From the Ground Up
In the semi-arid village of Malolo in Singida, Tanzania, Adija and her surrounding community rely on one water source, a single hole in the ground no larger than the size of an average puddle. From the Ground Up takes a look into Adija’s daily routine and provides a powerful understanding of the localized impact of the increasingly dire global water crisis.
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Trent ZulkiewiczDirectorCarrying Tomorrow (Sound, Composer), The Lady and the Tramp (Scoring Assistant)
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Will BrenninkmeyerDirectorCarrying Tomorrow (Cinematographer, Editor)
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Michelle KimuraProducer
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Kate CostanzaProducer
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Mallory ArthursProducer
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Megan RuizCinematographers
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Mia LatranCinematographers
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Megan RuizEditors
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Will BrenninkmeyerEditorsCarrying Tomorrow (Cinematographer, Editor)
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AdijaKey Cast
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Crystal BrauSound Team
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Andra CainSound Team
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Avery SmithMultimedia Director
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Olivia BadalamentiMultimedia Producer
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Corbin MeierMultimedia Team
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Stelious KroudisMultimedia Team
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Kathleen ConnorMultimedia Team
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Maggie MengelMultimedia Team
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Pia NomenMultimedia Team
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Taylor WashingtonMultimedia Team
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Max Davidoff-GreyComposers
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Kiera QuinnFundraising
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Ben KraningerFundraising
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Brad de JesusProduction Manager
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Kate CostanzaLine Producers
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Sureatha LongstreetLine Producers
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Nema EtebarCreative Consultant
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Amari JohnsonGroup Facilitator
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Lydia NamayaniTranslators
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Jonas AlmaniTranslators
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Derek OngeriTranslators
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Latisha NkonyaTranslators
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Victor Mubelwa KaleshuTranslators
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Project Type:Documentary, Short, Student
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Runtime:14 minutes 29 seconds
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Completion Date:April 22, 2020
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Production Budget:75,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:Tanzania, United Republic of
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Language:Swahili
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Shooting Format:Digital, Sony A7iii
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes
Both Will and Trent have a passion for creative and impactful story-telling. This film is their second documentary together and highlights the localized reality of the global water crisis.
This film is so much more than a documentary. It is an intimate and immersive experience that can and should evoke a sense of injustice and global responsibility in each and every viewer. When we first sat down to talk about our individual goals and aspirations for this story, it became very clear that each of us wanted to create something personal, something that would allow the audience to not just become aware of an issue, but to actively engage with it, to question its causes, and to be impacted by its reality on a deep, personal level.
The two weeks we spent on the ground were challenging. Trying to squeeze all of the stories we heard and all of the elements of the water crisis into one, fifteen minute short documentary was a constant worry. We chose to focus on one woman, Adija, and walk with her personal experience and insight on the water crisis that she lives through every day. We consider ourselves unbelievably lucky to have been able to meet and listen to her almost every day during our time in Tanzania. Bringing her life, her light, and her story to the world is an honor and a privilege. This film has consumed both of our lives for the majority of the past year and we are looking forward to showing it to as many people as humanly possible.
Trent Zulkiewicz & Will Brenninkmeyer