Jumla feels like a cinematic dream. Another world, far removed from the daily bustle of life in Kathmandu. The shoot in March is a distant memory until it comes to life on my screen as I work with my translators on the footage. We are slowly working our way through the new batch of hours of footage, painstakingly translating and transcribing - logging what everyone said in those moments so we can edit their words into our story.
When we first started this project, I have to admit, I didn't really quite think through the reality of making a film in a language I don't speak (sadly, my Nepali/Jumli is still very basic). This is not an issue that will ultimately hinder the making of our film, but it does mean that it is a slow process. A lot of time will be spent on translation.
When we are shooting it can be frustrating at times when conversation is flowing and we only have an inkling of what is going on. Usually Soraj is making notes, so I can peer over his shoulder to get a sense of the topic. But I would love to be able to really talk to the people. These are not just subjects in a film we are making, but many have become friends and family. It is amazing the bonds one can forge without a common language.
An interesting element of the process of translating is finding out things that were said, deeper levels of conversation, that were missed by us at the time of shooting. And somehow, neither Soraj or Nisha thought to tell us! It is a journey I hadn't anticipated, delving deeper into situations we filmed, whilst sitting at my desk in Kathmandu. It feeds my inspiration as we go along and the ideas flow with a better understanding. Although slow-going, I don't find the translating process difficult or tedious in the slightest. It is so inspiring. I am working with bright, young women, Hindu and Sarita, who are clearly enjoying the process themselves as they find out more about the characters in this community - a world so different to the one they were brought up in growing up in Kathmandu. And as we review, me transcribing their translations, I'm finding out pieces of our story that I missed when I was standing right there. I am finding out what the footage actually holds beyond what we can merely see.
When we first started this project, I have to admit, I didn't really quite think through the reality of making a film in a language I don't speak (sadly, my Nepali/Jumli is still very basic). This is not an issue that will ultimately hinder the making of our film, but it does mean that it is a slow process. A lot of time will be spent on translation.
When we are shooting it can be frustrating at times when conversation is flowing and we only have an inkling of what is going on. Usually Soraj is making notes, so I can peer over his shoulder to get a sense of the topic. But I would love to be able to really talk to the people. These are not just subjects in a film we are making, but many have become friends and family. It is amazing the bonds one can forge without a common language.
An interesting element of the process of translating is finding out things that were said, deeper levels of conversation, that were missed by us at the time of shooting. And somehow, neither Soraj or Nisha thought to tell us! It is a journey I hadn't anticipated, delving deeper into situations we filmed, whilst sitting at my desk in Kathmandu. It feeds my inspiration as we go along and the ideas flow with a better understanding. Although slow-going, I don't find the translating process difficult or tedious in the slightest. It is so inspiring. I am working with bright, young women, Hindu and Sarita, who are clearly enjoying the process themselves as they find out more about the characters in this community - a world so different to the one they were brought up in growing up in Kathmandu. And as we review, me transcribing their translations, I'm finding out pieces of our story that I missed when I was standing right there. I am finding out what the footage actually holds beyond what we can merely see.
