Filming, educating and connecting

A heady mixture of youth, idealism, pro-activism, social change, travel and film, What Took You So Long (WTYSL) Foundation is passionate about aiding grass-root NGOs around the world via the immediacy and visceral impact of documentaries.

Armed with their cameras and their curiosity, the WTYSL crew films untold stories & unsung heroes in remote corners of the globe. Duly screening their work, hosting workshops, organising lectures and attending conferences all over the place, they draw on their extensive worldwide networks in bringing the message and a vivid sense of awareness to as many influential decision makers as possible.

With a simple mission to 'film, educate and connect', the movement is breaching new horizons and making waves through engagement and collaboration with likeminded individuals.

All this began when WTYSL joined hands with Kickstarter - the 'largest funding platform for creative projects in the world'. A new way to fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavours, Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com) were able to fund the Foundation's first project in Africa - paying for equipment, transport and visas.

WTYSL undertakes planned expeditions in specific countries; discovering, documenting and networking at every stage of the journey with the aim of ultimately inspiring other young people into developing a globally conscientious mindset and diving into the process of bringing about positive change.

The Foundation, created in 2008 by Sebastian Lindstrom and Evan Fowler, has thus far provided an online platform and avenue for lives and stories across three expeditions. Their current labour of love sees them fulfilling their dream of exploring the Middle East in detail and further stretching their wings from Mongolia to Mauritania, documenting the special animal that is the camel.

creative lab had the chance to catch up with two core members of the WTYSL Foundation, Alicia Sully and Philippa Young, and get their views on the movement, its journey and its current preoccupation with Arabian camels.

Hello Alicia, we're really glad you could join us. First up, could you tell us a little bit about Kickstarter and how they managed to kick-start your WTYSL journey?

It all began with our first project in Africa – Kickstarter provided 6,000$USD worth of funding. It's social media funding, which involves working hard on your social networking skills. All the money was used on the Africa adventure, and in return, we created a documentary for Kickstarter featuring our stories and interaction with African communities.

On the current Camel Project, we've received funding to the tune of 8,000$USD. Kickstarter have funded just half the project, and we've promised picture books, camel manuals and the like in return.

Seeing how the expedition keeps growing and expanding in scope, we're actively seeking donors and sponsors and have already attracted some major names in that regard. The team's always on the move, always interacting with people and organizations in spreading the word and getting things going.

Given the relatively small amounts of funding per trip, does the team end up having to really rough it out a majority of the time?

Yes we do, but that's not due to the funding or lack thereof, it's how we would like to do it anyway! We believe in the ethos of living with the people we're filming and discovering; sleeping in the communities, eating the food, hitchhiking, the whole deal. It's the only way to connect and learn.

We'd rather use the fund money on equipment, media and marketing - things like that. And we love giving back to the communities we come in touch with – be it in the form of books that capture the entire experience or DVDs that preserve our interactions with them for ages to come. It's those things we'd rather use the money for.

Alicia, you're the official Director & Cinematographer with WTYSL. What inspired you to start this?

WTYSL had just been created – I was living in Ghana at the time, working on films. I was searching for my next project.

You could call it a natural progression. I love working in this team, connecting with likeminded people. It empowers you, it inspires you. It allows you to aim higher and reach further.

At this point, Alicia has to leave, and we get to continue our conversation with Philippa Young and gain further insights into the workings of What Took You So Long, their camel expedition and life on the road in general.

It's a pleasure to meet up with you Philippa. What is your role at WTYSL and what triggered your decision to become part of the Foundation in the first place?

We were just discussing this the other day actually – the fact that each member of the team is performing about twelve roles at any given time! On this current camel expedition, I'm writing, producing, conducting interviews, handling the research and have also been thrown into the part of studio technician! Besides these responsibilities, I'm a Director with the Foundation as we make our journey onward.

As for the second part of your question – I was living a very comfortable, happy life in Hong Kong. But there was this strong desire to shake things up. I was offered a research job with Sebastian's other foundation in Ghana. That led me onward to Mauritania, and it was a case of being in the right place at the right time, since the birth of the Camel Project was taking place then.

I believe in what I'm doing and can honestly say that I haven't had a better job in all my life. It involves activity, travel, change – it forces you to demolish your preconceptions and grow as a person. I love what I do and am excited by the challenge, everyday.

Why film as the medium for social change – what's the compelling factor?

Film is such a powerful medium. And with WTYSL, we firmly believe in doing things in our own style – involving the communities and people we come in contact with, getting young people and volunteers to travel with us, initiating and sustaining connections – anytime, anywhere. It's a mad yet really fulfilling way to work. And with film, the entertainment value is immense – which is a very important factor when you're holding screenings. Documentary films are educational, aspirational, beautiful... it's the perfect medium, really.

Personally, what has been your greatest adventure with WTYSL so far?

We always say: "The highs are high, the lows are low". It's been such a rollercoaster ride, filled with people and events and memories. It's so hard to tell you about just one thing. But I can honestly say that being here in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates has been very special.

One thing that does stand out is being present at the Camel Beauty Pageant in Abu Dhabi. It was the first time I'd seen black camels – these imposing, impressive creatures. And then there's right now, where I've just witnessed the birth of a baby camel, such an emotional and fantastic moment. The contrast and emotions involved will stay in my mind.

The current Camel Cheese Project – could you tell us a little bit about it?

Well, it began as a Camel Cheese expedition but has evolved into something much bigger and stronger. We were doing all this research into camel cheese and then gradually moved on to camel milk and the processes and stories involved – it's a whole new world.

Discovering the health benefits of camel milk with its massive potential, and then exploring places all over the world where camels and the camel culture are prominent, has just been fascinating.

The larger story here is that through our journeys, we've discovered that camel populations are dwindling quite rapidly in many parts of the world. In Kazakhstan, for instance, their population has declined from huge numbers to only about 145,000 - which is troubling.

We're just seeking to capture these stories, convey some strong messages and arouse interest in an intelligent manner. The project's grown from 'Camel Cheese' into something much more substantial. If I had to encapsulate the project in its current avatar in just three words, I'd go with 'Respect the Camel'.

How many projects has WTYSL completed so far?

The first expedition was Crossing Africa – which stretched from Morocco all the way to South Africa. That project involved looking at NGOs across 16 African countries – studying their best practices and examining aid effectiveness.

The second one was in Papua New Guinea where we've made two separate trips. The cross-peninsula journey resulted in a 20-minute documentary titled 'Betelnut Bliss'. Additional footage has been incorporated into another documentary which is currently in post-production.

Between expeditions, sometimes simultaneously, we also produce videos, video profiles and related clips focusing on social change - free.

Another great aspect of this adventure is the partnerships, such as the one we share with the Sandbox Network (www.sandbox-network.com) - involving screenings, organised discussions, video series and assorted collaborations.

Our Foundation's current project of course is the one we're doing on the camels.

To a person really wanting to volunteer but tied down by stuff like rent, loans, nagging spouses, etc. – what 30-second motivational speech would you give to get them up and moving?

I'd tell them to leave behind everything they find beneficial about staying stuck in the one place. Travel, do it with a purpose – it will change your life. Don't be pinned down by the mundane. If you never try, you'll never know.

Do you feel idealism is a losing cause or something that's becoming a stronger force by the day?

I feel idealism is stronger today than it's ever been, and it's closer to becoming reality than on many occasions in the past. When you take the vast scope of the internet and social media and travel and the dynamism of young people everywhere, it's great cause for optimism.

I guess the key is to dream big but keep things humble. Also – less talk, more action. That's one constant mantra at WTYSL – "stop talking about it, just get up and do it!" Because the more you talk about it, the more chances you're giving people to knock it down with negativity and cynicism. So stop wasting time discussing it, just get on with things and go for it!

What next for you personally, Philippa?

Next year, I'm going to Oxford to do my Master's in Anthropology. It's about bringing more skills and strengths to the table for WTYSL.

Anthropology is particularly useful for obvious reasons – gaining better insight into cultures, peoples - making sure that knowledge is used towards giving back and contributing towards communities.

As for the immediate future, I'm very excited because we're headed to Oman for a couple of days and then we're off to India... to the desert state of Rajasthan.

And what next for WTYSL?

The 'Respect the Camel' project seems to have taken on a life of its own. The year-long project has

expanded as we've moved from culture to culture, taking in Asia, Africa, North America, Europe and

Arabia. So for the foreseeable future, that's what we're going to be concentrating on.

We're also exploring potential projects in Egypt, Somalia and Kenya. These are tentative and for the future, but we're certain to be exploring nomadic and Bedouin cultures on the road ahead.

Philippa, it's been delightful and fascinating having a chat with you. Wish you all the very best with the Foundation. We hope to have all three of you with us sometime soon so we can chat more about your adventures and maybe even shoot a video profile.

I would like that very much. It's been an absolute pleasure. Take care, bye for now.

As a global, nomadic movement, WTYSL welcomes volunteers and interns from four corners of the globe. Get in touch with them or simply follow their journeys:

www.whattookyousolong.org

www.facebook.com/whattookyousolong

www.youtube.com/user/WTYSL

http://twitter.com/WTYSL

The What Took You So Long crew went through www.kickstarter.com for financial support. creative lab also offers funds for ideas and we want to reach the community. Check out our apply for funding page for more details and have your ideas flourish into something real.

If you’re an aspiring filmmaker, or have an idea that you believe deserves to be translated to the screen, creative lab can help. Take a look at some of our projects, and read stories about Ghafet Osha, Jirfah and others on how we’ve helped turn concepts into finished productions. Take some time to flesh out your idea and in the meantime connect with filmmakers, producers, directors and creative individuals within the community, who can offer valuable feedback and advice. The creative lab team is committed to funding and developing ideas that can enrich community discourse and present a diversity of views. Get in touch and see if your idea makes the cut.

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