It’s been two weeks since I launched a Kickstarter for Skeletons and Sea Turtles. This is a film about a young boy in Oaxaca, Mexico, who honors his grandfather by protecting the sea turtles that nest on the beach near his home.
But it’s really about much more than that. It’s about how making a real connection — with another person, or another species — can change a relationship from stranger to friend.
That’s what happened with Hericel, the boy in the film, when he sat down to watch a mother turtle lay her eggs.
We shot this film in 2005, when Hericel was 11 years old. Today he is 20, and we are friends on Facebook. I went to his Facebook page to tell him I was about to launch the Kickstarter and …
He is still protecting the turtles – nine years later! I knew the experience had made a difference — but I didn’t imagine how much. You can see him in the top photo – yesterday and today!
I asked Hericel if he would share a message. Here is what he said:
“Si, me gusta proteger las tortugas, por lo que apoyo esta película.”
“Yes, I like to protect the turtles, and therefore I support this film.”
~ Hericel ~
Hericel’s connection with the sea turtle made a difference. Your connection with this project will make a difference too! It takes a community of individuals to help the sea turtles. And Kickstarter is about building community as much as it’s about raising funds. So if want to help and you can’t give, just write me a note, share the link on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter or send $5. Any support is greatly appreciated.
And if you do decide to give, your tax-deductible donations gets you cool rewards — beautiful photographs, CDs of Mexican music and Afro-Cuban Jazz, children and adult books about sea turtles and Day of the Dead, gourmet Mexican dinners (at my house), Salsa dancing lessons, and a private visit to the beach in Mexico where the turtles come to nest.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!