Yaque - Feature Documentary (2023)

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Organiza una proyección de Yaque / Host a screening of Yaque

Jardín Botánico Nacional, Santo Domingo, RD - 17/10/2024

The movie tells the story of the people who live along the Yaque del Norte, the longest and most important river in the Dominican Republic, and how that stream of water plays an essential role in their lives.

La película cuenta la historia de las personas que viven a lo largo del Yaque del Norte, el río más largo e importante de República Dominicana, y cómo ese flujo de agua juega un papel fundamental en sus vidas.

Film Stills

Behind The Scenes Photos

Intro

Being born and raised in Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean, did not shape my mind only in terms of post-colonial, new imperialistic and neoliberal relations toward the West; living on an island also means limited resources, limited space, literally and in subtext, and all those socio-political in strong relation to our natural conditions to a great extent influenced my upbringing and early years spent on the island. The connection between the geology of islands with its very specific qualities and limited hydrography system based on the lack of mountains and the size of the island and on the other hand communities dependent on these natural sources had attracted my attention already as I was pursuing my undergraduate in architecture and urbanism. In 2007 I was involved in the project with the focus to Yaque del Norte River, the longest river in the entire insular Caribbean. The initial idea was to develop and apply an urban revitalization plan for the part of the river and its banks, where it crosses the city of Santiago, the second largest city in Dominican Republic. Exploring the river and its path inspired me to start working on a project that combines my passions and professional backgrounds in architecture, visual arts and filmmaking. I want to use all of those different media, knowledges and skills to draw a portrayal of diverse community life and uses, benefits and risks, at different levels and parts of Yaque del Norte River.

With its 296 kilometers snaking around one third of the Dominican Republic territory, it follows the life of communities on its banks and affects approximately 1 million people. In the birth of the river, in the mountains communities, it is used mostly for ecotourism, tourism and recreation; in the middle it is used as a source of water consumption and as a dump; and on the longest and last part it is an important water source for agriculture and consumption of thousands of people. It is a source of life on the one hand, but at the same time it presents several risks and dangers to the people living next to it. On the basis of the preliminary insights, I started to develop a documentary-feature film concept, to investigate and tell the story of the people living along the river; I ask what life-stories can we hear along the 296 kilometers of the river? How does the life of the communities living in the mountains, close to its spring, differ from the life communities at the countryside, just before the river enters the ocean? With those leading questions I would like to explore, study and understand the personal narratives influenced or/and contextualized inside of broader social problems, like poverty, pollution, social stratification etc.

In the focus are different levels and qualities of life along the same river: the individual portrayals show the great polarization, seen through the clothing, visual appearances, daily activities, religious and moral beliefs, survival strategies etc. Hence, the project aims to show not only how we as human beings exploit natural resources, but also how the organization of our social and political life influences the places of settlements. The population settled at different parts of the river, for instance, shows also the social (class, racial, etc.) division and which places are conquered by which groups. As for instance upper parts used for the tourism as an activity in the domain of upper classes and privileged groups; lower, polluted parts, used by lower classes, sometimes also racially isolated. In addition to showing the benefits of communities that settled around the river, it is important for me to expose also its darker sides: throughout the years it has changed and had been impacted by deforestation, and pollution as factors of human activities, but also it has been exposed to the powerful storms and hurricanes. 

Map of the river and its basin along all the communities.

Map of the river and its basin along all the communities.

Below Photos from the Fieldwork and Documentation from the origin to the river mouth.

Oliver Olivo - Writer/Director/Producer
Nicole Quiñones - Producer

El Proyeccionista Film - Art Department (2017)

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La Guagua del Cine / The Movie Van

La Guagua del Cine / The Movie Van

Jose Maria Cabral - Writer Director
Juan Basanta - Producer
Rafi Mercado - Production Designer
Ezequiel Reyna - Art Director
Gabriela Sobrino - Set Designer/Decorator
Brandon Russo - Prop Master
Oliver Olivo - Production Designer Assistant and Designer. (in charge of the Truck Design, Construction, Supervision and of the entire setting of the projection scenes including the movie screen - In addition also worked as graphic designer, collaboration with Set Designer on severals set designs throughout the production)

Truck design and construction process photos slideshow. (click over image to slide)

Film Sinopsis

"In the solitude of his house, Eliseo is accompanied by projections of a woman he doesn’t know but whom he is infatuated by. One day, the film rolls get burnt but what remains plummet him in a search to find her. To accomplish it without money he has to appeal to all he knows, project movies, because he finds a film roll of her that indicates a location on the other extremity of the island, and to cover the expenses of the trip he has to project movies from town to town in the most remote and poorest areas of the Dominican Republic. Along the way he meets Rubi, a young woman who is completely the opposite of him but they create an empathy that leads them to discover truths of each other."

Photos slideshow of other works throughout the production process

Synergies Strategic Services 'Just like Me' Commercial - (2016)

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Written and Directed: Oliver Olivo
Produced By: El Nido Lab - Víctor Grullón & Lei Gonzalez
Director of Photography: Víctor Grullón
Art Director: Rosario Grullón
Art Assistant: Nicole Marte
1st Assistant Director: Ivonne Mercader
Production Assistant: Nicole Almonte Powers
Color Correction: Robin Paredes
VFX - Animations: Víctor Vidal (Grupo Nous)
Sound Design and Sound Mix: Omar Patín
Voice Over: Christian Álvarez

Non Actors were used during shooting.
Shot on Arri Alexa on location.

Estimated Budget: $$$/$$$$$

Xiomara Fortuna Calle Adentro - (In development)

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Xiomara Fortuna Calle Adentro

Xiomara Fortuna Calle Adentro (Xiomara Fortuna Down on the Street)

Faced with the creative process of composing his music, we find Xiomara Fortuna in his studio in the company of musicians as they work their songs. Through the magic of music we moved to the towns of the island where the roots of musical expression Xiomara used to create their music. During this trip we will discover the emotional geography of the Dominican folk music through the eyes of the most important singer of the Dominican Republic.

If you want more information about his project, become a partner or part of the production team, please write to contact@oliverolivo.com

Locations

Locations

Episodes Themes / Images for the Process

Episodes Themes / Images for the Process

Contenido Base
Contenido Base
Images for the Process

Images for the Process

Xiomara Fortuna Cámara en Mano (2013-2016)

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Several years ago we started to develop a project to Xiomara Fortuna and during the process we had this conversation where we could talk with her and the members of his band about their music.
This material was not intended to be shared but after review and edit it we realized it was worth sharing as we do our main project, "Xiomara Fortuna Street Adentro".
Here is the cut that we prepared to know a little more about the excellent work of one of the most important artists of the Dominican Republic.
English and French subtitles coming very soon.
Enjoy.

English and French subtitles coming soon.

Estimated Budget: 0 / $$$$$