time on one thing or move ahead with something else,
depending on the feedback we were getting from the
students. That sort of syllabus and program I think can
translate to any other place or country."
Kim and Andrea explored the region in between
sessions, visiting a resort on the Dead Sea and traveling to
Jerusalem after the last seminar.
"It's just a beautiful place. The people we interacted with
were so friendly—no matter where we went, people were
pleasant," Andrea says. "That is one thing about Jordan:
Hospitality is their thing, and everybody's so kind." Spa
treatments, room service and solo tours offered a quiet
counterpoint to the intense eight-hour training days—and
the breaks were well earned.
Keener explains, "I think we're used to a lot of physicality,
14- to 16-hour days sometimes, but it was really interesting
to feel the tiredness that comes with the responsibility of
really wanting to make this work. There wasn't any time
during the 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. that we were interacting with
the participants that we weren't 'on.'"
"There'd be 15 people and you really wanted to be able
to give them equal time," Kim adds. "Some are quieter
while others are more gregarious and ask questions, so
we wanted to pull everyone in."
The pair have stayed in touch with many of the seminar
participants on Instagram and WhatsApp, tracking their
current production projects and short-film screenings.
"We'd see an alley or a
staircase and think about all
the scenes that could be filmed
there, with all that texture
and color. It was a lot of fun
and I think it renewed my love
of the job because you got to
share it with people who were
interested."
–ANDREA KEENER/LMGI
Salt. Photo by Kim Dillinger Davis/LMGI
