successful on your own is hugely rewarding. This film gave me the strength to believe in myself more and proved, to myself at least, that I have the skills and tools to continue making films.
The main thing I’ve learned about this film is how important it is to understand all the sides of an issue before saying or telling something. This is especially true of conservation.
Conservation of nature and species is definitely a very important thing for every country, however it is important to understand the specifics of what is happening within a given country.
Sustainable development is a very interesting way of seeing this story. All parts are connected as part of an integral balance; environmental, economical, political, social and cultural. When we talk about conservation and environmental issues, it is always important to see what’s happening with the other elements at work, and how these elements should work together in order to have a positive impact on the environment.
If we only think about the environment without other factors it is always going to be more complex to reach our goal.
In a country like Bolivia, where old traditions, social issues, and constant contrasts are part of an ancient culture, it is important to understand WHY this is happening and why is it so important to talk about it and understand it.
When we talk about conservation, people often think about big mammals, and having major impact on the most charismatic creatures; elephants, Lions, Polar Bears, Rhinos, Orangutans, etc.
I would have imagined that people don’t pay much attention to smaller and insignificant animals like, insects, bugs, or lizards. However it’s been amazing to see the reaction of the audience after talking about the threats a tiny creature is facing. The reaction has been fascinating, and makes me understand that the impact depends on how you tell a story.
As a personal learning after the filmed I’ve learned how important it is to be patient, to be open to new ideas in case the ones you planned as a director doesn’t work.
Nothing in the end is going to look as you were expecting at the beginning, and that is a very positive and beautiful thing, however needs a very open mind to be able to make changes on location and after if necessary. It is part of a creative process.
● How do you foresee this nomination impacting the life of your film and your career as a
filmmaker?
A nomination at the Jackson Hole festival is probably one of the biggest achievements that the film could have gained, because it means that it will be less restricted in its reach. It’s going to keep moving and its hopefully going to reach different people and more new audiences.
Festivals contribute to an increase of critical thought. They are now an exceptional tool for bringing together communication channels from the most distant places. Film festivals are helping at the frontline of an increasingly polarized world. Speaking multiple languages, they give you the ability to hear a rich diversity of voices from apparently disparate areas. Whatever happens in the farthest places of the world, it occupies the festival screens within the next year.
Documentaries need to have an impact, they need to be seen. Jackson Hole helps to change the industry from top to bottom, giving opportunity to emergent talents and people who may never reach the goal they want on their own.
Film festivals like Jackson offer us, the filmmakers, a platform to introduce our work and discuss topics shown in the film as well as the filmmaking process while they also allow us to be in an atmosphere where people think and breath wildlife.
That is very important for someone emerging into the industry who wants to grow.
It is a place where you can find people who think like you, perhaps even like your work, and where a platform is offered for exposing your ideas and beginning possible collaborations for the future.
At the very start of my research, finding that there were lizards living high up in the Andes at an altitude of 5000m immediately sparked my interest and a desire to make a film about them. I always associated lizards with tropical environments and warm weather but never imagined lizards living amidst snow, at very low temperatures, and such high altitudes. I definitely wanted to tell that story. A small beautiful creature that was under threat due to social, cultural and environmental factors; that was the perfect way of showing my country Bolivia, its beauty and its complex cultural reality. During the creative process many things changed from the original idea to the final result, however the lizard was always the main inspiration. Knowing that people were using the lizard for healing purposes was definitely something that inspired me the most and pushed me to keep reading and researching the story. I am from Bolivia and so understand my culture from a very different perspective than people understand it in the western world. I felt that this story needed to be told from a local perspective with the eyes of a local director.
● Describe some of the challenges faced while making this film.
Story telling was the biggest one. -A documentary is always going to change and not going to follow the script that you planned, and my script was changing constantly from beginning to end.
You start with one script and it changes completely during the process. When you come to the edit suit you find yourself with hours of footage and the possibility of easily making at least three different films! Finding the right and the best way of telling the story, conveying the reality of the situation, without pointing fingers or laying blame, was definitely the biggest challenge
-Having control of everything on location was impossible. Luckily I had a good crew that helped and support me during the shooting, however there were some things that happened that were out of my personal control, like mistakes while recording sound. I couldn’t control audio all the time and that was a big frustration especially when you realise it in the edit room and there is little you can do about it then.
It was a big challenge trying to have everything under control, working as I was expecting it to work. Inevitably there were going to be mistakes.
-I am someone who needs a team and people to work with. That is part of my creative process. Exchange ideas and creating collaboratively; I can’t work just on my own because it easily blocks my own process of creativity. However, although it was tough, I’ve learned a lot from making this film and despite the challenges, it allowed me to identify the things I need to improve for future films.
● What impact do you hope this film will have?
Unfortunately when people around the world hear something about Bolivia, it is almost always related to bad news or politics. The image that Bolivia has abroad is often a misleading one.
That said, Bolivia is not a country that is constantly in the public eye, and many people don’t even know of its existence.
So I believe and hope that this film can help people to understand something of the country and see it from a very different perspective. It doesn’t matter if the film generates conflict and debate, that’s probably a good thing that will show the film is engaging an audience and provoking a response.
The film shows a specific reality and the audience is going to be able to understand that reality differently and feel it in a very personal way. And have their own conclusions. That is what I would like to expect; debate, questions and understanding a reality rather than than judging it.
As a filmmaker, you need a longer version and more time in order to understand a whole culture and answer the many questions that an audience might have. However this film gives you a taste of that reality.
I hope the film promotes discussion on issues like sustainable development. This is the key for everything and there are some practices around the world that might sound crazy and ignorant for, but are part of a culture that is important to understand.
I always say it is not about not touching nature, it is about understanding it and respecting it. That is how the majority of indigenous cultures think about it. The problem is always the abuse of nature and excessive consumption of it for profit.
Everything in excess is dangerous.
The problem starts when there is no strong reason to kill, consume and drive everything to extinction.
● Were there any surprising or meaningful experiences you want to share?
Surprises can always come while you are on location, while you are on a recce or a shoot. That is why documentary work is so inspiring and fascinating.
For me one of the most surprising things was when I found the main character Francisco. He was not meant to be part of the story at all. I found him on my recce while he was hitchhiking on the road. He never told me his story in front of the camera as wonderfully as he did in the car that first time. However it was the best discovery and provided great input for the film. A truly amazing human.
Another surprising moment was when I started to understand the different behavior that the animal was having due to weather change conditions.
Understanding the animal, how it behaves, where to find it, etc, took me a long time. Even tough my biologist helped me with the most important information, he was not able to come with me all the time. I spent a long time on my own, trying to find the animal, and to understand it in order to get nice shots.
Two biologists told me that March and April was not breeding season, however because of global warming breeding season came later. Something I was not expecting would happen, and that was fascinating, but it took me a while to understand these changes due to my lack of biological knowledge. Biologists themselves were struggling to understand what was going on.
During my time on location I saw many female lizards with heir babies but didn’t realise it was breeding season until I returned to Bristol to the edit and realised that I had actually filmed one lizard giving birth! It was amazing, and a great surprise but sad at the same time because I couldn’t follow her or film more about this. Although the film was not animal behaviour-focused, it would have been incredible to follow that process.
● What next?
I have many new projects in mind, however there are two which I’ve been working on for the last year. They need a lot of time on production, research, and gathering financial support. The main idea I am developing at the moment is an artistic wildlife series about animal’s eyes, there is still a lot of hard work to be done but I am very excited about it.
The second one is a conservation project in the Amazon.
Once you start you want to keep making films and you never want to stop. I am currently working researcher in a production company where I spend most of my time, however my personal projects are moving forward, little by little.
What did you learn during the making of this film?
Delivering a film directed, produced, shot and edited by myself was definitely a big challenge and a good way of learning how every step in pre, production and postproduction works. This is not usually how things work in the real industry, however it was an incredible opportunity that gave me confidence as a director, prepared me to enter the industry and equipped me with more tools for my future productions. I had to face my own fears as a creative person, however realising that you can produce something successful on your own is hugely rewarding. This film gave me the strength to believe in myself more and proved, to myself at least, that I have the skills and tools to continue making films.
The main thing I’ve learned about this film is how important it is to understand all the sides of an issue before saying or telling something. This is especially true of conservation.
Conservation of nature and species is definitely a very important thing for every country, however it is important to understand the specifics of what is happening within a given country.
Sustainable development is a very interesting way of seeing this story. All parts are connected as part of an integral balance; environmental, economical, political, social and cultural. When we talk about conservation and environmental issues, it is always important to see what’s happening with the other elements at work, and how these elements should work together in order to have a positive impact on the environment.
If we only think about the environment without other factors it is always going to be more complex to reach our goal.
In a country like Bolivia, where old traditions, social issues, and constant contrasts are part of an ancient culture, it is important to understand WHY this is happening and why is it so important to talk about it and understand it.
When we talk about conservation, people often think about big mammals, and having major impact on the most charismatic creatures; elephants, Lions, Polar Bears, Rhinos, Orangutans, etc.
I would have imagined that people don’t pay much attention to smaller and insignificant animals like, insects, bugs, or lizards. However it’s been amazing to see the reaction of the audience after talking about the threats a tiny creature is facing. The reaction has been fascinating, and makes me understand that the impact depends on how you tell a story.
As a personal learning after the filmed I’ve learned how important it is to be patient, to be open to new ideas in case the ones you planned as a director doesn’t work.
Nothing in the end is going to look as you were expecting at the beginning, and that is a very positive and beautiful thing, however needs a very open mind to be able to make changes on location and after if necessary. It is part of a creative process.
● How do you foresee this nomination impacting the life of your film and your career as a
filmmaker?
A nomination at the Jackson Hole festival is probably one of the biggest achievements that the film could have gained, because it means that it will be less restricted in its reach. It’s going to keep moving and its hopefully going to reach different people and more new audiences.
Festivals contribute to an increase of critical thought. They are now an exceptional tool for bringing together communication channels from the most distant places. Film festivals are helping at the frontline of an increasingly polarized world. Speaking multiple languages, they give you the ability to hear a rich diversity of voices from apparently disparate areas. Whatever happens in the farthest places of the world, it occupies the festival screens within the next year.
Documentaries need to have an impact, they need to be seen. Jackson Hole helps to change the industry from top to bottom, giving opportunity to emergent talents and people who may never reach the goal they want on their own.
Film festivals like Jackson offer us, the filmmakers, a platform to introduce our work and discuss topics shown in the film as well as the filmmaking process while they also allow us to be in an atmosphere where people think and breath wildlife.
That is very important for someone emerging into the industry who wants to grow.
It is a place where you can find people who think like you, perhaps even like your work, and where a platform is offered for exposing your ideas and beginning possible collaborations for the future.
