In This Skin from Media Factory on Vimeo.
Created by Isabel Savenake
After being educated on the ethical issues involved with voluntourism, this film explores my attempt to recognise this reality while preserving the fond memories I have from attending a school service tour to Tanzania.
Process of the film:
When I first developed this idea, I found that I was approaching it from a more critical, one-sided viewpoint. The evidence surrounding the ways that voluntourism can negatively affect people’s lives was shocking to me, but as the weeks went on, I realised that criticising voluntourists was actually a shallow way for me to address these issues. My work evolved into more of a first-person film; reflecting on my own unique experience and the sense of dissonance that I feel.
What I got out of it:
Doing this project definitely challenged me in so many ways. Throughout the semester, my perspective on documentary film has changed and I feel that tackling this assignment by myself compelled me to understand how difficult and rewarding a filmmaking process can be. I am excited to take my newfound skills and awareness into future projects.