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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.

  • Trent Zulkiewicz
    Director
    Carrying Tomorrow (Sound, Composer), The Lady and the Tramp (Scoring Assistant)
  • Will Brenninkmeyer
    Director
    Carrying Tomorrow (Cinematographer, Editor)
  • Michelle Kimura
    Producer
  • Kate Costanza
    Producer
  • Mallory Arthurs
    Producer
  • Megan Ruiz
    Cinematographers
  • Mia Latran
    Cinematographers
  • Megan Ruiz
    Editors
  • Will Brenninkmeyer
    Editors
    Carrying Tomorrow (Cinematographer, Editor)
  • Adija
    Key Cast
  • Crystal Brau
    Sound Team
  • Andra Cain
    Sound Team
  • Avery Smith
    Multimedia Director
  • Olivia Badalamenti
    Multimedia Producer
  • Corbin Meier
    Multimedia Team
  • Stelious Kroudis
    Multimedia Team
  • Kathleen Connor
    Multimedia Team
  • Maggie Mengel
    Multimedia Team
  • Pia Nomen
    Multimedia Team
  • Taylor Washington
    Multimedia Team
  • Max Davidoff-Grey
    Composers
  • Kiera Quinn
    Fundraising
  • Ben Kraninger
    Fundraising
  • Brad de Jesus
    Production Manager
  • Kate Costanza
    Line Producers
  • Sureatha Longstreet
    Line Producers
  • Nema Etebar
    Creative Consultant
  • Amari Johnson
    Group Facilitator
  • Lydia Namayani
    Translators
  • Jonas Almani
    Translators
  • Derek Ongeri
    Translators
  • Latisha Nkonya
    Translators
  • Victor Mubelwa Kaleshu
    Translators
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 29 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 22, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    75,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Tanzania, United Republic of
  • Language:
    Swahili
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Sony A7iii
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Trent Zulkiewicz, Will Brenninkmeyer

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.

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Director Statement

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