Miguel Session # 1

Today was a very special day for me: i spend the whole day with Miguel. Miguel is 79 years old and lives in the streets since he is 5. He sleeps in a mini container on a big roundabout traffic in the center of Mexico City. He never walks anywhere. He just sits in this corner, cleans shoes and sells cigarrets. We talked for hours and even eat together there. He allowed me to record our conversations. Then suddenly a client came to let his shoes cleaned and i took some pictures.

Filemón Session Individual # 3

Today we gave it another try and went to the grandmothers house for the violin. We were lucky: the grandmother, the mother and several aunts were at home and welcomed me like a princess. In their patio Filemón did his perfomance with the violin. I completely forgot to record sound, i didnt realize that he didnt play his violin for real, just faking to play it. Then his grandmother walked into the picture and the aunts handed flowers to her: cempasúchil, the flower of the day of the death:

Francisco Session Individual # 6

We did some more Pixilation experiments:

Bacho Session Individual # 1

When i met Bacho the first time some weeks ago, he slept in his tent in the historic center of Mexico and drew in the streets. Today he agreed that i accompany him to Tepito market and take photo-series during he is drawing.

Filemón Session Individual # 2

Filemón wanted to go to his grandmothers house to get his violin and do Pixilation, while playing it. We drove to the district "Pensador Mexicana", but his grandmother was not home. So we invented something else. Filemón did some expressive walkings while pretending to play his flute, which he always carries in his pocket. On the way back he played the flute in the metro for me while i recorded it:

Then we passed the famous statue of "Rockdrigo", a mexican musician who died in the earthquake of 1985. Filemón next to him!

Francisco Session Individual # 5

Francisco brought old VHS tapes and had a storyboard ready: buldings appear and collapse because of an earthquake. In the end he improvised a Voice Over: how to behave during an earthquake.

Fermín Session Individual # 2

Fermín wanted to go to the cemetery to do Pixilation there. He wanted to get out of a grave and then walk around like a zombie. He needs an old, rotten jacket for that, but we didnt have one. And the cemetery San Fernando was closed because of the earthquake three weeks ago. So we did some zombie-walks in the streets and for the next session we will be better prepared!

Camaxtli Session Individual # 3

We did Pixilation in front of graffiti in the historic center. Camaxtli is an amazing actor and full of funny ideas. In the end he said, he wants to use the rap song "Dice que son calle" from Los Apostolos de Rap (MEX) for his animation (www.youtube.com/watch?v=-siYDumyoTY). I just contacted the band, lets see if they give us the right to use their song!

Filemón Session Individual # 1 / guest: Bacho

Filemón arrived with a plastic bag full with little items and improvised a little performance:

He told me that he plays music to earn money. He pulled a flute out of his trousers and played a song. Next time he will bring his violin, which is stored at his grandmothers house. We will make pixilation in the streets while he plays it.
Then suddenly Bacho appeared. He lives in his tent close to Casa Vecina and draws in the street. He helped with the animation of Filemón and they became friends!

Francisco Session Individual # 4 / guest: Fermín

We drove to "Santa Fe Pueblo", where Francsico wanted to do an outdoor animation. This part of Mexico City is originally build on ruins of a hospital from the 16th century. It is a very hilly area, quite poor and known for gangs. In this area used to be the garbage dump of Mexico City, till in the 80ies "Santa Fe City" was build next to the "Pueblo",  one of the richest parts of Mexico City. Francisco wanted to go there, as he likes a lot this neighborhood with its step hills and nice views:

Pixilation Workshop Result

Our last workshop together! We did "Pixilation" to learn another animation technique. The result is quite funny:

Francisco Session Individual # 3 / guest: Fermín

Francisco told me he would like to do some outdoor animation in the slum of Santa Fé, which is about 2 hours drive from the center and walk back from there till the last metro station. I asked him if it is safe to walk there around with a camera and he answered: "sure, you look like a mexican and we will talk to the people". So we made a date for next monday. Then Francisco animated a scene with one of his little fetus and three pets, while Fermín took the pictures. This time he had an explanation for the use these fetus:

Camaxtli Session Individual # 2

Camaxtli arrived with a flower but needed a second one for his planed animation. So we picked some in the roof terrace. Then he explained the scene: two friends - a mexican and a spanish - meet in a park and talk about nature. We animated it and then he improvised a conversation.