It’s day eight out of nine of the Bridges to Understanding workshop. The kids have received lessons in Premier and Photoshop Elements. The credits have been designed. The footage and stills stoically edited by saintly Julee who was up working until 4am. Now all we need is the musical score. Carmen, Maria, Heremias and I selected soundtracks from CDs by local musicians yesterday.

We interviewed this 60-year-old comendrona Ana Sosof Ramires who told us, “being a midwife is the best profession, but some women are afraid to be one or get scared due to screams and blood.”

Our interview with the comedrona is edited in. The situation is socially, culturally, politically and economically delicate and it’s been a challenge for us to guide the children to make an appropriate call during the editing process.

When asked during an interview if the comendrona has a license she revealed, “Yes, because I want to avoid problems with the government … if there is a problem in the birth, if you don’t have a license they will put you in jail.”

Brenda and Johnny, our two narrators, tired but committed, select relevant sound bites to include from an interview with one of the health care practitioners.

Brenda and Johnny are our narrators. We opened the short film with Brenda expressing her desire to be a Mumma one day and wondering who will help her. Then the show includes a series of interviews with doctors and midwives and an exploration of their perspectives.

At 5:30pm this afternoon our film debuted at Saloon Municipal. Watching the kids have a group portrait today was hysterical. They formed a human pyramid which eventually toppled. We have all bonded tightly and grown almost unfathomably through this experience of a lifetime.

We were on a high after the interview with the inspiring Dr Montoya, photographed here with the team outside his clinic in downtown Santiago Atitlan. He was supportive and accommodating in his approach to our project and his relationships with the Comedronas.

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Barack Obama Holds Election Night Gathering In Chicago’s Grant Park
CHICAGO – NOVEMBER 04: U.S. President elect Barack Obama gestures on stage during an election night gathering in Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama defeated Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) by a wide margin in the election to become the first African-American U.S. President elect. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and running mate Joe Biden signal to supporters during their election night victory rally at Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. Americans emphatically elected Obama as their first black president in a transformational election which will reshape US politics and the US role on the world stage. (STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Election Night Victory
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and his wife Michelle stand on stage with running mate Joe Biden and his wife Jill during their election night victory rally at Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. Americans emphatically elected Obama as their first black president in a transformational election which will reshape US politics and the US role on the world stage. (STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Barack Obama Rally
Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama crowd Grant Park early Tuesday evening, November 4, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois, where Obama is to address a rally of more than one million people later on election night. Americans are voting in an election of rare historic potential, with front-running Democrat Barack Obama seeking to become the first black president and Republican John McCain hoping for a poll-defying comeback. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

US Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain
US Republican presidential candidate John McCain pauses during his speech in which he conceded defeat to Democrat Barack Obama during his election night rally on November 4, 2008 in McCain’s home town of Phoenix, Arizona. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

McCain Holds Election Night Gathering In Phoenix
PHOENIX – NOVEMBER 04: Vice-presidential nominee Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and husband Todd Palin walk out on stage during the election night rally at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa on November 4, 2008 in Phoenix, Arizona. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) defeated Republican presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) by a wide margin in the election to become the first African-American U.S. President elect. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Americans Go To The Polls To Elect The Next U.S. President
CHICAGO – NOVEMBER 04: Voters wait to go to the polls at Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. After nearly two years of presidential campaigning, U.S. citizens went to the polls today to vote in the election between Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Democratic Presidential Candidate US Senator Barack Obama
Democratic presidential candidate US Senator Barack Obama and his wife Michelle wave to supporters during an election night rally at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul , Minnesota, June 03, 2008. Obama made history on June 3, 2008, capturing the Democratic presidential nomination as the first black candidate to top a major-party ticket, after a giant-slaying win over Hillary Clinton. (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain
Republican presidential candidate Arizona Senator John McCain and his vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin smile at each other and applaud, at a campaign rally at Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania on October 28, 2008. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

US Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama
US Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama speaks during a rally at Cleveland Mall in Cleveland, Ohio, November 02, 2008. (EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Barack Obama Campaigns Ahead Of Last Primaries Of 2008 Election
MITCHELL, SD – JUNE 01: Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) addresses a rally on the street in front of the Corn Palace June 1, 2008 in Mitchell, South Dakota. Obama and his rival for the nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), are moving into the final days of the primary season before Democratic contests in South Dakota and Montana on Tuesday. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin applauds as Republican presidential nominee John McCain speaks during a rally at the Delaware County Courthouse September 22, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton Holds Final Primary Night Event In New York
NEW YORK – JUNE 3: Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) greets supporters at Baruch College June 3, 2008 in New York City. Although Clinton’s rival for the Democratic presidential nomination Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) was poised to clinch the nomination after the Democratic primaries in Montana and South Dakota, Clinton has not yet conceded the race. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Obama Returns To Iowa For Rally In Des Moines
DES MOINES, IA – MAY 20: Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) addresses a rally near the Iowa state captiol building May 20, 2008 in Des Moines, Iowa. Oregon and Kentucky held their Democratic primaries today, but Obama chose to attend a rally in the state where he won his first primary in January. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) won in a landslide in Kentucky 65 percent to 30 percent, while early results in Oregan showed Obama winning by a wide margin. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Pro-Voting Female Demonstrators
Two smiling women stand outdoors and hold signs reading ‘Vote Baby Vote’ and ‘Voting is People Power,’ c. 1970. (Photo by Gabriel Hackett /Getty Images)

Suffrage March
Full-length image of a group of women and children marching with U.S. flags and banners for the right of women to vote, New York City, circa 1912. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Suffragette Protestor
An American suffragette with an umbrella stands next to a baby carriage and wears a sign proclaiming ‘Women! Use your vote,’ circa 1920. (Photo by APA/Getty Images)

Cheering For Alice Paul
As women stand and cheer, American suffragist Alice Paul (1885 – 1977) stands on a balcony at the National Women’s Party headquarters and unfurls a banner in celebration of the state of Tennessee’s ratification of the 19th Ammendment, which guarenteed women the right to vote, Washington DC, August 13, 1920. (Photo by Stock Montage/Getty Images)

Franklin D Roosevelt
9th November 1932: Presidential candidate Franklin D Roosevelt (1882 – 1945) casts a ballot in a booth at a polling station while flanked by his wife, Eleanor, and their son, Elliot, Hyde Park, New York. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

People paying poll taxes
(Photo by Ed Clark//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Election Buttons
Corky Berwster, Miss Empire State, wearing a selection of buttons depicting election candidates, 22nd September 1950. She claims that wearing the buttons stimulates voting. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

African American Voters
African Americans vote for the first time in Charleston, South Carolina, during the US presidential election, 2nd November 1948. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Harlem Voters
People in New York’s Harlem district vote in the US presidential election, 4th November 1952. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Image

Civil Rights March
March 1965: Civil rights campaigner Dr Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968) with his wife Coretta Scott King, at a black voting rights march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital in Montgomery. (Photo by William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images)

Voting Rights March
March 1965: Participants in a black voting rights march in Alabama. Dr Martin Luther King led the march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital in Montgomery. (Photo by William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images)

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*Charming the audience one smile and snide jab at a time*

*Tom Brokaw moderates the debate aka scolds the nominees for
going over the 1 minute time limit AGAIN…and AGAIN…*

*On the edge of his seat listening, smiling and engaged*

(Photo Credit Top to Bottom) Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, Pool/Getty Images, Mark Wilson/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

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*WINK*

“Is it hot in here or is it just Sarah?”

“Nope…Just hot in here”

Biden makes a good point!

“Say it ain’t soooooooooooooo Joe!! Doggoneit”

“GOD BLESS AMUUUUURICA!”

(Photo Credit Top to Bottom) Robyn Beck/ Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, David McNew/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, Robyn Beck/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, Robyn Beck/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, Scott Olsen/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, Scott Olsen/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, David McNew/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

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DENVER – AUGUST 26: Ohio delegate Peggy Tanksley displays her Democratic Party pride during day two of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Pepsi Center August 26, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be officially be nominated as the Democratic candidate for U.S. president on the last day of the four-day convention. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Greetings from the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.  It’s been a busy 48 hours, and here are a few things I have learned over the past two days..

When You’re Waiting – Find a Subject

DENVER – AUGUST 25: Dennis Lockhart vacuums the stage at the Pepsi Center August 25, 2008 in Denver, Colorado prior to the start of the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). The DNC, where U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for U.S. president, starts today and finishes August 28th. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Day two of the convention started early for me. I was on the early shift with my co-workers Mark Wilson and Cliff Hawkins. We cover the hall until noon when the rest of the crew arrives. The big event for the morning is Michelle Obama doing a sound and light check. When we first arrived, it was just me and AP photographer Charlie Dharapak on the floor. Within an hour, there were dozens of photographers jammed up against the stage. We stood like this for a couple of hours. Boredom sets in fast when you’re just standing there like cattle. We amused ourselves by taking tons of pictures of the guy vacuuming the carpet on stage.

Don’t Ever Assume People Aren’t There

DENVER – AUGUST 26: (L-R) U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, former president Jimmy Carter, and Jill Biden watch the proceedings on day two of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Pepsi Center August 26, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be officially be nominated as the Democratic candidate for U.S. president on the last day of the four-day convention. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

I botched up the Jimmy Carter appearance. From what I understood, he would only be appearing via a taped message. I took this as an opportunity to take a bathroom break. Of course, moments after I dropped down from my position and am nowhere near my camera, he walks out. Thanks buddy.

Michelle Obama Was Made for the Stage

DENVER – AUGUST 25: Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive Democratic nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), speaks during day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Pepsi Center August 25, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The DNC, where U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for U.S. president, starts today and finishes August 28th. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

I think Barack made a mistake by picking Joe Biden as his VP. He should have picked his wife, Michelle. Her speech that topped the first night of the DNC was impressive. She was an amazing blend of real person and seasoned politician. The woman can speak. Men and women in the packed Pepsi Center were brought to tears as she spoke of family, dreams and her love of country. Michelle also appears to have had some serious stage training. Most political wives often seem uncomfortable and shut down (Teresa Heinz Kerry comes to mind) but Michelle comes off as intelligent and confident. She knows how to play up the crowd, comes out waving and makes sure she acknowledges the entire audience. From a photographer’s perspective this is great since most come out and barely lift their arms as they look at their feet.

Expect the Unexpected

DENVER – AUGUST 25: U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) speaks during day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Pepsi Center August 25, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The DNC, where U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for U.S. president, starts today and finishes August 28th. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

I was kind of shocked that Ted Kennedy spoke. I was thinking that he might come out and wave after Caroline gave her tribute to him. But, in typical Ted fashion, he came out waving to the energized crowd. They had set a stool next to the podium for him to rest on as he spoke and he just pushed it out of the way and stood for his entire speech. I am glad he didn’t collapse on stage or something. That would have been ugly. This could very well be the last time that we see this man. What a way to go if that is the case.

That’s it for today – stay tuned for more…

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