It wasn’t the first time I had stood in front of a class to teach, but it was the first time a group of university students sat down in front of me to learn.
But let’s start at the beginning.
It happened at the Panamerican University of Guatemala, in the capital.
I had traveled from Uruguay to direct an audiovisual production. Just a couple of days before the shoot, I learned that the producer had arranged something else.
—Israel, I just spoke to the university.
—University?
—Yes. The students are in the middle of exams, but they said we can still make it happen.
—Make what happen? Which university? I have no idea what you’re talking about.
—The dean saw one of your short films and liked it.
—Oh, great. And?
—He thought it would be a good idea for you to teach a class there.
—A what?
—A masterclass.
—But which short did you show him?
—The one where a guy is having breakfast at a café and a waitress shows up with a mysterious box.
—Oh… the absurd comedy.
—That’s the one.
—And when would this class be?
—Tomorrow.
—WHAT?!
—Tomorrow morning.
That afternoon I put together my “masterclass”: The Art of Storytelling.
It was all very sudden, but a wonderful challenge.
When I arrived at Universidad Panamericana, a welcome breakfast was waiting for me.
The room was full of students from every year: some just starting out, others about to graduate. And a few professors, too.
I started with a question:
—Who has a professional camera?
Everyone raised a hand except one student.
—Who already knows how to make a short film?
Every hand went up.
—Who has made five short films?
No one.
—Four? Three? Two?
Only a few hands went up.
That was when I realized I needed to focus on the importance of starting with the resources at hand. The greatest risk for many who know ‘everything’ is not giving themselves permission to try when the path ahead doesn’t look ideal. Not taking the leap.
As soon as I left, I began thinking about the experience. I had come prepared to talk about how to make a film. We ended up talking about finding the courage to make one.
Israel Mirenda