As a documentary filmmaker you always need to be aware, flexible and most of all you need to listen carefully what is around you. Stories have their own soul, and you must respect unexpected changes.
After Rabasia’s second operation, I planned to accompany her to Nunukan, and from there to visit the place where she lives with her husband. We tried to get permission to visit the camp in the jungle where they live and he is working. First he agreed, but then, one day before departure the husband refused. Rabasias family tried to convince him but no way. For some reason we don’t understand his pride was touched. Rabasia who wanted to show me her place was very disappointed. I learned there was a big fight in Nunukan because of this.

It is not uncommon that among low educated people there are murders because of small things… The Bugis are often known for their bad temper. Only after few days I decided not to go, and after talking to the relatives of Rabasia, we realized how dangerous this would have been for me.
These were his words: “I die or he dies”.
Not fun at all….

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Almost 3 weeks of filming and 24 hours of footage to add to the 14 hours I had shot last year…
I can’t wait to be working with my colleagues, editors and music composers on the first version of this film. I am very grateful to Aching and Andry who took care of me for the whole period of my stay. Their help and kindness are just incredible. I have also to send a special thanks to Taufik, a young talented teacher and musician, who allowed me to record some traditional Dayak tunes that I would like to use with the footage.
Aching, who in fact is a medical doctor, not only helped me with the management and the organization of interviews and shootings, she accompanied all my filming as an interpreter, translating from Indonesian and local dialects and supported me with her wonderful voice with the recording of children songs which will be part of the soundtrack.
Everybody who participated to this project has put so much effort into this, including the Smiletrain Doctors, the local staff and Werner Kubny & Per Schnell, co-producing with me this documentary.
Next task for us now is to find enough money for post-production in order to present this work to international film festivals.

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LEVI_INDO2010_4938, originally uploaded by stefanolevi.

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LEVI_INDO2010_4774, originally uploaded by stefanolevi.

Hi folks, just a short update about my project here in Borneo. I am following the very touching story of a girl named Rabasia. She was born with cleft lip and palate and had to live with this deformity until the age of 21. I started following her story already last year. Today Rabasia is being operated for the second time. Finally her deformity is gone. She has a smile on her face and people do not insult her anymore when she walks on the streets. Life has been very hard on her, but she is a survisor and a fighter. It’s just incredible what I am withnessing here.
I am confronted with a harsh reality here, but also with positive things such as compassion and many interesting aspects of life and indonesian culture I did not know before. I have wonderful friends here helping me out with the shooting and interviews. Thank you Aching and Andry. Quite difficult to make a Film in indonesian without help!

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LEVI_INDO2010_4796, originally uploaded by stefanolevi.

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LEVI_INDO2010_4848, originally uploaded by stefanolevi.

First day of work in Indonesia helped by my friends Aching and Andry. Today we are in Nunukan, close to the family of Rabasia, the girl I am shooting a documentary about. Indonesian children are amazing. There is no way a photographer can ignore them Not only they are beautiful, they like to play with the camera a lot!

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The bush-camp experience

While I’m in Borneo shooting for my documentary, Sebastian Eddeling at Abendsonne Afrika is arranging the last bookings for my new Photo-Safari Workshop in Botswana and Zambia. 13 Days Bush experience in the wilderness with 6 Photographers. What an incredible way to experience the last untouched spot on earth: The Okavango Delta. The tour will start in Maun and passing through the most amazing Natural Reserves we will end up on to of the great waterfalls between Zambia and Botswana. Our guides will organize the comfortable bush camp and kook fantastic meat for us in the evening, while under the stars we will discuss about the photographic experiences of the day. Places are filling up quickly! For information and booking write me or call Sebastian: +49 (0)73439899813

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36 hours to be exact. That’s the time I have to regenerate from the 9000Km trip in Argentina and Chile before I depart to Borneo, where I will continue my documentary project about Rabasia, the girl operated by the Smiletrain doctors. Wich me good luck, as much is yet unknown in this journey…

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LEVI_DAKAR2010_4048, originally uploaded by dunerider70.

pero muero por el 423. A family, party of 15 travels in this bus following the race…

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LEVI_DAKAR2010_4036, originally uploaded by dunerider70.

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