Men of La Mancha

Men of La Mancha Trailer #1

We recently finished editing our first full length feature documentary film entitled "Men of La Mancha". It tracks many of the charities we have filmed and much of the story behind them as well as this company La Mancha Media and those behind it. Those of you following this blog for a long time know much of the story but in the last few months I have taken down many blog posts since it would spoil the movie for others. The film took a full year of editing, arranging the story in the most compelling way, getting the sound cleaned up and doing color correction. We just copyrighted the film so can send out to festivals and reviewers. If you would like to see the film or help us pay for film festival entry fees (perhaps in your city or state) please contact us. Some 25 or more people have seen the film: Christians, Jews, atheists and others and so far everyone has loved it. Most are brought to tears by it, both of joy and sadness, and many are moved to want to help others as well. I like to think of it as a Central America road trip movie of suffering, death, salvation, hope and deep friendship. Others have written reviews; I leave you with one below. But first, you can follow updates of the movie (it will be a busy 2012 showing the film at festivals and other events) on the following sites:
Google+

Facebook
MenOfLaMancha.org

Review Isabella Corina:

Wow! I was honored to have been able to see this last night, I don't have the words to explain the emotions that went through me while watching it. There are so many happenings in this "mission" you and Mike undertook that cannot be simply "coincidences" - really sent a chill up my spine! To have been such a teeny tiny small part of this, is a fantastic feeling - to see my name in the credits is awesome! Viewers cannot help but be moved and inspired. Impressive, Dave, simply impressive.

Recent Email from new volunteer at Santa Maria

Mr. David Whalen,

 

I want to thank you for all you do at La Mancha Media in spreading awareness about mission sites and orphanages abroad.  I also want to send my condolences in regards to your friend Mike Ross who recently passed away.  He had so much to offer in life.  It is comforting to know that his contributions to La Mancha Media live on and are impacting many people.

 

To keep a long story short, I have been doing a lot of soul-searching for over a year now.  In the process, I began researching mission sites where I could volunteer my time.  The first mission site I found was the Santa Maria Del Mexicano orphanage.  Upon doing further research on the mission, I was led to La Mancha Media, where I watched your video clips on the Santa Maria mission.  It really brought everything I read about to life- adding a personal touch.  The video clip of the interview with Eric "The Artist" totally took me by surprise.  You see, Eric and I are old friends and volunteered together about 12 years ago at [a charity] in El Paso, TX.  I had not seen or heard from him in over 10 years.  Well, I was finally able to track him down and recently spoke with him over the phone.  Not only did we catch up on each other's lives, I also got to hear about his experiences as a volunteer at Santa Maria.

 

Since my conversation with Eric, I have also communicated with Father Mike Sanchez who told me more about Santa Maria and the needs that they have there.  Just a month ago, I decided to commit a year to volunteer at Santa Maria which will begin in September of this year.  Needless to say I am a bit nervous, but moreover just excited and honored to be a part of such a wonderful mission. 

 

Again, I want to thank you for your dedicated work through La Mancha Media.  It has been integral in my personal journey by reconnecting me with an old friend and helping me choose my next step ahead. 

 

 

Respectfully,

 

Brian

Messengers of Peace, Villa De Leyva, Colombia

Map of the area

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This video was filmed in Villa De Leyva, Colombia and Medellin, Colombia for a charity called the Messengers of Peace in March of 2011. It is founded by Fr Luis Mesa, a self proclaimed "dreamer", who had raised a family in California and had several business and homes, but then felt called to give it all up and to help the poor in Colombia. This is his story. He runs a home and school for abused girls, a co-op farm in the poorest area of Medellin in the mountains above the city (where a boy who suffers from epilepsy had a seizure while shooting). He also provides love and groceries to the poor in Villa De Leyva as well as offering his beautiful home for retreats. You also learn of the many young men following this priest who want peace in their often violent country of Colombia, including Br. Juan who talks about the shooting of his brother. Please consider helping Fr. Luis if only by sharing this video with your friends. There is contact info at the end.

Special thanks to the girls at Talitha Cum for the music mid way in the video, as well as the music director of the school for the piece in the opening sequence. Thanks also to Anonymous for the bagpipe rendition of Amazing Graze at the final sequence. Thanks also to Fr. Luis for putting me up in his wonderful home while shooting.

Shot on Panasonic GH2 in 24p mode
Lumix 14-140mm and 20mm 1.7 pancake lenses
Olympus LS 10 recorder at 24 bit 48hz
Sony UWP V1 wireless lav system
Rode VideoMic Pro

Produced by lamanchamedia.org

La Mancha Media Video Introduction

Rivers of Mercy Children's Home Video Short

Video Short for Rivers of Mercy. Here Kristin Robles gives a summary overview of Rivers of Mercy, the amount of kids they take care of, the kinds of families they come from, the staff and volunteers, the general schooling at Rivers, their current donors, their immediate need for new donations, and the way in which to donate. For contact information and ways to help please go directly to their website at http://riverofmercy.org.


Note: If you have a newer computer make sure the toggle button for HD is on (upper right corner of video screen). If you have an older computer toggle it off. If the video is choppy, press pause for a minute or two before resuming play to give it time to download. It's HD after all!

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Santa Maria del Mexicano Mission Video Short

Santa Maria del Mexicano Orphanage Video Short. Here you will see the surrounding area of Colon, Querétaro, Mexico, the land, the orphanage, the school, the young men and women there, Fr. Mike the Director, and Sister Amada, a volunteer there. You will see their current problems such as lack of water for their crops due to a dam running dry, and their current successes such as a young man who was abandoned by his parents and his school but is now getting good grades and has dreams to be a Italian chef. For contact information about Santa Maria and how to help them go their blog here.



Note: If you have a newer computer make sure the toggle button for HD is on (upper right corner of video screen). If you have an older computer toggle it off. If the video is choppy, press pause for a minute or two before resuming play to give it time to download. It's HD after all!

Santa Maria is located in Colon, Mexico, just north of Mexico City. A Google interactive map is here.


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Good Shepherd Clinic in Belize

Here is a video of the Good Shepherd Clinic in San Jose Succotz, Cayo District, of Belize near the Guatemalan border on the western highway. La Mancha Media visited there in March 2009 and made this short film. The Clinic has no website. If you would like to donate to them email us and we can provide you with an address to donate to.

Note: If you have an older computer toggle the HD button off. If the video is choppy, press pause for a minute or two before resuming play to give it time to download. It's HD after all!

Map of San Jose Succoz near the Guatemalan Border

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Recent Thank You Letter from Good Shepherd Clinic

Here is the text of the letter. LMM is very happy to have helped the Clinic get the doctors they so desperately needed. To see the video we shot there last year click here. To see the original letter click Letter from Good Shepherd Clinic.

Christina Maiale                                                                                   

The Good Shepherd Clinic

San Jose Succotz, Cayo District

Belize, CA

17/August/2010

La Mancha Media
Attn: David Whalen
PO Box 83986
San Diego, CA 92138

Dear Mr. Whalen,

I would like to thank you on behalf of the staff of The Good Shepherd Clinic for the video produced by La Mancha Media. As a non-profit clinic that serves the poor of western Belize, this is something that never could have been done without the generosity of an organization like yours.

When you came to The Good Shepherd in the spring of 2009, we had no idea how much of an impact the video you were producing would have on the clinic. It was not until several months later that we started to hear many of our volunteer doctors mention this video, which they had seen online before making their trip down to Belize to join our staff for a short period of time.

In April of 2010 we had two young doctors from England come and join our staff for nearly a month and a half. They were an incredible asset to the clinic and allowed us to not only provide care for the patients who came to The Good Shepherd, but also to begin mobile clinics out to the smaller surrounding villages to reach a population that otherwise would have great difficulty in getting to the nearest clinic or hospital to receive care. These two doctors came to know of The Good Shepherd from the video you produced, and would otherwise not have come!

Thank you so much for the work that you are doing; I hope that you realize the impact that you are making on these organizations that you are helping with your filming. I also hope that you are able to continue this work and assist other organizations who are serving the poor all over the world.

Sincerely,

/cm

Christina Maiale

Video of Good Shepherd Clinic Updates

I have recently received various emails about the Good Shepherd Clinic video shot last year. A young medical professional from Britain saw it and has apparently volunteered. See below.

1. A volunteer wants info on going to the clinic:

"Hi David,

I am a 5th year medical student from Imperial College London and I was wondering if you might be able to help me. I am trying to find a way of getting in contact with The Good Shepherd Clinic in Belize and I saw the video on your website. I was wondering if you had any telephone/email contact details for them? I am currently trying to organise my medical elective for this coming October in Belize and would really like to see whether it would be possible to spend some time at this clinic.

I look forward to hearing back from you

Kind regards

Anna Weil"

--------------------------------

2. An email from Christina Maiale, first assistant nurse at the clinic for over 2 years:

"Hi David
So a woman came down to visit us yesterday who had seen the video
online- thanks for that again! ... The [video] is
definitely getting us some attention, so thank you!

Take care,
Christina Maiale

CBS News: Locals Save Belize Boy

A CBS news story on Moises going home here. They used some of our footage at the beginning and gave us a credit on screen. It was a great going away party. I will write about it later. I have tons of great footage. The Word at Work has been great allowing me access.

Another news story is here.