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D I A R Y
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3rd Trip
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Journal entry, 18.1.1993
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My photographic assistant and I have rented an old villa in Ouidah. Empty for 15 years, it is pretty dilapidated. I’m actually thinking about buying it. It would make a nice holiday place. There’s even a swimming pool, which has turned into a rather hazardous biotope, full of snakes and other insect and reptilian life. For the first time, I’ve brought video equipment. I’ll be interested to see how the people will react and whether they’ll let me film a secret Voodoo ceremony.
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Journal entry, 19.1.1993
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Something very strange is going on. Can’t get anything to work. I hoped to start filming today, but the BETA camera went berserk. The time code went haywire. It’s the same with the DAT. Haven’t managed to shoot one foot of film and am wondering whether we shouldn’t just pack up and leave. Serge and I have taken everything apart at least five times, but can’t find anything wrong. Maybe it’s the humidity. The heat is unbearable. Our project is as good as finished before we’ve even started.
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Journal entry, 21.1.1993
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Mahounon has an explanation. He thinks the gods do not approve of us filming the Voodoo ceremonies. So, this afternoon, I took all the equipment to Kpassenon in the sacred forest. Kpassenon asked the oracle (the Fa), if we could film.
He sacrificed a goat and spattered our horribly expensive equipment with blood. After the ceremony, Kpassenon explained that the gods had given their permission, so now we could start shooting.
For Mahounon’s benefit , I put the camera on my shoulder and switched it on. It worked perfectly. Maybe it was just a coincidence.
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Journal entry, 3.2.1993
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Ouidah `92, the first gathering of international Voodoo priests. The event was planned for `92, but had to be postponed several times. Now it is ‘93, but no one sees any need to go to the expense of printing new posters. Ouidah `92 held in 1993 - so what?
We filmed some impressive delegations from Haiti and Brazil. The whole thing is an attempt to give the Voodoo cult an international voice.
But everything seems pretty much thrown together.
I’ve become aware of Voodoo’s enormous latent power. Perhaps that is why the state has been trying for decades to control the priests, and usurp their power. First the kings and then the Marxists. Up to now, all of them have all failed – thank God.
I’ve shot masses of footage. Apart from some minor hitches, all the equipment worked perfectly. Only three days before we leave. Unbelievably hot and humid. Physically, we’re just about done in.
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Frenetic Films · Zürich Switzerland · mail@frenetic.ch
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