Photo credit: Mo Scarpelli

Our friend Alexandria Bombach of RED REEL went to Afghanistan this October.  We’re glad we could help Alexandria bring her work to light and we look forward to working with her on future adventures.  Here’s a taste of her most recent trip in her own words.  And by “most recent trip” we’re not counting Baja, from where she sent this story.

Friendships in Foreign Places

Filming a documentary can be a wild thing to tackle. There are so many unknowns and surprises, you have to constantly be on your toes but also willing to laugh at yourself. One thing that can make or break the production? Those working alongside you.

Last month, Mo Scarpelli and I filmed in Kabul, Afghanistan for an upcoming documentary project. With a tight shooting schedule, Mo and I were wide-eyed and constantly overwhelmed in that good sort of way where you know the experience will change your life. Kabul was filled with a dusty golden light, beautiful people and flowing fabrics and textures that were a dream to film, but behind the camera were safety concerns and logistics that made each shoot very calculated. I was so thankful that Shannon Galpin of Mountain2Mountain connected us with a driver and fixer who made our process seamless and who also opened the door to some friendships I will never forget.

Photo credit: A. Bombach

Heading from location to location, our trusty driver Sharif tore in and out of Kabul’s chaotic traffic – hopping over curbs and not missing a beat. His skills at the wheel were jaw-dropping. Sharif had two faces during our adventures – complete concentration and an endearing joyful smile, all which depended on how fast we were going.  Mo and I imagined Sharif having his own video game, complete with bonus points on shortcuts and sad bleeping noises when the road was blocked. Although our communication with Sharif was left to our big smiles and Sharif’s little English, he knew what we were up to in the back of the car making video game noises as he weaved through traffic. Cue joyful smile.

Our fixer Najeebulla, calm and collected, always knew the right thing to say. Having been a fixer for many news organizations and NGOs, Najeebulla had seen it all. Wanting to break the ice on our first day out shooting I jokingly asked if he had a code word like “banana” for when things got messy and we should bail. He smiled and said “lets go” may be easier.

Days later, our production took a wild turn to film the first ever professional boxing match in Afghanistan. The five check points before the entrance all seemed as if we would be sent packing home despite our official media passes. But Najeebula always knew what to say. His calm attitude and professional style got us through to the last check point where a massive crowd had formed. Sharif, Najeebulla, Mo and I along with our photographer friend Tony Di Zinno tore our way through swarming crowds and yelling fans. All of us clasped hands and raised them into the air pulling trough the crowd linked and determined. Finally squeezing through the gate with all our people and equipment we all looked around at each other breathless and grinning – we had made it. Turning to Najeebulla, he smiled wide said “That was a little bit ‘banana.’”

Photo credit: Mo Scarpelli

As our days of filming came to a close, and Mo and I were starting to get sad about leaving our new friends and a city we had come to enjoy. Pulling into our hotel for the last time, we passed a car that had the word “Hamsafar” written in huge yellow letters across the back windshield. I asked Najeebula what it meant and he said it was a word that meant two friends traveling together. He turned around in the passenger seat and said to Mo and me, “Like you two!”

The production in Kabul was stressful at times but appreciating small moments with friends new and old made the experience completely worth it.

Photo Credit: Anna Brones