“Dis na we yone Salone,” in Krio this means: This is My Sierra Leone.

Week Two: As work continues at the WeOwnTV: Sierra Leone Media Center, eight of the young filmmakers join us at the residence space to participate in mentor training. The eight mentors include Alluspa, Fanta, Frank, Mustapha, Arthur, Kanku, Earnest and Tyson.

WeOwnTV Mentors: Alluspa Soumah, Kanku Thoronka, Earnest Sesay, Mustapha Brima, Tyson Conteh, Fanta Jabbie, Arthur Pratt and holding the camera Frank T.O. M’Cormack.

It’s expected that this group of eight will serve as leaders at the media center and to their peers. Banker geared the week’s curriculum for documentary work to focus on pre-production planning; basic camera work; capturing and logging footage; selections and editing; and finally exporting the final work for screening.

Day One: Everyone is welcomed and introduced to the goals set for the mentor training. The group is led in both Christian and Muslim blessings for the work we hope to accomplish throughout the week and with the opening of the new media center.

Banker opens the day’s lessons by previewing examples of completed works to open the discussions regarding editing choices and films styles. The group discusses different filmmaking methods utilized in each of the pieces. In addition, the group reviews the difference between narrative, which was the focus of last year’s workshop, and documentary work.

Though everyone is excited to get their hands on a camera (thanks to Anna Fitch and friends who sent us to Sierra Leone with 2 donated cameras; in addition to three laptops and a microphone), Banker explains the most important lesson of the week is not related to the camera or the computer at all. In fact, today’s lesson highlighted pre-production planning and a collaborative team writing exercise. Then we discussed how framing ideas is essential to filmmaking.

Banker demos camera operations during WeOwnTV Mentor Training.

The groups are split in to two groups of four to work as individual filmmaking crews. They are given the assignment of creating a 6-8 minute documentary film working with the theme, “This is My Sierra Leone.” Banker explains to the entire group that they are encouraged to begin discussing the theme and brainstorm how they would choose to tell the story of their Sierra Leone.

They are tasked with creating a production plan for the following day to present what shots they are planning for and logistically how they will execute their production schedule in 1 ½ days. After lunch, we take a short break for Banker to lead camera demos of the new cameras and each person takes their turn with focusing, white balancing and exposure. Work continues on the production plans and the day concludes with plans in hand and excitement to shoot their films the following day.

Day Two & Three: The majority of these two days have each of the crews running from location to location trying to get all the shots they have scoped in their production plans. They learn quickly that the weather is not always your friend and have to do some quick adjustments in the field to get their shots while making sure their equipment remains dry and in working condition.

Banker meets up with the team in town at the Media Center. He reviews the shots each team has completed and teaches them about reviewing their plans. Each group makes plan adjustments to ensure they get the shots of what they need for their stories before the fast-approaching deadline.

As the teams move about Freetown, navigating the weather to shoot their footage, WeOwnTV US is learning its own lessons regarding the challenges of working in Africa. Without easy access to expert equipment repair shops or an Apple store down the street, we are facing the lack of technology support that we take for granted in the United States. As two of our editing computers crash and a camera that travelled with us is not working properly, we need to make our adjustments to the instruction plans.

Frank T.O. M’Cormack, Kanku Thoronka and Ernest Sesay of Group Two in story discussions.

Day Four & Five: With some creative adjustments to curriculum for the logging, capturing and editing lessons, Banker brings the group of eight around a single computer hooked up to the TV for extra viewing area. Then each of the team split time to complete their work on the tapes they shot and when they are not on the computer, Banker encourages them to review their script and planning work to align it with the interviews and footage they remembered liking.

In the early part of next week, there will be additional lessons on finalizing and exporting an edited piece of work. In addition to the technical and editing lessons, the group will discuss the logistics of the Media Center to determine opening hours, how individuals will access the equipment and the rules of operation. Finally, a constitution will be drafted to present to the broader group when they arrive on Wednesday.

As the sun sets on the week, the team is excited about what they have learned and is looking forward to sharing their new knowledge with the broader team. With the larger group next week, the plan is to finalize the operation procedures, have the entire team sign the WeOwnTV: Sierra Leone Constitution; establish all their digital profiles and communication channels; introduce website functionality and do a day-long script writing intensive in preparation for the upcoming group collaboration—the production of a feature length narrative.

“Tinap mek u go wuk” – in Krio it means get up, time to get to work.

Day Three: Arthur has been researching the prices of furniture and has determined it’s cheaper for us to have furniture built for the Media Center.

So on this morning, we are off to meet up with the carpenter, Idris, to review our proposed plan for each room and determine a budget for materials and his time.

The group goes room by room with measuring tapes in hand reviewing the furniture needs for each. We assign the purpose to each room and agree on the furniture. Once we have a good idea of what we would like to build, the carpenter figures out what materials are needed. An estimate is determined so Idris and Arthur can go negotiate the price the next morning. They will do the negotiating and purchasing of materials on their own, because they will get a better price if the team from America is not present.

Alluspa King paints the floors of the Media Center.

Day Four: It’s time to begin moving in to the Media Center. Today, the young filmmakers based in Freetown join us to clean the center and paint the floors—leaving the two front rooms unpainted for the carpenter to work. Arthur tours the group through the center and lays out the plan for the coming days for building out the space and officially opening the center. There are lots of nods of approval and the team is very pleased that they now have a place to create.

The previous day we had discovered that our driver was not only excellent at navigating the streets of Freetown, but was also an electrician. So we do an electricity review of the space and determine materials needed to repair lights and wall outlets so he is able to buy them the following morning. The afternoon brings the first delivery of wood for building the furniture.

In addition, we meet with the outdoor sign maker and review the center to begin listing what other fixes are required and setting up appointments for the next day with the welder.

Day Five: The carpenter and his team get to work building the furniture. They are craftsman and the initial work on the table legs is impressive to watch. Alluspa and Frank are busy with the “fix it” list and tackling the toilet and tub rooms. And Med (our driver and now electrician) is busy beginning the electricity work throughout the center. We confirm the work with the welder to add more security to the windows, build the sign structure and a locking equipment cabinet.

We lock up for the night, satisfied with our progress: we have a working toilet; a clean tub room; additional electric outlets; working lights and a room full of table legs.

As the first week comes to an end, there are plans made with the carpenter to carry on working through the weekend and for team meetings to outline the mentor training schedule for the following week. A group of eight will be gathering for mentor training to focus on editing skills with Banker and the development of the new media center and website.

Buildout plan for WeOwnTV Media Center in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Arrival: Arriving late in the evening on Sunday, we–Banker and Paula of the US team–are greeted by Arthur Pratt and several of the young filmmakers and mentors.  Warm welcomes and hugs all around and then quickly everyone retrieves the bags and races to get through customs—as always it’s a bit of a feat with several “interesting” large boxes/bags coming into the country. This is the first of many negotiations that are required. We are fortunate to have Arthur on our side, as a masterful negotiator he is able to sway folks in our favor.

Observation: Negotiating in Sierra Leone is an art form and always a passionate exchange. They definitely give any Italian a run for their money. There are hands waving, eyes rolling, heads shaking, clickings of the tongue…and all done in community. If a debate begins with two people by the end everyone within earshot is exchanging their opinions regarding the issue and all with the same passion and enthusiasm of the original debaters.

The race to Freetown continues as the group caravans to the ferry to make the potentially last ferry from Lungi to Freetown. On arrival we are told the ferry has pulled away. Arthur heads out to find out what’s really happening…and negotiations continue. The lineup of cars is trying to convince the ferry operator that they should do another run across to Freetown—nobody wants to take the 2-3 hours Port Loko road route or alternatively stay the night in Lungi to meet the morning ferry. First “representatives” of the group are going down the lineup to see who is willing to pay a surcharge so the journey is more enticing for the operators with such few cars and people. Once it’s determined who’s in, they present our offer to the operators and we are on our way.

We safely arrive in Freetown and are settled into the residence house to rest up and meet Arthur in the morning.

Day One: Arthur has vetted potential media center locations and meets us to visit each to determine which WeOwnTV: Sierra Leone will call home. He is accompanied by our agent to show us each of the potential facilities—agents are essential because landlords generally only list vacancies to the agent community. Each side has an agent and everyone gets a cut of the final lease.

Our new home: 20 Old Railway Line, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

We head out to see his first choice, a two-story building near the government building (which means it will have a good steady stream of city power). The place is great and everyone associated—landlord’s agent, the caretaker and his family—are gracious and welcoming. We are led around the outside area and up to the second floor to survey the space. It’s much bigger than we are expecting for the asking price and seems to generally be well outfitted for lighting and internet wiring. It’s determined we will meet up with the landlord so he can meet us and discuss lease amount.

We head out to review other locations—but we all expect this will be our place. The rest of the day is occupied with setting up the residence with gas, generator, groceries and paying the meter to receive city light.

Day Two: Excitement is in the air as we get ready for the day knowing we are meeting with Mr. Mansaray—our potential new landlord. We—Arthur,Banker, Alluspa, Frank and Paula—arrive and are greeted by the two agents and introduced to Mr. Mansaray. He has a distinguished presence and kind eyes.

Banker documents the signing of the lease by Arthur Pratt, manager of WeOwnTV: Sierra Leone.

We gather in the office to give us an opportunity to describe the vision of the media center and negotiate the lease price. Arthur takes the lead for our team, answering Mr. Mansaray’s questions. As it becomes evident that all is going well and that a partnership is eminent, the agents enter the room to begin negotiating the price. Mr. Mansaray had been running his own organization out of the building and likes the idea of WeOwnTV being there. Therefore, he is very supportive of the work we are doing and is generous in the negotiations.

All is settled. A temporary lease is drafted and signed. Ceremoniously, speeches are made by Arthur and our new landlord, Mr. Mansaray. Arthur blesses the new media center with a prayer and then we wait for the rooms to be emptied and to receive the keys to our new home. 20 Old Railway Line is now ours, so we get on our way to begin planning.

“Wi de kam” – in Krio this means we are coming back.