These days...

Lately, I've been going to India for about 5-8 hours a day, every day. I spend my hours sitting in front of this computer tediously editing, deleting, cutting, and pasting together seven hours of film, sizing it down to less than two.

I am living in my documentary about Shanti Bhavan, my master's thesis due in August.




And then I dream of Shanti Bhavan at night.
And when I wake up, my heart aches for Shilpa, Rajni, Karthik, Chaitra, Francis, Vinay, Bina...and all the others...

And then I spend another 5-8 hours the next day. Slicing, dicing, reviewing, cutting, pasting....

I see their faces, and hear their voices day and night.


Shanti was right. She said, "No matter how much you do for these children, you'll go away thinking it wasn't enough."

Yep.
Which brings me back to this film... my motivation in making it incredible is envisioning that day when I get to send it to them. I imagine them hearing the announcement about it at assembly.

"Children," Mrs. Law will say, "Emily finished her film about Shanti Bhavan, and she sent it to us like she promised. The 1-5th graders will watch it after lunch on Sunday. The 6-9th graders will watch it after dinner."

And they will scream and delight and point and laugh to see themselves in a movie. On TV.



I love you, Shanti Bhavan. You have invited me into your family, and I take that quite seriously. I am your sister.


These days I live are for you.